Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona are not only two of Argentina’s greatest ever players, they are arguably the best the world has ever seen.
When it comes to determining who the greatest ever footballer in history was, a number of global superstar names spring to mind: Pelé, Cruyff, Eusebio, Di Stefano, Best, Ronaldo... And there is no doubt that Argentina has provided two others for that at times heated discussion, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi.
Maradona and Messi: legends of the World Cup
The reason it is called the Beautiful Game is thanks to players like Maradona, who passed away in 2021, and Messi. When on the pitch, both showed their genius. One of my favourite stories of the late, great Diego was that told by England hero Gary Lineker, reliving the disbelief he and his teammates had while watching Maradona warm up with perceived “impossible” keepie-uppies. “Everyone was in awe of him.”
The closest anyone has come to replacing him is the current Argentine star. Messi also represented Barcelona, much more so in fact, and with his skills, interplay and goalscoring nous has left just as many onlookers with their mouths agape, searching for the latest superlative. Here are his World Cup performances ahead of the 2022 edition in a graphical nutshell.
The question that will never be fully answered, of course, is who is the greatest between the two. They played in different eras, on very different pitches and with significantly adapted rules. But, as Qatar nears its end, we can consider the World Cup careers of both of them for Argentina.
Let’s compare their records in FIFA’s showpiece tournament to date (graphics from SofaScore) and you can decide for yourself.
As you can see from the graphic below, Argentina have been crowned Kings of the World on two previous occasions, in 1978 and 1986. Can a Messi-led team make that number three, and engrave his name into the fabric of the national identity?
eggosa91
317
I didn't get to watch maradona play but I know he is a great player ........ but I am going for mēssi 🌝
MohsinH47
114
Please, does this need to be Compare ? One wins the World cup all by himself with unknown players and other one already took two fake retirement, ghosted in big moments. . Don't reply in my comment yet. just wait for today's game.
diwcioprst
58
Obviously Messiiiii
سردارایوب۔اکاخیل
29
We still believe that maradona is best because we are cr7 fans
Chop31
22
Please, does this need to be Compare ? One wins the World cup all by himself with unknown players and other one already took two fake retirement, ghosted in big moments. . Don't reply in my comment yet. just wait for today's game.
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Seriously from these photoshops it shows how frustrated your life is that’s why you can only remain online and be editing trash to show how much you hate Messi 😂😂😂😂 so since when FIFA started sanctioning players became they said they didn’t blue well? Was Pepe and Portugal players sanctioned for saying the referee was playing against them? So Messi should be sanctioned because he celebrated a goal? You went on to edit pic to show that the goalkeeper didn’t touch Messi which you know the goalkeeper touch him in the face that’s why you can’t edit that part Honestly kid get something doing and stop crying everywhere under all posts
Miwcdiklp
21
Please, does this need to be Compare ? One wins the World cup all by himself with unknown players and other one already took two fake retirement, ghosted in big moments. . Don't reply in my comment yet. just wait for today's game.
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can you list 2 achievement of your father like the way you talk about messi
ManUtdAmadDialo
12
Please, does this need to be Compare ? One wins the World cup all by himself with unknown players and other one already took two fake retirement, ghosted in big moments. . Don't reply in my comment yet. just wait for today's game.
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Thank God your stup1d opinion won't stop Argentina from winning the world cup
Kingz07
10
Please, does this need to be Compare ? One wins the World cup all by himself with unknown players and other one already took two fake retirement, ghosted in big moments. . Don't reply in my comment yet. just wait for today's game.
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Cry more clown 🤡..
ThaCharFeliz
8
Please, does this need to be Compare ? One wins the World cup all by himself with unknown players and other one already took two fake retirement, ghosted in big moments. . Don't reply in my comment yet. just wait for today's game.
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Messis Haters are working very hard yeeeeeeeeer!!