Is Messi Superior to Maradona? - My Two Cents

Recently Lionel Messi surpassed Gabriel Batistuta’s record of scoring the most number of goals for Argentina in Copa America Centenario 2016 when he scored from free kick against USA in the Semi Final.

This once again provoked the universal and the eternal debate – a comparison of the greatness of two Argentines: Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.

Both of them have god-gifted talents and skills and are born to play football.

Both of them are left-footed.

Both of them are from Argentina.

Both of them provide sheer joy and happiness to the fans arount the world.

Who is the greater of the two greats? And Why? This is a question which divides the hardcore football fans all over the world.

I most probably can not write anything which is not already written, but this is just my way of expressing my thoughts. And my love for football is reincarnated as both Copa America Centenario 2016 and Euro 2016 are ON at the same time!!!

One disclaimer - I will not discuss anything controversial abut these two. 

Pro-Maradona fans present two irrefutable facts to claim Maradona’s superiority over Messi.

Firstly Maradona single-handedly won the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, whereas Messi is yet to accomplish something really big for the country.

And secondly, Maradona also almost single handedly made his club, Napoli, reach the top and stay there for years. He joined Napoli when the club was literally in a turmoil and lingering at the bottom half of the Serie –A league. Whereas Messi joined Barcelona where he was surrounded by talented and skillful players so he never faced the challenge of winning something single-handedly.

Both of these are true, to some extent but not entirely.

Messi also almost single-handedly dragged Argentina to the 2014 World Cup Final which he tragically lost against an undoubtedly superior Germany side (coincidentally in 1986, Maradona also won the World Cup against the then West Germany - both the Argentines were decided the best player of the tournament).

In every sport including football, even if you have too many talented players around you, you have to prove your own mettle. And Messi proved that he is head and shoulders above the other talented players of his era – there is no point denying that.

But for me, with all due respect to Leo Messi, Maradona is a little ahead on the track. Not because of football skills and talents, but for some of his inherent factors he was born with and also some external factors which neither of them had any control upon.

Argentina was still healing from the scars left by the Falklands War with Britain when Maradona announced his arrival to the world football stage. Argentine people were angry and fuming inside. Being from a poor socio economic background El Diego represented hope for these people. The people started believing that they could also defeat the heavyweights, no matter if it is on a football ground. Argentines identified themselves with Maradona as they channelized their anger into something great and positive, something truly heavenly which they never did see before. Messi hailed from a stable socio-economic background, never had to fight the after-effects of a bloody war which his great predecessor did. As I mentioned, this is something neither of them had any control upon but this actually defines your character to rise against all odds. Messi, though he had to face some medical condition in his formative years, he never had to fight for survival and concentrate on football simultaneously.

Maradona was a man of emotions. Love him or hate him, you cannot ignore him. He would connect with you with his comments, his gestures or his sheer crowd pulling charisma. He is straight forward and has always spoken his hearts out. Emotions are something which the fans also want from their heroes. They want their heroes to laugh with them. They want their heroes to wave at them. They want to also feel the agony of their heroes. They want their heroes to CONNECT with them. Messi, in my opinion, lacks a little of this attribute. He is a calm and composed person – that’s his nature and we have to respect that, but sometimes he is portrayed in front of spectators as someone who is too professional to care about such things. Fans loved Maradona not only because his football but also because they could also relate their own feelings to him.

Finally, the leadership skills. Maradona scores way over Messi in this point. El Diego was a born leader because of his extrovert nature and behavioral traits to connect and motivate people. He was motivation personified in 1986 World Cup. Messi, on the other hand, as great player he is, being a calm person, always seems to be aloof and alone in the team. This was evident during the 2010 World Cup where we saw how Argentina struggled to gel together as a team, under his leadership.

We are really privileged to get the opportunity to watch both of this magnificent players live, but personally, I should always put Diego Maradona ahead of Messi, even if Messi wins all the laurels for Argentina, including multiple World Cups.

To be compared with Maradona, to be quoted in the same line with El Diego, it proves how great Messi is!

Update on 27-Jun-2016: Argentina has lost to Chile once again. This is the third straight loss by Argentina in 3 consecutive years (2014 FIFA World Cup, 2015 Copa America, 2016 Copa America Centenario). Messi could not score or make an assist to score in any of these finals. He had announced his retirement from international football immediately after the loss 2016 in Copa America Centenario Final at the age of 29. 

Understandably, with the pressure of loosing 4 finals (Argentina also lost 2007 Copa America final) he was emotional and the agony is truly unbearable, but is the timing right?

This is the time Argentina needed the Messi the leader, to pick themselves up once again. This is the time Argentina needed someone they could follow, this is the time when they needed some inspiration. And what inspiration could there be than Leo Messi himself? True champions fight till the last breath, they do not escape. And when the champions escape, the others are shattered and loose their confidence for long. Messi should have aimed at his redemption in the 2018 World Cup, may be for one last time. He could have pondered over stepping down as a captain and just play as a star player in the team. Not necessarily a win, but his apprearance to have another shot. 

Why did he not announce his retirement after several losses suffered while playing for FC Barcelona?? Why? He is a professional and these are also part and parcel of the job. There could be only one answer - club is paying the gigantic salary, country is not. Succeeding for a cash-rich club where you are surrounded by quality players and single-handedly carrying your team over the line are two completely different things! 

With great power comes great responsibility.  

This is no retirement, it is quitting. And quitting is for losers. 

May be Maradona was right, that he lacks 'personality and leadership skills'.

He will always be remembered as the 'Second Best and the Tragic Hero' Argentina has ever produced.