Lionel Messi will play at the Stadio San Paolo for the first time on Tuesday night when Barcelona face Napoli in the last 16 of the Champions League.
The Argentine's compatriot, Diego Maradona, is worshipped in those parts, having won two Serie A titles, one Coppa Italia, one Supercoppa Italiana and one UEFA Cup during his seven seasons there.
In Naples, Maradona is God and is often referred to in that way. He's seen as undoubtedly the best player in history and any mention of any other name offends the club's fans.
Those same supporters will be at the San Paolo on Tuesday, praying that Messi doesn't have his best game, and the Barcelona captain will have to deal with that.
"Diego is the God of football," Napoli boss Gennaro Gattuso said in his pre-match press conference.
"I watched him in videos and now I see photos, but I never saw him up close.
"I know the champion he was; I know that he was one of the best in the world.
"But at the moment, Messi is doing things that Maradona did."
"I did an interview saying that, for me, Messi is the best in the world, but Maradona is everything to the Napoli fans; he's sacred, so I don't make comparisons," Lorenzo Insigne said.
In the Napoli squad, there are some who value Messi higher than Maradona but, for the fans, there is no doubt.
MicahBalchan
636
Messi is the God of football Maradona doesn't even come close. and there's no one better than him just facts
febaimnrty
481
Mr Gatuso was right. Maradona remains the best ever. He was a tree that could make a forest in both Napoli and Argentina. He's widely execrated because of his drug cases and the "Hand of God" which he scored against England, the inventors of football. But bias apart, he's unarguably the best ever.
Alhadj86
439
That’s understandable, Maradonna gave everything to the Napolitains Side and Mesi is doing the same for Barcelona. So if Maradonna is sacred for Napoli fans, Messi is for the Barcelona fans too. Anyway we’ll able to watch a good game tomorrow night hopefully
real_ultras
402
As a captain and player what Maradona did for country and club cannot be repeated. Greatest of all time.
Kinglee1001
284
In the Napoli squad, there are some who value Messi higher than Maradona but, for the fans, there is no doubt. I HOPE THEY ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE FAN THAT CAME OUT TODAY
Profnick
233
Many people who are arguing with Gattuso have never seen Marradona play, get his DVD's go on Google, YouTube or whatever platform and feast on the magic of the "god" (I don't regard any man a god) of football. he was exactly what Messi is today. it's just like Pele and I would say CR7 is the Pele of our generation, we cannot take away the fact that Pele and Marradona are the two men who changed the face of football, nor can we take away the fact that CR7 and Messi are the men who have changed the conception of a complete footballer