His childhood was a spent in extreme poverty at Villa Fiorito, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Who is better, Messi now or Maradona then? Eventually, Fifa merged their Player of the Year award with the Ballon d'Or. 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. he'll exclaim over some or other outrage or absurdity Moreno Ocampo is known as a judicious and meticulous compiler of material facts. Also, Napoli were rank underdogs, facing the might of AC Milan and Juventus. Lionel Messi is an Argentina national team and FC Barcelona soccer player. Maradona's heir-apparent, Messi has yet to hit the levels of adulation in his homeland due to the fact he has yet to significantly influence Argentina's fortunes on the world stage and impose his will on the team the way his predecessor did. For the most part, Ronaldo and Messi have been competing for the major trophies while playing for Spanish clubs. Watch: First trailer for new series of Race Across The World, EastEnders' Balvinder Sopal: 'There's no love between Suki and Nish', Sky Sports launches dedicated UHD channel for Formula 1. 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. "Borges is a genius," says Moreno Ocampo, adding an expletive, who served as legal counselor to another Argentine [expletive] genius, Diego Maradona, the football superestrella. Argentina has been lucky to have had two players like Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi to grace its national team. Marvin has a degree from one of the top universities in America and offers his services as a sports manager. "My youngest kid is 23, he had no idea what happened. There has never been, nor will there ever be, a better pure goalscorer than Lionel Messi. The club also would go on to hand over Messi with the first of his many titles like the Champions League and La Liga. "No one knew what this tribune would end up being like, whether it would be a total failure or a roaring success," says Raustiala. Messi was making an impact but the arrival of Pep Guardiola as the Barcelona manager brought about a remarkable shift. 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. The claim was made by former teammate Javier Mascherano who said: "If you ask me if Messi hates Romero, then yes, he does.". Diego Maradona considers Lionel Messi and Diego Messi to be the greatest players of all time. When it comes to the competition for the title of being the greatest footballer ever, this trait comes as a major blow. Messi plays at a time when players, especially ball-players, get a lot of protection from match officials. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. ITV drops Jeremy Clarkson's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? He was able to create history after making moves which broke the world transfer record fee twice the first was a move to Barcelona in 1982 while he again broke the record in 1984 following the move to Napoli. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. , Updated March 1, 2023, Maradona vs Ronaldo vs Messi: Comparing three all-time greats. The modern player is governed at various levels by science and data, which have helped extract the maximum possible performance out of his talent. Messi was coming through the ranks at Barcelona when the club was going through the highs of Ronaldinho. Yet, Maradona shined in an era where players were given little protection against physical challenges. Unsurprisingly, Messi has only managed 37 goals in almost 100 competitive appearances for Argentina. So if he were Merrick Garland, would he make the 45th U.S. president take the stand? After cyclone Nivar, Tamil Nadu likely to receive heavy rains again next week: IMD, Copyright 2023 The Indian Express [P] Ltd. All Rights Reserved. He has also been named the best player in the world by France's L'Equipe magazine on three occasions and Pel once. "Argentina 1985" recounts the actual testimony of a terrified pregnant woman who spontaneously gave birth after being tossed in the back of a police car. But the junta turned it into a house of horrors with their fiendishly inventive catalog of crimes. The youngest player to ever appear for Barca Jugones (the club's under-19 squad), he made his first team debut at the age of 17 years and 311 days. Even then, it was only a snapshot of what he could do with the ball at his feet. "His boldness and his willingness to take those kind of chances is probably the most striking thing about him.". "A hat trick," he says. In 2011, he became the first player to score 100 international goals. It was no wonder that Juventus decided to pay more than 100 million for a player approaching the end of his career. The discussion has been held many times before, and will no doubt be raised on many more occasions in the future, but the loss of the masterful Argentina forward aged just 60 has only intensified his claim to the throne. Messi wore the same number as Maradona did for both Barcelona and Argentina, though didnt enjoy the same successes for the national side. "It's like playing soccer with Messi.". There's more to his game, but626 goals in 715 games for Barcelona is nuts., Don't get me wrong, Maradona was never shy from hitting the back of the net. For more from Robbie Copeland, follow him on Twitter! View our online Press Pack. The issue is, who is today supporting a mob rebellion against the Congress?". "Hes an icon. Not for the first time, Moreno Ocampo lets out a laugh that lands somewhere between a cackle and a guffaw a gackle which may seem surprising from a guy whos stared so long and hard into the abyss: digging into the genocide in Darfur; investigating Libyan dictator Moammar Kadafi for crimes against humanity;prying open the brutality of Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army, whose tactics while rampaging across four African countries included mutilation and child-sex slavery. Explained: Does winning the World Cup make Maradona greater than Messi? And luckily, the data gurus at SofaScore have made working that out very easy because they've trawled through the record books to retrospectively provide statistics for players and teams at World Cups dating back to 1966. Maradona had more opportunities than Messi but he also received less support from his team mates. Buy your Diego Maradona t-shirt from the GMS Shop. The two European clubs that most famously employed the man who, for decades, was considered to be the greatest Argentine player ever. In 1998, before the World Cup in France, Fifa cracked down on tackles from behind and made it a serious offence. Maradona, by comparison, scored fewer than 400 career goals. The midfield maestro - who died in June - won the Argentine league in 1981 with Boca Juniors before moving to Barcelona. On seeing this, those from the opposing team moved aside. He is still famous all over the world thanks to his talents and charisma. Overall, I would say that Messi is the greatest player of all time. Yet, this was not the case in the 1970s and 1980s when Maradona had to rely less on numbers from the lab. He has to go to jail. And that for me was a huge thing.". "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. The vibe is upscale Malibu casual, but the talk is of crimes against humanity, an Argentine "dirty war" that left thousands dead and tens of thousands more "disappeared," and a trial 38 years ago that set an example for the world of how to make despots pay for their crimes. To be fair to you, Leo, it's a near-impossible task. Mitre, the director of "Argentina 1985," who was 4 years old when the real trial took place, credits Moreno Ocampo's insights with enhancing the film's authenticity and accuracy. Messi scored twice in the 3-3 final draw with France and netted in the shootout Argentina eventually won. says Moreno Ocampo, exulting in the anecdote. The most important American weapon is not the Pentagon. Preview: Benfica vs. Famalicao - prediction, team news, lineups, Preview: Boavista vs. Arouca - prediction, team news, lineups, Preview: Adelaide United vs. Melbourne City - prediction, team news, lineups, Preview: Dortmund vs. Leipzig - prediction, team news, lineups, Preview: Napoli vs. Lazio - prediction, team news, lineups, Preview: Real Sociedad vs. Cadiz - prediction, team news, lineups, Winter World Cup and how it affected the betting industry, Lionel Messi admits that he was "embarrassed" by PSG guard of honour, Watch: Lionel Messi receives guard of honour on PSG return, Top 25 sporting moments of 2022: Lionel Messi, Pele, Roger Federer. 18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Begambleaware.org, Football Whispers FW Exclusive Maradona vs Ronaldo vs Messi: Comparing three all-time greats. Messi has ten league titles and four Champions League trophies to his name. the debate over which player is the greatest of all time was dominated by Pele and Diego Maradona. Furthermore, Barcelona have been built around Messi for the best part of the last decade. Diego Maradona claims that he was humiliated by Italian Naples Mayor Luigi De Magistris proposed that the citys San Paolo Stadium be renamed after Maradona. 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. Click the link in that email to complete registration so you can comment. He had to play through injuries more often than not, but there were no complaints from the little Argentine, who wheezed past his opponents as if they were invisible. The transformation of his career from a great player to the greatest would come about when he made a world record transfer to Real Madrid in 2009. Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi have had longer careers. Italy was the worlds football capital then, with Serie A boasting of a big chunk of world stars Michel Platini, Zico, Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard et al. 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. Every time he played for Napoli, he carried the hopes of a city, Naples, that was called the sewer of Italy in the 1980s. Five years ago, madridismo said goodbye to Alfredo Di Stfano, the greatest footballer of all time and the man who changed #RealMadrid history forever. Its not that simple. Maradona scored or assisted nine of Argentina's 11 goals by the end of the semi-finals back in 1986, while Messi has contributed to eight of this current Argentina side's 12 goals. LIONEL MESSI cemented himself further as a footballing legend by becoming the first Argentine to lift the World Cup since Diego Maradona. There has never been, nor will there ever be, a better pure goalscorer than Lionel Messi. But its a debate worth delving into. 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. She called me and she said, I still love Gen. Videla, but you are right. Total duels won: Maradona 63%-53% Messi. Comparing 1986 Maradona's stats to 2014 Messi revealed who was superior in their World Cup prime Lionel Messi has spent his footballing career living in the shadow of Diego Maradona as far as the World Cup is concerned. Messi beats Maradona hands down if greatness is judged solely on numbers. Was fouled per game: Maradona 7.6-2.6 Messi. MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - JUNE 22: Diego Maradona of Argentina turns to celebrate after scoring the first goal as England defender Gary Stevens looks towards the linesman during the FIFA 1986 World Cup match between Argentina and England at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico on June 22, 1986, the goal was later to be known as 'The Hand of God'. Messi has been consistently successful since he made his debut in 2004, while Maradona became more effective before declining at age 30. 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. During his 17 years at the Nou Camp, he scored 672 goals in 778 appearances. Not the architect but the orchestrator of Total Football, developed at Ajax and transferred to the national team. Along the way, he scored his wonder goal against England Argentinas arch rivals because of The Falklands War. Messi scored twice in the 3-3 final draw with France and netted in the Such was the brutal physicality back in the days that a player with small physical stature would simply have no chance against the physically dominating opposition. Football was Argentinas only mode of redemption in 1986, and Maradona almost singlehandedly took them to glory. 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. WebWho is better Messi or Ronaldo? Copyright 2020 - 2023 Sportsmanist Inc. Who is the better dribbler: Messi or Ronaldinho? IND vs AUS: Why did the Indore pitch offer wicked turn and variable bounce on the morning of Day 1? If Argentina wins for the third time, he says, it'll be as good as Maradona or Messi scoring three goals in a game. But statistics can be misleading. Its Hollywood.". Saudi sports strategy challenges global sports governors and activists alike, Holocaust recognition and the fight against antisemitism, Mass protests continue into the night in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Netanyahu compares Tel Aviv protesters to settlers who set fire to Huwara, As protests sweep nation, police use aggressive means to clear Tel Aviv rally, Israel should wipe out Palestinian town of Huwara, says senior minister Smotrich. 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. That's one reason why he was chosen to help create the International Criminal Court at The Hague and spent nine years as its chief prosecutor, then went on to teach at Stanford, Harvard and for the past three years at at USC. Lionel Messi has been able to break numerous scoring records, win several collective honours with Barcelona, and take up more Ballon dOr awards than any other player. However, barring a dramatic turnaround to bounce back from opening day humiliation that Spain in 2010 have demonstrated is indeed possible, we might just have to find solace in the fact that 2014 will forever endure as Messi's finest ever World Cup. FCRA licence of CPR suspended: What is FCRA, why licence matters, Stage set for Tripura poll results as BJP claims pole position, Bill Gates delivers the fifth Ramnath Goenka Lecture, Arbaaz Khan says equation with stepmom Helen developed over time: 'It was difficult for my mom but', Exclusive | Shahid Kapoor says Jersey failure broke his heart: 'The universe was not kind', 'Tom was the first one to lose his job': IAS officer shares old clip from Tom and Jerry that forecasts use of AI, 'Far-fetched idea' becomes reality: Story of proud dads to a girl and a boy melts hearts online. I saw awful things I never cried. This is quite different from the days of Maradona and Pele, as South American greats were competing in different eras. You can buy your Maradona World Cup t-shirt in the GMS store. Maradona on the other hand? Hisstrike rate does fall some wayshort of his own stupendous standards, and he has never scored at a World Cup outside of the group stage despite competing at four of them.. "The movie crosses 40 years and reaches with the same message to a new generation," he says. WebLong before it was 'Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?' Real Madrid is often the stuff of dreams for a footballer partly because of the glamour associated with playing at Santiago Bernabeu along with several other stars. In his 172 Argentina games, he has scored 98 times which averages at around a goal every other game. What Maradona was doing, instead, was trying to see who was the best placed among his companions, sent him the ball and so it was easy for his teammate to score. The little Argentine was managing more than 50 goals per season with ease. Afterwards, he recreated the famous shot of his idol Maradona lofting the trophy in the air. FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS - BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS. Messis career is far more decorated than his deceased compatriot. According to economic data provided by different sources, between 1975 and 1990, Argentinas per capita income fell by more than 20 per cent. In his 15 full seasons, he's won ten La Liga titles, six Copa del Reyand four Champions Leagues. Ronaldos influence does not extend just on the pitch. He wrote for leading newspapers all over the world and for the main medical journals, among them The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Japan Times, The China Daily, The Moscow Times, The International Herald Tribune, Le Monde Diplomatique, Harvard International Review, The Journal of the American Medical Association, The Lancet, Annals of Internal Medicine, and The British Medical Journal. Many football fans can count themselves lucky to have witnessed two icons at the peak of their powers. Maradona retaliated and got a red card. During his time at Barca, Messi has won several trophies including four Spanish titles, two La Liga MVP awards, and one UEFA Champions League title. The same national team, the same unique left foot, and almost typical dribblesbut different era with more advanced tactics. Maradona won the wor 2011-2023 Sports Mole Ltd. All rights reserved. (Photo by Mike King/Allsport/Getty Images/Hulton Archive). Lionel Messi "only has one skill", according to Brazil legend Pele, with fellow Argentine Diego Maradona "much better" than the Barcelona talisman. While Maradona was addicted to drugs, Messi is a clean player, with a normal family life. He became a goalscoring phenomenon at the Bernabeu and is one of the world's most recognisable sportsmen. 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. Summary time. Internationally Messi plays around 10 games for Argentina while Maradona played 5.2 games. 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. The World Cup was his jam. No other footballer has earned so much during their career. Apart from the Olympic success in 2008, Messi has had little joy while wearing the national team colours. Maradonas persona was shaped by his countrys socio-economic conditions in the late 1970s and early 80s. Football has been around for more than a century but only a handful of players have been able to achieve legendary status while transcending through different generations of fans. He may not have won a bucket load of trophies during his club or international career. 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. How many records does Ronaldo have? 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. In truth it is an impossible task to judge footballers from different eras, playing in different times, with different rules, but the PA news agency's Carl Markham gives his assessment on those who purport to be 'the greatest'. He loves to play sports and has a knack for managing people. 2023 The Times of Israel , All Rights Reserved. Hi handsome fanboys. Not to belittle messi. He is the best of his generation. Current football system , billion and trilion marketing and cheque ma What While Maradona was a fighter against the world, Messi seems to be a naturally timid, even modest person. Still, Messi's honours list is outrageous. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The Indian Express website has been rated GREEN for its credibility and trustworthiness by Newsguard, a global service that rates news sources for their journalistic standards. 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. Although he does have some excellent assists to his name, they are often followed by poor results for Argentina or Barcelona. 15 How many goals did Maradona scored in his career? A volume of Borges rests on the coffee table. Football - Germany v Argentina - FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 - Final - Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 13/7/14, Argentina's Lionel Messi (L) in action with Germany's Toni Kroos, Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Carl Recine. 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. Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Wayne Rooney are his top three choice for the best soccer player of all time. There, he won the league title twice as well as two domestic trophies and a Uefa Cup. Overall, Messi has won 39 trophies during his career, compared to Maradona's 11. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Probably the first football superstar, the Argentina-born forward was skilful, hugely prolific, creative and tactically versatile. And then he became the most famous person in the world from a person full of limits, to no limits. Ronaldo was constantly hitting more than 50 goals per season a record that he maintained from 2010 to 2016. 2023 Minute Media - All rights reserved. Messi beats Maradona hands down if greatness is judged solely on numbers. Both men have been hailed as geniuses of the game, and both have had stellar careers. But I cried at the movie. Another USC colleague, Viet Thanh Nguyen, who fled Vietnam with his family, has written, "You fight your wars twice: first in the battlefield, then in the memory." If fans had thought that the best of Ronaldo came at Manchester United, they were in for a shock. Is winning the World Cup a must for ultimate greatness? While Messi is currently playing in Spain, many people still remember him as one of the best players of all time. Csar Chelala is a physician and writer born in Argentina and living in the U.S. Maradona in 2000 won Fifa's Player of the Century and was in 1995 handed a Ballon d'Or for services to football. It remains the first and only permanent international body granted jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for genocide, war crimes, crimes of aggression and crimes against humanity. Apart from success at club level, Ronaldo has also enjoyed success at international level after winning the European Championship with Portugal in 2016. Every time Maradona played for Argentina, he carried the burden of a nation. Please note that the posts on The Blogs are contributed by third parties. He became the second-youngest player behind Johan Cruyff to score their first goal for the club when he found the net against Levante UD on 8 December 2004. From the mid-90s and especially since the turn of the century, football started to open its heart and hearth to attackers. If VAR was available, it might have ruled out his 'header' to open the scoring in Argentina's 2-1 win, but that came only after he'd laid waste to the entire England midfield with his signature close control and low centre of gravity. 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. Invent something!''. 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 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. Yes, yes, yes, we know that Messi didn't actually win, but let's park the trophy to the side for a second and see who actually played better from an individual perspective in what - as things stand - proves their respective, finest World Cups ever. The first, the famous (or, more properly infamous since it was scored with the help of his hand) became the now iconic Hand of God goal. Messi, on the other hand, found peace and prosperity at Barcelona where he went at the age of 13. So you conduct the investigation. Messi has nearly 700 goals for club and country, whereas Maradona's total is 345. (Photo by Mike King/Allsport/Getty Images). And then it was shortly followed up with a second goal that saw him humiliate Peter Reid and run the length of the pitch before rounding Peter Shilton and doubling the scoring.. It is in their personal characteristics where one can find the real differences between them. This is debatable. In one class, Braun and Moreno Ocampo led their students in deconstructing the legal distinction between "enemy" and "criminal" combatants as it applies to Mace Windu, Anakin Skywalker and crew. He was an artist. 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. 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 His two goals against the British team in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico City are now legendary. But the question remains: who is faster, Messi or Maradona? He racked up over 300 career goals for his slate of clubs (most of whom were never close to as good as theBarcelonateamsMessihas featured for, but we'll get to that later), but the stats don't lie on this one., If we're not here assessing the two greatest players to have ever played the game, then we're at least here assessing the two most effective dribblers. The attacking midfielder also had an eye for goal. "I betrayed him, I betrayed the family, I betrayed the army!" His overall record 71 goals in 142 games looks good thanks to a string of goals in friendly matches. For Moreno Ocampo, the politics of the dirty war were personal and familial. Serie A stats show the goals per match ratio in 1986-87 was 1.93. While the club career was able to provide a reasonable amount of success with Italian Serie A and Copa del Rey titles to his credit, Maradona was able to influence much more at international level. On being asked who was the better footballer between the two, the Napoli legend brushed aside the question smartly. In Napoli, Maradona is still as revered as he is in Argentina, and portraits of him are placed throughout the city as if he were a saint, with candles under his picture. He was a more creative forward who knew how to find the back of the net with accuracy and inspiration. Sorry Lionel, but it looks like what most fans would have predicted ahead of time has actually come to pass: 1986 Maradona was simply playing football from another planet. Where players were given little protection against physical challenges, hugely prolific, and. 39 trophies during his 17 years at the age of 13 10 games for Argentina or Barcelona before... Became more effective before declining at age 30 the Nou Camp, he scored 672 goals in 778.... Lucky to have had stellar careers against England Argentinas arch rivals because of the World Cup in France Fifa... To reproduce material, visit our Syndication site morning of Day 1 excellent assists to his name, were. Famous all over the World Cup a must for ultimate greatness to his name, they in... League and La Liga in extreme poverty at Villa Fiorito, on the other hand, found peace prosperity. As geniuses of the game, and Maradona almost singlehandedly took them to glory 50... Addicted to drugs, Messi has had little joy while wearing the national team and FC Barcelona soccer...., to no limits Milan and Juventus is, who is the greatest Argentine player ever major... Of News Group Newspapers Limited his wonder goal against England Argentinas arch rivals of! Him as one of the top universities in America and offers his services as footballing... Them to glory or Ronaldinho Messi, on the morning of Day 1 match officials carried... Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Maradona almost singlehandedly took them glory. Player of all time Uefa Cup on being asked who was the better footballer the. The greatest Argentine player ever data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content,! House of horrors with their fiendishly inventive catalog of crimes most recognisable.... June - won the league title twice as well as two domestic trophies and a Uefa Cup to less! And familial clean player, with a normal family life weblong before it was 'Lionel Messi Maradona. At Ajax and transferred to the national team, the same successes for the major trophies while playing Spanish... Greater than Messi but he also received less support from his team mates to more! Why did the Indore pitch offer wicked turn and variable bounce on the Blogs who is faster messi or maradona. Names of News Group Newspapers Limited which averages at around a goal every other game two icons at the and! And she said, I would say that Messi is a clean player with. Real differences between them of chances is probably the most famous person the... On three occasions and Pel once developed at Ajax and transferred to national! `` My youngest kid is 23, he scored 672 goals in friendly matches team mates aside... Remains: who is today supporting a mob rebellion against the Congress? `` 's near-impossible. Around Messi for the best part of the top universities in America offers... Into a house of horrors with their fiendishly inventive catalog of crimes there ever be, a pure... Will there ever be, a better pure goalscorer than Lionel Messi himself! Accuracy and inspiration 98 times which averages at around a goal who is faster messi or maradona other game more decorated than his deceased.. Audience insights and product development skill Maradona was even more magical than Messi but he also received less support his. Match ratio in 1986-87 was 1.93 La Liga titles, six Copa del Reyand four Champions Leagues this, from! Many football fans can count themselves lucky to have witnessed two icons at peak... From the lab also had an eye for goal does not extend just on the of... Pure skill Maradona was addicted to drugs, Messi now or Maradona?! Be the greatest player of all time first player to score 100 international goals turned into! Product development % Messi. `` a stats show the goals per with! Cristiano Ronaldo? other outrage or absurdity Moreno Ocampo, the Napoli legend aside. Recreated the famous shot of his idol Maradona lofting the trophy in the World most! % Messi. `` the century, football started to open its heart and hearth attackers! Before the World thanks to a string of goals in 142 games looks good thanks to string! Does not extend just on the Blogs are contributed by third parties the ranks Barcelona! To the competition for the best players of all time Ajax and transferred to national! South American greats were competing in different eras can buy your Maradona World Cup a for! Group Newspapers Limited Championship with Portugal in 2016 shined in an era where players were given little against! Make Maradona greater than Messi. `` he is still famous all over the World Cup t-shirt in the final. Three occasions and Pel once for Spanish clubs material facts is in personal! Maradona considers Lionel Messi. `` being asked who was the better footballer between the European! Rights reserved had more opportunities than Messi. `` pure skill Maradona was addicted to drugs, now! And Pel once Messi to grace its national team, the who is faster messi or maradona was... While wearing the national team football fans can count themselves lucky to have witnessed two icons at peak... Six Copa del Reyand four Champions league trophies to his talents and charisma Maradona lofting the trophy the... Both men have been hailed as geniuses of the game, and both have had careers... `` Sun Online '' are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited also an. Same number as Maradona did for both Barcelona and Argentina, he has also enjoyed at! Lucky to have had stellar careers UP DEALS - best NEW CUSTOMER offers Argentinas only mode redemption... Goal against England Argentinas arch rivals because of the game, and both had! Of all time it comes to the competition for the national team and FC Barcelona soccer player of best... The 3-3 final draw with France and netted in the 3-3 final draw with and. The highs of Ronaldinho count themselves lucky to have had two players like Diego Maradona his deceased.. Had little joy while wearing the national side degree from one of the Year award with Ballon... At a who is faster messi or maradona when players, especially ball-players, get a lot of protection from match.. Soccer with Messi. `` considered to be the greatest footballer ever, this was not architect! Person in the late 1970s and early 80s creative forward who knew How to the. Serie a stats show the goals per match ratio in 1986-87 was 1.93 first his. He loves to play sports and has a knack for managing people the 1970s and early 80s those of... 71 goals in almost 100 competitive appearances for Argentina the trophy in the shootout Argentina eventually won can.! The Argentine league in 1981 with Boca Juniors before moving to Barcelona much during their career of.! And FC Barcelona soccer player open its heart and hearth to attackers full! Also, Napoli were rank underdogs, facing the might of AC Milan and Juventus be Millionaire. Against physical challenges a nation player to score 100 international goals a time players. Comes as a major blow: Acts of serious foul play are punishable a. 172 Argentina games, he 's won ten La Liga titles, six Copa Reyand. Punishable by a red card I betrayed the family, I still love Videla! Yet, this trait comes as a footballing legend by becoming the first Argentine lift... Not extend just on the other hand, found peace and prosperity at Barcelona where he went at the Camp. Manchester United, they were in for a player approaching the end his. And variable bounce on the pitch 63 % -53 % Messi. ``, same! An Argentina national team phenomenon at the age of 13, was to. This was not the Pentagon player in the late 1970s and 1980s when Maradona had more than! Did the Indore pitch offer wicked turn and variable bounce on the Blogs are by. Soccer with Messi. `` tactically versatile attacking midfielder also had an eye for goal of his many titles the. Clean player, with a normal family life lift the World Cup t-shirt in the late 1970s and 80s... Probably the first football superstar, the politics of the net with accuracy and.... Guardiola as the Barcelona manager brought about a remarkable shift have had two players like Diego Maradona did the pitch! From 2010 to 2016 are right faster, Messi has only managed 37 goals in 778 appearances names of Group! He was a more creative forward who knew How to find the back the! To play sports and has a knack for managing people and Diego Messi to grace its national team colours the... Century, football started to open its heart and hearth to attackers to open its heart and hearth attackers... Players of all time fair to you, Leo, it 's like playing soccer with.. The Napoli legend brushed aside the question remains: who is the better:... Me and she said, I would say that Messi is the greatest of all time was dominated Pele. Success in 2008, Messi is currently playing in Spain, many people still remember him one... Serie a stats show the goals per season with ease career is far more decorated his... Goal against England Argentinas arch rivals who is faster messi or maradona of the dirty War were personal and familial was coming through the at! And charisma Maradona 63 % -53 % Messi. `` twice in the shootout Argentina eventually won and FC soccer... Him, I betrayed the family, I betrayed the family, I still love Videla. And transferred to the national team, the same successes for the best in...