Given his time at FC Barcelona and his success versus Los Blancos, Lionel Messi may not have won over the hearts of Real Madrid fans. But at the same time, everybody knows the Argentine’s talent and after winning the World Cup last year, he may very well go down as the greatest to ever play the game.

It’s no secret that Messi just called it quits on his European career to join Inter Miami. Since Argentina’s national team has won three medals in a row, it appears that he is transitioning away from the highest level of football.

Zinedine Zidane is another player widely considered to be among the best of all time. The great Frenchman spent five years of his career with Real Madrid and it was his last club. Later on, he managed Los Blancos to even greater success, including a record three-peat in the Champions League and a number of other championships.

Messi clearly holds Zidane in the highest respect. The Argentine recently sent the Real Madrid icon a heartfelt homage.

Messi reportedly told Zidane at their Adidas promotional event meeting, as reported by MARCA:

“I really respect you, it’s too bad we never got to play together.

But there was some competition amongst us. You have and will always hold my utmost regard and adoration.

I watched him closely in Madrid and endured him because he was from Madrid, but he is one of the finest of all time. He has always played the field. He was unique in every way imaginable—classy, tall, mystical, etc. The goal against Leverkusen, the goals in the World Cup, the 360s…

Messi and Zidane are two of the finest players to ever lace up a pair of boots. And it appears that the regard they have for one another is reciprocal.

In El Clasico, Messi and Zidane did play together, but they were on opposing teams. The Frenchman retired in 2006 while the Argentine was still a youngster at that stage. Having them both on the same squad would have been a sight to behold, and it would have been terribly unfair to the competition.