With Barcelona's Champions League clash against Napoli reigniting the Lionel Messi vs Diego Maradona debate, Hugo Gatti doesn't think the current Blaugrana captain is anywhere near as good as people say.
Gatti spent the majority of his career with Boca Juniors, and only retired in 1988 after making his debut in 1962 with Atlanta. He also played 18 times for the Argentine national team.
"He [Messi] is some way away from the players I saw," Gatti told El Chiringuito de Jugones. "And doesn't even get into the top echelon.
"The best in my lifetime was Pele, then Alfredo Di Stefano. The rest are further back, and even Ronaldinho, as his best, was better than Messi.
"I was at Boca and Argentina with Maradona. Diego is better. No discussion. Messi isn't better than him.
"And in addition, Diego cane alive with big moments, in important matches. Messi hasn't."
ishti
730
Two things:- 1) Either his wife is not allowing him to watch football these days. 2) He is long over due for a visit to an eye specialist.
liabeimtu
325
Messi scores or not Barcelona win or not .... maradona will always be greater than messi
Haireu
313
this people are the virus in Argentina. did Messi play really bad last night? he seem to take the opportunity to criticise Messi when result is not upto the expectations of football fans.
AtchaB
176
Hugo Gatti is a hater. Football back then wasn’t as spectacular as now. The game is getting much better and so are the players. I don’t see Maradona or Pele fitting into the new regulations of football.