From one Argentine GOAT to another. Emanuel Ginóbili’s entry into the Basketball Hall of Fame has generated many reactions in the sport’s inner circle, around the world, but with some outstanding ones like football star Lionel Messi, NBA stars Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley and Facundo Campazzo, who is one of the leaders of the new generation in the Argentine national team of that sport.

Messi, currently at PSG in France but with whom he shares a passion for the Albiceleste shirt, expressed his “pride” this Sunday for the recognition received by Manu, late on Saturday evening.

In a message shared by the organizers, the player from Rosario expressed himself and said: “It makes me very proud to hear a journalist say that Manu (Ginóbili) is the Messi of basketball”.

“In fact they should say that I am the Manu of football”jokes the 35-year-old striker from Rosario, who on Saturday gave an assist in his team’s victory in Ligue 1.

He also spoke of this milestone for Ginóbili as the first Argentine to enter the Basketball Hall of Fame, the point guard Facundo Campazzowho remarked that the recognition received by the former teammate is “very significant” for Albiceleste.

“For us Argentines it is something very significant. Perhaps he was the first Argentine and the only one to receive that award,” said the 31-year-old Cordovan, who will play the AmeriCup final against Brazil for the national team this Sunday. in Recife.

“We have to take a dimension of what he represents not so much as athletes or basketball players, but as a country. What Manu (Ginóbili) represents, beyond any sport, is something very big,” said the Denver player. NBA Nuggets.

“What I care most about him is what I learned from his side. The values ​​he teaches and instills in you, without even talking to you at times. It’s fabulous,” said Campazzo.

Also Magic Johnson and Barkley

There have been dedications that have transcended Argentina’s borders, because Ginóbili has always generated admiration among his NBA peers. In fact, two historic stars of the best league in the world such as Earvin Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley referred to the ceremony that crowned him within the basketball Olympus.

“One of the most unstoppable players to ever play in the NBA,” Johnson said via his Twitter account.

Barkley, meanwhile, stressed that Manu “was not afraid of anything”. “He has never feared anything, no game situation. He has made important shots throughout his career, both with the (San Antonio) Spurs and with the national team,” praised former Philadelphia Sixers winger Phoenix Suns. and Houston. Rockets, now 59 years old.

The member of the first so-called American “Dream Team”, Olympic champion in Barcelona 1992, did not hide the fact that the left-handed shooting guard number 20 of the Texas franchise “was one of my favorite players”, in a note granted to ESPN.

“The award is well deserved. It’s incredible for him, for his family, for his country, for his old teammates,” said Barkley.

“He always put aside personal selfishness and became a great teammate. And that made him grow and become what he was,” he concluded.