Argentine legend Juan Roman Riquelme said playing with Lionel Messi was fabulous, adding that he is a genius who just wants to compete. "I love him very much...He is fond of me," stated Riquelme. Messi's former agent Josep Maria Minguella had earlier said that Messi "idolised" Riquelme. "Messi looked at Riquelme as if he were Jesus Christ," Minguella had added.