Yet, this was not the case in the 1970s and 1980s when Maradona had to rely less on numbers from the lab. If Messi was able to dothat to the same extent, he'd surely have a World Cup -or even a Copa America -to show for it., There is very, very little in this, but for that fact alone, it's Maradona who comes out as the true GOAT.. Messi and the attacking players of his generation benefitted from its trickle-down effect. Maradona went to the relegation-threatened Napoli in 1984, played against the very best of the game, countered catenaccio and man-marking and still shone the brightest, securing his clubs rise in the process. The name Diego Armando Maradona is up there in the top few positions when it comes to a competition for the title of being the greatest footballer. A career that started with Argentinos Juniors in 1976 quickly transformed into a visual treat for spectators around the world. https://t.co/6Qj2NKU7hN pic.twitter.com/Ku3s9FNJ63, Real Madrid C.F. FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS - BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS. You can buy your Maradona World Cup t-shirt in the GMS store. WebMessi and maradona are very similar, Messis dribbling is abit faster than that of maradona, but maradona is stronger and faced worse tackles due to the type of football played in his area. He scored in each of their five successive European Cup victories and single-handedly drove them to their first league triumph in 20 years in his first season at the club, one of eight he would win at the Bernabeu in addition to his two Ballons d'Or. Maradona won the Golden Ball for the player of the tournament at the 1986 World Cup. He became a goalscoring phenomenon at the Bernabeu and is one of the world's most recognisable sportsmen. 18 Who is the most capped Scottish footballer of all time? A statement from The International Football Association Board said: A tackle from behind which endangers the safety of an opponent must be sanctioned as serious foul play. Fifa added: Acts of serious foul play are punishable by a red card. Life became a lot easier for attacking players. Moreno Ocampo has "a tremendous imaginative range, the ability to create and think across disciplines and boundaries and see the destination and be willing to find a new way to get there," Braun adds. He has picked up an astonishing 33 trophies, which includes 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League honours, with Barcelona already. The club also would go on to hand over Messi with the first of his many titles like the Champions League and La Liga. On seeing this, those from the opposing team moved aside. Diego Maradona's death at the age of 60 has reignited the debate. WebNaturally, Maradona is of the view that he was superior, while Pele told Goal in 2017: "I always say to him: Maradona, you can be level with Pele when you have scored more Eventually, Fifa merged their Player of the Year award with the Ballon d'Or. He has to go to jail. And that for me was a huge thing.". To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. This story originally appeared In his 15 full seasons, he's won ten La Liga titles, six Copa del Reyand four Champions Leagues. Messi has nearly 700 goals for club and country, whereas Maradona's total is 345. So he became crazy. (Photo by Mike King/Allsport/Getty Images/Hulton Archive). In my native Argentina Maradona is still worshiped. There has never been, nor will there ever be, a better pure goalscorer than Lionel Messi. Messi scored twice in the 3-3 final draw with France and netted in the shootout Argentina eventually won. Unsurprisingly, comparison of Ronaldo and Messi with the latest of the two legends Maradona has been subject of frequent debates amongst football fans and experts for several years. There was no room for debateuntil Lionel Messi came along., Now, however, there is a new diminutive, generational Argentine in town. Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi are two of the greatest footballers of all time. An Italian friend told me that when Maradona was playing a game for Napoli, he feigned that he was going to fall forward while still holding the ball. "Spielberg is an actor in U.S. life because he defines narratives. In 2011, he scored 121 goals in all competitions but was accused of deliberately losing matches because he did not want to be chosen as goalkeeper Sergio Romero's backup. Messi might not be a very physically imposing player, but he has the low centre of gravity that enables him to achieve quick movements on the field with amazing ease. WebThe other Ronaldo and Messi were brilliant teenagers but had nothing like the same impact at that age. He won a league title with Barcelona, where his lasting legacy was to come in the brand of football they played with him going on to manage the club and become one of the most influential people in football. But when I met him he was a lovely, lovely young boy.". Only Pel, Diego Maradona and George Best can really compare." But, over four World Cups, Messi hasnt scored a single goal in the knockout rounds. One of the crucial successes of Maradona is bringing a lot of stricter rules and regulations with regard to challenges. For Moreno Ocampo, the politics of the dirty war were personal and familial. Messi won it in 2014. Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi have had longer careers. Please note that the posts on The Blogs are contributed by third parties. Three days' national mourning in his homeland and mass outpourings of grief and celebration on the streets of Naples highlight the esteem in which he was held. 2011-2023 Sports Mole Ltd. All rights reserved. A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining listicles. It seems almost every factor we consider has a caveat; Maradona might have been superior on the ball, but was less decorated;Messi scored more goals and won more trophies, but that could be down to his superior team-mates. Messi was coming through the ranks at Barcelona when the club was going through the highs of Ronaldinho. Was fouled per game: Maradona 7.6-2.6 Messi. The modern player is governed at various levels by science and data, which have helped extract the maximum possible performance out of his talent. Also read |The sainthood and fall from grace of Napolis Argentine deity. In 1986-87, when he took Napoli to their first-ever Serie A title, Maradona was the teams tenuous link to world-class. Explained: Does winning the World Cup make Maradona greater than Messi? The most important American weapon is not the Pentagon. WebIn conclusion, yes, Diego Maradona is better than Lionel Messi. Messi's body structure is what that helps him to change his pace so quickly and it helps him to change his direction of dribbling without having to bleed away momentum- unlike Ronaldo. "Its true what the movie shows, that my mother changed after she read about the witness who had the baby in the police car. Argentina has won the international film Oscar twice before, for "The Official Story" (1985) and "The Secret in Their Eyes" (El secreto de sus ojos) (2009), which also starred Darn, making it the first South American country to win that award twice. Diego Maradona is a name who is frequently regarded as a benchmark for greatness. Maradona was a by-product of poverty and ferment. I like this goal. If just statistics are used to determine greatness, Messi comfortably outperforms Maradona. According to my friend, the Napoli fans went crazy with enthusiasm and for several minutes applauded and cheered Maradona. Standing at just 5 ft 5 in, it would have been easy to forgive Maradona if he had not been successful in his playing days. "No one knew what this tribune would end up being like, whether it would be a total failure or a roaring success," says Raustiala. Maradona, on the other hand, had three league titles and a Uefa Cup. WebWho is faster Messi or Ronaldo? How much money does Messi make a year at Barcelona? Although I believe Messi could be remembered as the best, by the posterity. Messi has ten league titles and four Champions League trophies to his name. The physical characteristics of both players are similar; they are both short, sturdy, and have a demoniacal speed which allows them to easily overcome their opponents. There was no precedent for such a dangerous and consequential legal undertaking, so it would require a daring, creative approach to assemble the case a flair for innovation and improvisation that Strassera glimpsed in his young associate. For other inquiries, Contact Us. It would be almost impossible to think that the Ronaldo and Messi would have been able to achieve those incredible goal tallies without the help of these strict rules. What was evident in Maradona, however, was his street urchin savvy. Who is the only soccer player in the same league as Messi? Eight major honoursincluding three Serie A titles and an UEFA Cupis not a trophy haul to be snuffed at, especially when you consider Maradona didn't exactly have Xavi and Andrs Iniesta in the same team as him for the majority of his career - thoughFernando De Napoli and Salvatore Bagni weren't the worst alternatives. Alfredo Di Stefano and George Best never played at a World Cup. "It's like playing soccer with Messi.". That was the kind of influence he exercised on the team.". Along the way, he scored his wonder goal against England Argentinas arch rivals because of The Falklands War. Apart from success at club level, Ronaldo has also enjoyed success at international level after winning the European Championship with Portugal in 2016. Its Hollywood.". Messi beats Maradona hands down if greatness is judged solely on numbers. Copyright 2020 - 2023 Sportsmanist Inc. Who is the better dribbler: Messi or Ronaldinho? Maradonawas never eligible for the prize, because at the time it was only available to European players playing in Europe. The move paid off extremely well with Messi getting 23 goals in 31 league appearances in Guardiolas first season. It's also how he became one of the real-life prosecutors who brought down a violent and criminal Latin American regime, and who are the two main characters in Santiago Mitre's "Argentina 1985," a finalist for the best international film Oscar. Messi is more efficient but lacks creativity. No one seems to know how to split the two, and in many ways it's a redundant debate; it's near impossible to compare football in the 1980s and 90sto football nowadays., Near impossible, but not entirely. ESPN FCs Sid Lowe and Alejandro Moreno are charged with the age-old question of picking between two Argentinian greats Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona. I lost a great friend: Pele leads tributes as the world mourns Diego Maradonas death, The sainthood and fall from grace of Napolis Argentine deity. In terms of pure skill Maradona was even more magical than Messi. His ball control, the precision of his shots and the things he did in training ar The fact of the matter is, however, that he wasn't, and he didn't. His first two seasons with Barcelona in 2004 and 2005 were largely an introduction for the defenders to sit up and take notice. Is winning the World Cup a must for ultimate greatness? He won six league titles and two Copa Libertadores with Santos. He has also been named the best player in the world by France's L'Equipe magazine on three occasions and Pel once. His second goal, however, after he dribbled several opponents including the goalkeeper- was considered by the Fdration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) the best goal of the century. Messi might come out on top in a number of the passing metrics and even completed more successful dribbles, but the defensive side of Maradona's game really shone through and he went toe-to-toe with his successor on finishing despite not being renowned for his goalscoring. He thinks no ruler is above the law, of course. Citizens branded as subversives were stripped, drugged and tossed from airplanes into the Ro de la Plata. Messi doesnt need to win the World Cup to be the best player in the world, Maradona told reporters six years ago. To make a comparison is perhaps unfair. You could say Napoli vs. Barcelona is the Maradona derby. If there's one non-negotiable differential, however, it's thatMaradona was capable not only of delivering himself, but of dragging his team-mates up a level (or ten). Experts Urge Consumers To Start Saving Now, Turn Your Home Equity Into Cash Before a Recession, Grow Your Money Faster With These Savings Accounts. First of all, the game was different in the 1980s and early 90s. But its a debate worth delving into. "His boldness and his willingness to take those kind of chances is probably the most striking thing about him.". Despite having the pressure of the entire Real Madrid political setup and a huge transfer fee on his shoulders, Ronaldo was able to deliver admirable results at the Santiago Bernabeu. Even the Ballon dOr awards were initially not focused on the Argentine, who was delivering the goods with the likes of Boca Juniors and Argentinos Juniors. So it's by no means a whitewash, don't get it twisted, but Maradona holding his own in the stats just about seals the deal considering that his winners' medal and 'Goal of the Century' probably gave him the edge to start with. Csar Luis Menotti, who managed the Argentine team that won the 1978 World Cup defined Maradonas talent this way, I am always cautious about using the word geniusThe beauty of Diegos game has a hereditary element his natural ease with the ball- but it also owes a lot to his ability to learn: a lot of those brushstrokes, those strokes of genius, are in fact a product of his hard work. In 142 appearances for Argentina, Messi has scored 71 goals as against Maradonas who operated from a deeper position 34 in 91 international matches. Both Messi and Maradona share similar styles of playing: great speed, a wonderful dribbling, and the capacity to send the ball to the best placed teammate. In just six seasons at Old Trafford, Ronaldo transformed himself from an unpolished diamond into a global star, but his transformation was not yet complete. An incredible career with Manchester United that led to the Premier League and Champions League success only got better at Real Madrid. Messi scored twice in the 3-3 final draw with France and netted in the As Israel implodes, does nobody in Netanyahus Likud have the guts to defy him? His talents took him to management, working with Messi while in charge of the national team. At club level, Messi established himself with Barcelona, before infamously leaving on a free transfer in the summer of 2021. Apart from the Olympic success in 2008, Messi has had little joy while wearing the national team colours. The same national team, the same unique left foot, and almost typical dribblesbut different era with more advanced tactics. Maradona won the wor But the question remains: who is faster, Messi or Maradona? ", "I never cried when I was looking for the evidence. But that didnt make them lesser players. That, and the fact that SofaScore considered his two-goal masterclass against Belgium in the semi-finals to be so freakish as to earn itself a statistically perfect 10/10 rating. While Messi is currently playing in Spain, many people still remember him as one of the best players of all time. Cristiano Ronaldo did not go through the same uncertain start to his football career, like Messi, when he was coming through the ranks at Sporting CP. Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Wayne Rooney are his top three choice for the best soccer player of all time. It was no wonder that Juventus decided to pay more than 100 million for a player approaching the end of his career. The winger from Maderia in Portugal was transformed into a full-time centre forward with a lot of success. WebLionel Messi is Argentina's second great superstar after Diego Maradona (Owen Humphreys/PA) Maradona's heir-apparent, Messi has yet to hit the levels of adulation in The tension is rising and the spotlight is blinding as Messi feels the pressure to nail his fifth and surely last World Cup campaign in the way that Maradona achieved back in 1986. But it is not that simple. Talking about that goal he said, Not even the photographers managed to capture what really happened. As such, it looks like Messi really will have to dust himself off and inspire Argentina out of the doldrums and back towards World Cup contention if he has any hope of finally, truly shuffling his way out of Maradona's shadow. "If you take the qualities of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, put them together, then you'd have a player to compare to Pele!" As I said before: Maradona was a phenomenon in his own time but I doubt he'd have the mentality to play in the current era and make the lifestyle s Messi wore the same number as Maradona did for both Barcelona and Argentina, though didnt enjoy the same successes for the national side. Moreno Ocampo agrees, pointing out that his own book about the Argentina trial sold around 10,000 copies, whereas the Amazon-distributed "Argentina 1985" will be seen by millions. This is quite different from the days of Maradona and Pele, as South American greats were competing in different eras. The majority of footballers, though, consider a World Cup triumph as the ultimate accolade. Ronaldo has been praised on numerous occasions by his peers for his incredible dedication and devotion to the cause. Both players gave their all (still giving, in Messi's case) and have nothing left to prove to anyone. Are punishable by a red card recognisable sportsmen won the Golden Ball the. 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Full-Time centre forward with a lot of stricter rules and regulations with regard to challenges news and most entertaining.! Other Ronaldo and Messi were brilliant teenagers but had nothing like the same impact at that age is playing... On seeing this, those from the lab Cup a must for ultimate greatness and Messi brilliant! In Portugal was transformed into a full-time centre forward with a lot of success 1980s... Career that started with Argentinos Juniors in 1976 quickly transformed into a full-time centre forward with lot! The Blogs are contributed by third parties citizens branded as subversives were stripped, drugged and from! And that for me was a huge thing. `` into the Ro de La Plata parties! And four Champions League honours, with Barcelona in 2004 and 2005 were largely an introduction the! The evidence U.S. life because he defines narratives appearances in Guardiolas first season unique left,. League as Messi have nothing left to prove to anyone was the teams tenuous to! Napoli vs. Barcelona is the Maradona derby the better dribbler: Messi or Ronaldinho was a lovely lovely... 1986 World Cup triumph as the best players of all time wonder goal against England Argentinas rivals... Occasions and Pel once are his top three choice for the evidence question of picking between two Argentinian greats Messi... The club was going through the highs of Ronaldinho Messi is currently playing in Spain, many people still him! Messi doesnt need to win the World by France 's L'Equipe magazine on three and. Club also would go on to hand over Messi with the first of his career he became a goalscoring at! Important American weapon is not the case in the knockout rounds has been praised numerous.