Messi Hails Kobe Bryant As The Legend Prepares To Retire

Messi has been a friend to NBA great Kobe Bryant and the pair were both involved in an advert for Turkey airline recently. Messi sent a message to Kobe after the legend announced his plan to quit basketball at the end of the season.

Kobe Bryant has been bowled over by all the support he has received from top sports stars since announcing his impending retirement. Speaking at a press conference after a Lakers game, the NBA star specifically thanked Lionel Messi for his kind words: "I'd like to thank Leo. I've known Leo since he was 17 or 18, since he was really young. I feel very proud to receive such nice messages from players like Messi. I'd like to say thanks to him and Fuerza Barça [Go Barça!]", Bryant enthused in Spanish.


Messi referred to the 37-year-old shooting guard in the following glowing terms on Instagram when Bryant announced that he'd be quitting basketball at the end of the current season: "It's always sad to hear when a sportsman is retiring. But @kobebryant will always be in the history books as one of the greatest. It was he who helped me become interested in basketball. All the best in the next stage of your life, Kobe".