Despite leading Argentina to Copa America triumph over the weekend, Lionel Messi has reportedly been told, he would never be better than Diego Maradona “even if he wins four World Cups in a row”.
The 34-year-old who has won almost everything at club level, finally ended his international drought with Argentina, after La Albiceleste piped Brazil 1-0, thanks to Angel Di Maria’s first-half strike.
However, his recent success does not put him above football great Maradona, according to Argentina legend Mario Kempes – who claimed the Barcelona playmaker will always be in the shadow of his late compatriot.
“For Messi, the misfortune is that he was the replacement for Diego Maradona,” Kempes, who won the World Cup in 1978, told ESPN . “And it is very difficult to overshadow Diego, with the idolatry that he has received around the world
“If [Messi] wants to be better than Maradona, he is not going to achieve it even if he wins four World Cups in a row.
“He still hasn’t won the World Cup. No matter how many [titles he] wins or what he wins, it can never be compared to what Diego did,” he added.
Messi’s Copa America victory has now sparked debate over who should be considered the greatest modern footballer of all time between him and Cristiano Ronaldo – who won the Euros in 2016 with Portugal.
Messi has now won 34 major honours at club level – including the Copa del Rey last season under Ronald Koeman – and until this month, he had never won a silverware with his country.
