My old Celtic mate Jinky was as good as Messi, declares Clark

JOHN CLARK watched Lionel Messi destroy Celtic on night one of the Champions League.

The Argentinian’s virtuoso performance merely underlined his status as the best player on the planet.

Like anyone, Clark loves watching the Barcelona star in full flight.

Equally, though, he would love to see how his old team-mate Jimmy Johnstone would measure up to Messi in the modern game.

Johnstone was the most gifted member of the Lisbon Lions side, a right-sided winger who loved to take on full-backs and gained global acclaim for his role in the club’s European Cup success of 1967.

The game has moved through new levels in the near half-century since but Clark believes Johnstone — the subject of a new BBC documentary to be shown on Friday — believes his late pal would have adapted.

Could the little winger really compete with Messi?

‘Oh, aye. With a ball at his feet, Jinky wouldn’t be second to anyone,’ said Clark, who partnered Billy McNeill in central defence on the day Celtic became European champions.

‘He was a one-off, a strong guy. People talk about physicality and height but look at the modern game.

‘You have Messi, even Diego Maradona before him. Wee Jimmy was the same.

‘If he was playing now, I don’t think any coach would be able to change his style.

‘His control of the ball was exceptional and he would be a superstar today.’

At 75, Clark is still involved at Celtic as kit controller and reports daily to the club’s Lennoxtown training ground.

He doesn’t see another Johnstone emerging through the club’s youth academy but he believes Jinky would approve of winger Patrick Roberts, who is on loan at Celtic from Manchester City.

‘Patrick is a bit like that. He’s prepared to take people on and the fans like that,’ added Clark.

Jimmy Johnstone, produced by the awardwinning purpleTV, will air on BBC ALBA on Friday, at 9.30pm.