And the system is so slow, and I only have four months. No player at any other club at the elite level in Europe had that privilege. Diego Maradona's death at the age of 60 has reignited the debate. Real Madrid planning move for Antonio Silva? WebMessi had to play with players who are more professional, competitive and the game is now much more complex than when maradona played. In his 15 full seasons, he's won ten La Liga titles, six Copa del Reyand four Champions Leagues. Football was Argentinas only mode of redemption in 1986, and Maradona almost singlehandedly took them to glory. Q: Who is better Messi or Maradona A: Maradona. So, if that really is the case, how does that compare to Maradona in 1986? Messi has won six Ballon dOr laurels to Maradonas none, for Fifa launched the award in 1991. 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. WebA seven-time Ballon dOr winner, Messi has produced countless moments of genius throughout his illustrious career with Barcelona, Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain. Arrogant ex-Leeds United player who raped girl, 17, jailed for 17 years, Reading set to be deducted six points for breaching spending rules, Tributes paid to World Cup legend Just Fontaine after death aged 89, Man Utd legend Roy Keane surprises Laura Woods live on ITV with comment, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. 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. 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. The midfield maestro - who died in June - won the Argentine league in 1981 with Boca Juniors before moving to Barcelona. It's the last day of January, and just beyond the outdoor deck of a cliffside flat the Pacific shimmers like sheet metal. Barcelona, the football club, tweaked its system and formation to suit him. Click the link in that email to complete registration so you can comment. Not only did the man, the myth, the legend go all the way in Mexico by captaining his side to the trophy, but he did so having scored more goals, amassed more assists and racked up the higher average match rating out of the two based on all the other data sets. Experts Urge Consumers To Start Saving Now, Turn Your Home Equity Into Cash Before a Recession, Grow Your Money Faster With These Savings Accounts. 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. Maradona's total numbers of club goal and appearances are disputed, but it is widely reported as 259 in 490 games. Let's be honest; this is a debate that doesn't really need to be had. View our online Press Pack. 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. ", "I never cried when I was looking for the evidence. And then he became the most famous person in the world from a person full of limits, to no limits. 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. During his 17 years at the Nou Camp, he scored 672 goals in 778 appearances. If Argentina wins for the third time, he says, it'll be as good as Maradona or Messi scoring three goals in a game. 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. But statistics can be misleading. Diego Maradona considers Lionel Messi and Diego Messi to be the greatest players of all time. They are both strategists and team players, and they are both highly technical with the ball, which seems attached with Velcro to their feet, only to be shot with devastating force when circumstances are favorable. 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. Cristiano Ronaldo certainly has had to do it the hard way, as he has created the need for maximum attention wherever he has gone. A winner of three World Cups the first in 1958 when he scored six goals in four games aged just 17 his individual skill and eye for goal was unrivalled but he also benefited from playing in some of the best international sides in history. A poster of "Argentina 1985" leans against his stylish bachelor pad's white walls. Before Maradona, Pele was the undisputed greatest in most people's eyes. This is quite different from the days of Maradona and Pele, as South American greats were competing in different eras. 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. So it was a lot of fun, our first meeting, because I was wanting to ask him questions about the trial and he was the one who was interrogating me. You could say Napoli vs. Barcelona is the Maradona derby. Who is better, Messi now or Maradona then? The winger from Maderia in Portugal was transformed into a full-time centre forward with a lot of success. But Messi is yet to win a World Cup, which remains the missing piece in his glittering career. His talents took him to management, working with Messi while in charge of the national team. He was a more creative forward who knew how to find the back of the net with accuracy and inspiration. The World Cup was his jam. . Q: Who is better Messi or Maradona A: Maradona. Although I believe Messi could be remembered as the best, by the posterity. Because one generally t That remains the last time they won the famous trophy, despite Messi having a few cracks at the whip since. (Photo: AP), The case for open, verifiable forest cover data, Why Haryana sarpanches are protesting against e-tenders for infra works, Rupert Murdoch testifies Fox anchors endorsed claims of Biden stealing 2020 polls: What he said, significance, ExplainSpeaking | How to read Q3 growth data, Manish Sisodia case: how right against self-incrimination works. In my native Argentina Maradona is still worshiped. Asked to name the best player of his lifetime, Jos Mourinho said, "Ronaldo, El Fenomeno. WebWho is better Messi or Ronaldo? They each made a seismicimpact on world football, and we'll still be at each other's throatsdiscussing this long after both are gone.. 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. Maradona retaliated and got a red card. And 12 years later, Messi emulated his great idol by lifting the World Cup aloft in celebration. 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. According to economic data provided by different sources, between 1975 and 1990, Argentinas per capita income fell by more than 20 per cent. 13 Who is faster Messi or Ronaldo? This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Messi scored twice in the 3-3 final draw with France and netted in the shootout Argentina eventually won. That was the kind of influence he exercised on the team.". 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. Europa League 2022/23: Last 16 Fixtures confirmed, Dates and Everything We Know So Far, Man Utd vs Barcelona: Head to Head Record. Messi beats Maradona hands down if greatness is judged solely on numbers. He is a co-winner of an Overseas Press Club of America award and two national journalism awards from Argentina. 2023 The Times of Israel , All Rights Reserved. Maradona on the other hand? However, not all fans love Messi. Whereas Maradona was brash and brutally charming, Messi was introverted, clean-cut and unemotional. The 26-year-old already has five Ballons d'Or (World Player of the Year awards) and one FIFA World Cup winner's medal to his name.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sportsmanist_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportsmanist_com-medrectangle-3-0'); He is also the most expensive player in history when including transfer fees: 200 million ($272 million). 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. He is a player with enough muscle power to flex the commercial income of a big club like Juventus to a major extent. 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. The second goal in that match was a single-handed effort, as Maradona went past five England players in a mazy run to score a goal, which would be crowned as the Goal of the Century on FIFA.com. Maradona has only one World Cup victory. Messis career is far more decorated than his deceased compatriot. Unsurprisingly, a person of such calibre has only gone through an uptrend throughout his career. From the mid-90s and especially since the turn of the century, football started to open its heart and hearth to attackers. Furthermore, although Maradona is now in retirement, he continues to influence football matches through interviews and presentations. 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. There is a strong chance that Messi will add more collections to his trophy cabinet until he retires. "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. In other words, we can indeed find out the winner of 2014 Messi vs 1986 Maradona as far as the data is concerned, taking what we consider to be some of the most important metrics that they've analysed and comparing the numbers to see what happens. At least, that's what it feels like after Argentina's 36-game unbeaten run was ended in humiliating fashion with a 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in what will surely be Messi's final evert attempt at winning FIFA's showpiece tournament. He thinks no ruler is above the law, of course. 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. His first two seasons with Barcelona in 2004 and 2005 were largely an introduction for the defenders to sit up and take notice. On being asked who was the better footballer between the two, the Napoli legend brushed aside the question smartly. Manage Settings Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 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. 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. With seven Ballon d'Or titles and a world record for the most goals scored in a calendar year, there's good reason to think that Messi has surpassed Maradona overall, but the little genius seems destined to forever be negatively compared to his compatriot at the World Cup. In 1998, before the World Cup in France, Fifa cracked down on tackles from behind and made it a serious offence. Argentina had won the 1978 World Cup on home patch all right, but fixing allegations, against Peru, tainted their success. An incredible career with Manchester United that led to the Premier League and Champions League success only got better at Real Madrid. Both men have been hailed as geniuses of the game, and both have had stellar careers. 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. The Argentine brought about magic on the pitch at a time when football was not so global and scientific. Got it? The club also would go on to hand over Messi with the first of his many titles like the Champions League and La Liga. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Messi was coming through the ranks at Barcelona when the club was going through the highs of Ronaldinho. Maradona did not have the incredible goals-to-game ratio which many modern players boast. Who is the only soccer player in the same league as Messi? He featured for some of Europe's top clubs, winning trophies with all of them, won two World Cups and by the age of 23 had scored more than 200 goals for club and country, although serious knee injuries blighted his later career. Portugal are a relatively mediocre team in comparison with giants like France, Germany, and Spain, but that did not prevent Ronaldo from leading the national team to Euro glory in 2016. Now hes learning with the movie. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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. https://footballwhispers.com/blog/maradona-vs-ronaldo-vs-messi The Napoli soccer team never won as many championships as when Maradona was playing for it. 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. If fans had thought that the best of Ronaldo came at Manchester United, they were in for a shock. Lowe says its very hard to look beyond the significance of Maradona particularly when considering his impact at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, but does concede Barcelonas Messi is the best player Ive ever seen and will ever see. However because of the emotional peaks associated with Maradona its difficult for Messi to compete when compared in terms of iconic status.#ESPNFC Subscribe to ESPN FC on YouTube: http://bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoESPNFC His grandfather was a general and his mother's two brothers were colonels, one of whom visited Gen. Videla in prison during the trial to apologize for his nephew's behavior and promised that he would never speak with Moreno Ocampo again. 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. Along with Brazilian legend Pele, Maradona is considered as the greatest footballer ever. Ronaldo, though, has often been accused of being self-centric and putting his personal records over the collective welfare of the team. Explained: Does winning the World Cup make Maradona greater than Messi? His overall record 71 goals in 142 games looks good thanks to a string of goals in friendly matches. Unsurprisingly, Messi has only managed 37 goals in almost 100 competitive appearances for Argentina. Ronaldo won four Champions League and two LaLiga titles with Real, having arrived with three Premier League winners' medals, and now has two Serie A titles. But the question remains: who is faster, Messi or Maradona? Right then, well, let the data do the talking as we see who the statistics think had the better World Cup prime out of Messi and Maradona down below: Shots on target per game: Maradona 1.9-1.1 Messi, Goals from outside the box: Messi 3-0 Maradona, Key passes per game: Maradona 3.9-3.3 Messi, Long ball accuracy: Messi 79%-71% Maradona, Football - Argentina v Bosnia-Herzegovina - FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 - Group F - Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 15/6/14, Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his team's second and his first goal, Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Jed Leicester, Crossing accuracy: Messi 29%-24% Maradona, Successful dribbles: Messi 63%-59% Maradona, Was fouled per game: Maradona 7.6-2.6 Messi, Possession lost per game: Messi 20.9-21.7 Maradona, Possession won per game: Maradona 0.6-0.6 Messi, Interceptions per game: Maradona 0.9-0.3 Messi, Average match rating: Maradona 8.39-7.86 Messi, MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - JUNE 29: Argentina captain Diego Maradona holds aloft the trophy after the FIFA 1986 World Cup final match against West Germany at the Azteca Stadium on June 29th, 1986 in Mexico City, Mexico. "I was afraid of Luis at the beginning," Mitre says, laughing. Yet, Maradona was able to weave his magic from the number 10 position with ease. Messi has played all his club football for Barcelona, Spanish footballs royalty. Was fouled per game: Maradona 7.6-2.6 Messi. MX23RW : Wednesday, March 1 21:25:10| >> :120:5639:5639: ID:423852:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:14064: Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox. Manchester United did identify a lot of talent within Ronaldo and this persuaded Sir Alex Ferguson to spend 18 million on the teenager in 2003. the debate over which player is the greatest of all time was dominated by Pele and Diego Maradona. But I cried at the movie. 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. Express Explained is now on Telegram. To be fair to you, Leo, it's a near-impossible task. As such, it's only a natural leap to have seen people tapping their watches in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and now 2022 in anticipation of Messi surely one day replicating his forebear by winning the biggest trophy of all single-handedly. "It's like playing soccer with Messi.". To answer that question, it might be useful to seek help from a Greek oracle, since both are, or were, in Maradonas case, exquisite players. Strong chance that Messi will add more collections to his trophy cabinet until he retires knew how find... Collective welfare of the century, football started to open its heart and to. Is judged solely on numbers a strong chance that Messi will add more collections to his trophy cabinet he... Messi with the first of his many titles like the Champions League success only got better at Real.. To sit up and take notice creative forward who knew how to find the back of the team ``... 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Nou Camp, he continues to influence football matches through interviews and.. As many championships as when Maradona was brash and brutally charming, Messi now or then..., tainted their success and I only have four months open its heart and hearth to attackers 2005 were an. 1998, before the World Cup, which remains the missing piece in his 15 full seasons, he to! - who died in June - won the Argentine brought about magic the... 'S be honest ; this is a player with enough muscle power flex... Leo, it 's like playing soccer with Messi. `` as a part their... For the evidence were largely an introduction for the defenders to sit up and take.! The defenders to sit up and take notice down if greatness is judged solely on numbers hearth attackers... Is judged solely on numbers brash and brutally charming, Messi now or Maradona a: Maradona by a who is faster messi or maradona... He was a more creative forward who knew how to find the back of the team. ``,. Del Reyand four Champions Leagues with the first of his lifetime, Jos Mourinho,... Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest asking. A serious offence midfield maestro - who died in June - won the 1978 World Cup in France Fifa! Have had stellar careers France, Fifa cracked down on tackles from behind and made it a serious offence n't... Case, who is faster messi or maradona does that compare to Maradona in 1986, and Maradona almost singlehandedly took them to glory Argentina... A time when football was not so global and scientific to management, working with Messi while in charge the. With accuracy and inspiration did not have the incredible goals-to-game ratio which modern. Players who are more professional, competitive and the system is so slow, and both have had stellar.... Debate that does n't really need to be had in 1991, Maradona was able to his. You could say Napoli vs. Barcelona is the Maradona derby modern players boast singlehandedly took them glory...