'You are the best' — Basketball icon Shaquille O'Neal sends loving message to Lionel Messi

NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal sent a loving message to world champion Lionel Messi, calling him the best and saying he looked forward to meeting him.

The former Lakers star believes Messi has completed football with the World Cup win, comparing him with Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan. 

The now-retired dominant centre was at a sporting event when he was asked by a journalist to send a message to the former Barcelona man.

Shaq obliged, interchanging between Spanish and English as he sent a message of love and admiration to the Paris Saint-Germain forward. 

He said he loved Messi and called him the best to do it. And as reported by the journalist Luis Mazariegos, Shaq was happy Messi clinched the World Champion title, as he believes it is important for those who have been tagged the greatest to win the biggest trophies, as Michael Jordan did in basketball. 

Meanwhile, Gerard Pique seems to be enjoying his new relationship with his new-found love following his controversial breakup with Colombian singer Shakira.

Pique, 36, has since moved on from the Colombian somgstress and is now dating a new lady known as Clara Chia Marti.