The World Cup was his jam. 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. 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. "Hes an icon. From the mid-90s and especially since the turn of the century, football started to open its heart and hearth to attackers. Messi has scored over 700 goals for club and country, while Maradonas tally stopped at 345. 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. There has never been, nor will there ever be, a better pure goalscorer than Lionel Messi. There is a huge drop in Messis goal tally for Argentina even when the team has been built to suit his personality. Maradona who died on November 25, 2020 came from the humblest of homes to become the most celebrated soccer player of his generation. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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). WebIn conclusion, yes, Diego Maradona is better than Lionel Messi. It's no surprise that Messi has been so often compared to Maradona seeing as they're both left-footed, diminutive Argentinean males considered by many to be the standout player of their generation. Five years ago, madridismo said goodbye to Alfredo Di Stfano, the greatest footballer of all time and the man who changed #RealMadrid history forever. During his 17 years at the Nou Camp, he scored 672 goals in 778 appearances. Yet, this was not the case in the 1970s and 1980s when Maradona had to rely less on numbers from the lab. 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. That's not quite true, to be fair; if 70 goals in 138 caps isn't 'doing it' then what is?, The criticisms aren't entirely without merit, however. Maradona's Argentina team-mate Jorge Valdano put it best: "The scope of his celebrity was such that he absorbed all the pressures on behalf of his team-mates. (Photo by Mike King/Allsport/Getty Images/Hulton Archive). You despair to think about how good a player Maradona might have been if he was pushed to meet 21st century standards of professionalism and had a Cristiano Ronaldo alongside him all the way. 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. If Messi was able to dothat to the same extent, he'd surely have a World Cup -or even a Copa America -to show for it., There is very, very little in this, but for that fact alone, it's Maradona who comes out as the true GOAT.. . Ronaldos influence does not extend just on the pitch. He is also known for his skill with a ball, his elegance on the field, and his charity work off it. 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'. Cristiano Ronaldo certainly has had to do it the hard way, as he has created the need for maximum attention wherever he has gone. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Messi is the first Argentine to captain the side to glory since Maradona, Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup replicating his idol Diego Maradona, among the greatest sports stars to ever live, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). 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. An ultra-consistent performer, Messi has scored almost 800 career goals for club and country. As individuals, Messi has a record SEVEN Ballon d'Or wins to his name. He was so poor. If there's one non-negotiable differential, however, it's thatMaradona was capable not only of delivering himself, but of dragging his team-mates up a level (or ten). 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. He kept his word. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. 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. His overall record 71 goals in 142 games looks good thanks to a string of goals in friendly matches. This story originally appeared As the movie dramatizes, Strassera (played by Ricardo Darn) thought the relative inexperience of Moreno Ocampo (Peter Lanzani) actually was a plus. pic.twitter.com/2WdUN5lvgY, The man was an anomaly, just ask the England team he single-handedly eliminated from the 1986 World Cup. 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. Was fouled per game: Maradona 7.6-2.6 Messi. But its a debate worth delving into. 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. 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.. So it's by no means a whitewash, don't get it twisted, but Maradona holding his own in the stats just about seals the deal considering that his winners' medal and 'Goal of the Century' probably gave him the edge to start with. 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. Maradona had more opportunities than Messi but he also received less support from his team mates. At Barcelona, he won ten LaLiga titles and four Champions League-winning medals. 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. Both men have been hailed as geniuses of the game, and both have had stellar careers. Messi, on the other hand, found peace and prosperity at Barcelona where he went at the age of 13. Yet, Ronaldo displayed a remarkable sense of being able to thrive in such an environment as he went from strength to strength. Who are the highest paid soccer players in the world. 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. The modern player is governed at various levels by science and data, which have helped extract the maximum possible performance out of his talent. 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.. 2023 Minute Media - All rights reserved. WebA seven-time Ballon dOr winner, Messi has produced countless moments of genius throughout his illustrious career with Barcelona, Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain. He thinks no ruler is above the law, of course. 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. 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. Messi and the attacking players of his generation benefitted from its trickle-down effect. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Diego Maradona's death at the age of 60 has reignited the debate. Probably the first football superstar, the Argentina-born forward was skilful, hugely prolific, creative and tactically versatile. After cyclone Nivar, Tamil Nadu likely to receive heavy rains again next week: IMD, Copyright 2023 The Indian Express [P] Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Messi is the first Argentine to captain the side to glory since Maradona Credit: AFP. Buy your Diego Maradona t-shirt from the GMS Shop. If Argentina wins for the third time, he says, it'll be as good as Maradona or Messi scoring three goals in a game. "The movie crosses 40 years and reaches with the same message to a new generation," he says. That was the kind of influence he exercised on the team.". 2011-2023 Sports Mole Ltd. All rights reserved. A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining listicles. The winger from Maderia in Portugal was transformed into a full-time centre forward with a lot of success. He has also attained one title from youth and at least five titles from friendly competitions. Collectively, Ronaldo has won 32 senior trophies in his career. However, not all fans love Messi. 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. , Updated March 1, 2023, Maradona vs Ronaldo vs Messi: Comparing three all-time greats. Along the way, he scored his wonder goal against England Argentinas arch rivals because of The Falklands War. Yet, his failure to win the coveted International title lets him down badly in the ultimate comparison. This uptrend remains in place even into his mid-30s. 2023 The Times of Israel , All Rights Reserved. The other Brazilian to make it to the top of the all-time greats list, Ronaldo at his peak was a goalscoring machine but with the talented touch of a boy who had grown up playing on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. "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. The true story behind Rani Mukherjees latest film Mrs Chatterjee vs Nor What was the UN event representatives of Kailasa attended? While Maradona was addicted to drugs, Messi is a clean player, with a normal family life. Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi have had longer careers. "If you take the qualities of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, put them together, then you'd have a player to compare to Pele!" WebThe other Ronaldo and Messi were brilliant teenagers but had nothing like the same impact at that age. WebMessi had to play with players who are more professional, competitive and the game is now much more complex than when maradona played. Along with Brazilian legend Pele, Maradona is considered as the greatest footballer ever. Messi beats Maradona hands down if greatness is judged solely on numbers. Whereas Maradona was brash and brutally charming, Messi was introverted, clean-cut and unemotional. But what Messi also has is a Copa America trophy to his name, which he won last year. In 142 appearances for Argentina, Messi has scored 71 goals as against Maradonas who operated from a deeper position 34 in 91 international matches. Among the grief and adulation expressed after Diego Maradona's death, an age-old debate of who was the game's greatest player has been reignited. The midfield maestro - who died in June - won the Argentine league in 1981 with Boca Juniors before moving to Barcelona. 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. He won six league titles and two Copa Libertadores with Santos. Still, Messi's honours list is outrageous. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. The achievements set by Messi might never be equalled on several fronts. What was evident in Maradona, however, was his street urchin savvy. A true porteo (port-city person), the nickname given to Buenos Aires denizens, Moreno Ocampo is zealous about soccer and literature. Maradona's total numbers of club goal and appearances are disputed, but it is widely reported as 259 in 490 games. I saw awful things I never cried. 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. Ronaldo was constantly hitting more than 50 goals per season a record that he maintained from 2010 to 2016. When you consider Messi has had to contend with a standard of defending that Maradona was never consistently faced with, then, you probably have to give this one to the current Barcelona captain, whose consistency levels over the course of his career are nothing short of freakish., No debate to be had here, really. 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. View our online Press Pack. Messi might come out on top in a number of the passing metrics and even completed more successful dribbles, but the defensive side of Maradona's game really shone through and he went toe-to-toe with his successor on finishing despite not being renowned for his goalscoring. Experts Urge Consumers To Start Saving Now, Turn Your Home Equity Into Cash Before a Recession, Grow Your Money Faster With These Savings Accounts. Yet, Maradona shined in an era where players were given little protection against physical challenges. Even then, it was only a snapshot of what he could do with the ball at his feet. ? pic.twitter.com/mrKxIJ9Ilh, Star-studded team-mates or not, that's preposterous., One of the biggest criticisms levelled at Messi is that 'he's never done it for Argentina.' He may not have won a bucket load of trophies during his club or international career. On the international stage, both now have a World Cup winners medal, almost four decades apart. Even the Ballon dOr awards were initially not focused on the Argentine, who was delivering the goods with the likes of Boca Juniors and Argentinos Juniors. Maradona was a by-product of poverty and ferment. 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. Unsurprisingly, a person of such calibre has only gone through an uptrend throughout his career. No other footballer has earned so much during their career. 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. After moving to Barcelona as a teenager with little hope of making it big due to a growth deficiency syndrome, Messi has been able to turn around his negative traits into positive attributes. The period from 2010 to 2018 belonged to Messi in terms of numbers. 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. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times . Back in the early 1980s, Moreno Ocampo wasn't an urbane 70-year-old man of the world, but a young, very green attorney who'd never prosecuted a single case. Especially in the 80s, after Italy won the 1982 World Cup, playing ultra-defensive and reactive football but still subduing Brazils on-pitch poetry, catenaccio (door-bolt, a defensive system) or its variants became en vogue. he'll exclaim over some or other outrage or absurdity Moreno Ocampo is known as a judicious and meticulous compiler of material facts. 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'. 13 Who is faster Messi or Ronaldo? Afterwards, he recreated the famous shot of his idol Maradona lofting the trophy in the air. Most of the success achieved by Maradona with his club or national teams was made possible even when they lacked a string of great players. It's the last day of January, and just beyond the outdoor deck of a cliffside flat the Pacific shimmers like sheet metal. 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. If fans had thought that the best of Ronaldo came at Manchester United, they were in for a shock. He scored five goals and registered five assists as he inspired an otherwise unremarkable Argentina team to that 1986 win. Unlike Frank Rijkaard before him, Guardiola decided to use Messi as the central figure in the team with everything revolving around the Argentine. 18 Who is the most capped Scottish footballer of all time? Diego Maradona claims that he was humiliated by Italian 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 Maradona was a player who, apart from scoring goals, also made mistakes. 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. (@realmadriden) July 7, 2019. WebLong before it was 'Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?' Pictures would attest how Italian defender Claudio Gentile resorted to rugby tackles to stop Maradona during the 1982 World Cup. Oo that is a topic indeed. I guess first you need to unify the measurement points, for a fair and structured referencing. We must first make sure o Diego worked hard to be the best.. And the system is so slow, and I only have four months. Moreno Ocampo saw it while working on the trial depicted in "Argentina 1985. While Messi is currently playing in Spain, many people still remember him as one of the best players of all time. 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. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Spurs to face competition for Bristol City's Alex Scott? Many football fans can count themselves lucky to have witnessed two icons at the peak of their powers. Hi handsome fanboys. Not to belittle messi. He is the best of his generation. Current football system , billion and trilion marketing and cheque ma Maradona on the other hand? "My youngest kid is 23, he had no idea what happened. The Argentine lawyer Luis Moreno Ocampo, who has put the screws to genocidal strongmen and placed dictators behind bars, isn't sure whether Donald Trump should be tried for the Jan. 6 riot. 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. In Spain, Maradona won three domestic cups, helping him sign for Napoli in Italy. To be fair to you, Leo, it's a near-impossible task. The same national team, the same unique left foot, and almost typical dribblesbut different era with more advanced tactics. Maradona won the wor For more from Robbie Copeland, follow him on Twitter! During his time at Barcelona, Andoni Goikoetxea, the Butcher of Bilbao, almost ended Maradonas career. Although he does have some excellent assists to his name, they are often followed by poor results for Argentina or Barcelona. There were also record breaking campaigns like the 2011-12 campaign when he scored 73 goals in all competitions from just 60 matches. WebHowever because of the emotional peaks associated with Maradona its difficult for Messi to compete when compared in terms of iconic status. 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. His scoring form with PSG has suffered slightly, with only 23 in 53 games but he has Ligue 1 and French Cup-winning medals to go with it. According to my friend, the Napoli fans went crazy with enthusiasm and for several minutes applauded and cheered Maradona. It had been 28 years since Maradona left the city. For the most part, Ronaldo and Messi have been competing for the major trophies while playing for Spanish clubs. 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. 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. 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. After Messis exceptional performance in the World Cup an old controversy continues. Manage Settings 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. 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. But that didnt make them lesser players. Also read |The sainthood and fall from grace of Napolis Argentine deity. "His boldness and his willingness to take those kind of chances is probably the most striking thing about him.". On being asked who was the better footballer between the two, the Napoli legend brushed aside the question smartly. However, it also brings incredible pressure due to the expectations, which come along with wearing the white shirt. Messi doesnt need to win the World Cup to be the best player in the world, Maradona told reporters six years ago. Messi has been consistently successful since he made his debut in 2004, while Maradona became more effective before declining at age 30. He sets down an insider's view of his experiences in his book "War and Justice in the 21st Century: A Case Study on the International Criminal Court and its Interaction With the War on Terror," published last November. And it's clear from his remarks on the Oath Keepers and their ilk that he's been watching the damning facts pile up against Trump. Talking about that goal he said, Not even the photographers managed to capture what really happened. Alfredo Di Stefano and George Best never played at a World Cup. In his 15 full seasons, he's won ten La Liga titles, six Copa del Reyand four Champions Leagues. In 1986, when the World Cup was played in Mexico, Argentina as a nation was still struggling to come to terms with its defeat against Britain in The Falklands War. 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. 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. https://t.co/6Qj2NKU7hN pic.twitter.com/Ku3s9FNJ63, Real Madrid C.F. Not the architect but the orchestrator of Total Football, developed at Ajax and transferred to the national team. FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS - BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS. The pair of left-footed icons are among the greatest sports stars to ever live, boasting almost unmatched records. Who is a better player, Messi now or Maradona then? Although he has always been the teams poster boy, he didnt have to carry the team. "Spielberg is Shakespeare for me," he says. Barcelona, the football club, tweaked its system and formation to suit him. Messi. First, Messi plays in better era of football, in terms of how advanced it is and he is consistent for last 14 years. He is also a prolific s 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. He was a major factor behind Argentinas success in the 1986 World Cup with one of the two goals in the knockout stages against England famously etching itself into history as the Hand of God. Before Maradona, Pele was the undisputed greatest in most people's eyes. Messi is faster than Maradona, but Maradona is more skilled.

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