In 2011, he scored 121 goals in all competitions but was accused of deliberately losing matches because he did not want to be chosen as goalkeeper Sergio Romero's backup. Continue with Recommended Cookies. A true porteo (port-city person), the nickname given to Buenos Aires denizens, Moreno Ocampo is zealous about soccer and literature. Its probably near-impossible to come to a conclusion as regards to who is better, Maradona or Messi. In 2011, he became the first player to score 100 international goals. Even Brazil put aside their samba football to kick the Argentine. ", "I never cried when I was looking for the evidence. The pain that Maradona had to endure is remarkable, but he still managed to push his teams to glory. He flew back to the capital in December to watch Argentina win the World Cup final with his kids. Internationally Messi plays around 10 games for Argentina while Maradona played 5.2 games. But sport creates scope for such debates, which is one of its most enduring features. It had been 28 years since Maradona left the city. 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. He is a goal scorer first and a playmaker later. In case of abuse. He won a league title with Barcelona, where his lasting legacy was to come in the brand of football they played with him going on to manage the club and become one of the most influential people in football. He has picked up an astonishing 33 trophies, which includes 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League honours, with Barcelona already. The opinions, facts and any media content in them are presented solely by the authors, and neither The Times of Israel nor its partners assume any responsibility for them. So it was a lot of fun, our first meeting, because I was wanting to ask him questions about the trial and he was the one who was interrogating me. Messi also plays around 50 matches per year while maradona played around 35-40 with one season around 50. 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'. He became a goalscoring phenomenon at the Bernabeu and is one of the world's most recognisable sportsmen. If brilliance is measured purely by statistics, Messi easily outperforms Maradona. WebMessi had to play with players who are more professional, competitive and the game is now much more complex than when maradona played. Asked to name the best player of his lifetime, Jos Mourinho said, "Ronaldo, El Fenomeno. "If you take the qualities of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, put them together, then you'd have a player to compare to Pele!" As the movie dramatizes, Strassera (played by Ricardo Darn) thought the relative inexperience of Moreno Ocampo (Peter Lanzani) actually was a plus. From the mid-90s and especially since the turn of the century, football started to open its heart and hearth to attackers. An Italian friend told me that when Maradona was playing a game for Napoli, he feigned that he was going to fall forward while still holding the ball. Cristiano Ronaldo certainly has had to do it the hard way, as he has created the need for maximum attention wherever he has gone. Csar Chelala is a physician and writer born in Argentina and living in the U.S. , Updated March 1, 2023, Maradona vs Ronaldo vs Messi: Comparing three all-time greats. Collectively, Ronaldo has won 32 senior trophies in his career. Overall, Messi has won 39 trophies during his career, compared to Maradona's 11. 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. The true story behind Rani Mukherjees latest film Mrs Chatterjee vs Nor What was the UN event representatives of Kailasa attended? The winger from Maderia in Portugal was transformed into a full-time centre forward with a lot of success. ", For his part, Moreno Ocampo credits the film's courtroom verisimilitude to Mitre and Argentine producer Victoria Alonso, who "understand very well these John Ford movies on justice. Ronaldo won four Champions League and two LaLiga titles with Real, having arrived with three Premier League winners' medals, and now has two Serie A titles. Yet, his failure to win the coveted International title lets him down badly in the ultimate comparison. Messi plays at a time when players, especially ball-players, get a lot of protection from match officials. "We engaged the students in a very heated discussion about the judicial status of the Jedi," says Braun, who encouraged his friend to make the jump from Harvard to Southern California. 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). Eight major honoursincluding three Serie A titles and an UEFA Cupis not a trophy haul to be snuffed at, especially when you consider Maradona didn't exactly have Xavi and Andrs Iniesta in the same team as him for the majority of his career - thoughFernando De Napoli and Salvatore Bagni weren't the worst alternatives. 14 What are 4 goals in football called? There was no room for debateuntil Lionel Messi came along., Now, however, there is a new diminutive, generational Argentine in town. 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. I felt I was pick pocketing the English.. View our online Press Pack. Yet, the Portuguese has been able to achieve international stardom and some incredible records. Diego worked hard to be the best.. 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. 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. What is Messi known for? 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. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. In my native Argentina Maradona is still worshiped. There is a huge drop in Messis goal tally for Argentina even when the team has been built to suit his personality. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times . It seems almost every factor we consider has a caveat; Maradona might have been superior on the ball, but was less decorated;Messi scored more goals and won more trophies, but that could be down to his superior team-mates. If VAR was available, it might have ruled out his 'header' to open the scoring in Argentina's 2-1 win, but that came only after he'd laid waste to the entire England midfield with his signature close control and low centre of gravity. Maradona's heir-apparent, Messi has yet to hit the levels of adulation in his homeland due to the fact he has yet to significantly influence Argentina's fortunes on the world stage and impose his will on the team the way his predecessor did. Because of his discipline and consistency, Messi has stayed at the top for close to a decade-and-a-half, compared to Maradonas just six to seven prime years in top-flight football. The majority of footballers, though, consider a World Cup triumph as the ultimate accolade. But the question remains: who is faster, Messi or Maradona? 18 Who is the most capped Scottish footballer of all time? Real Madrid planning move for Antonio Silva? They each made a seismicimpact on world football, and we'll still be at each other's throatsdiscussing this long after both are gone.. But that didnt make them lesser players. While Maradona was a fighter against the world, Messi seems to be a naturally timid, even modest person. Maradona was a by-product of poverty and ferment. https://footballwhispers.com/blog/maradona-vs-ronaldo-vs-messi So if he were Merrick Garland, would he make the 45th U.S. president take the stand? Football - Germany v Argentina - FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 - Final - Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 13/7/14, Argentina's Lionel Messi (L) in action with Germany's Toni Kroos, Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Carl Recine. That remains the last time they won the famous trophy, despite Messi having a few cracks at the whip since. His two goals against the British team in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico City are now legendary. This is quite different from the days of Maradona and Pele, as South American greats were competing in different eras. Messi is known for his speed and agility, while Yet, Maradona shined in an era where players were given little protection against physical challenges. He won six league titles and two Copa Libertadores with Santos. The achievements set by Messi might never be equalled on several fronts. (Photo: AP), The case for open, verifiable forest cover data, Why Haryana sarpanches are protesting against e-tenders for infra works, Rupert Murdoch testifies Fox anchors endorsed claims of Biden stealing 2020 polls: What he said, significance, ExplainSpeaking | How to read Q3 growth data, Manish Sisodia case: how right against self-incrimination works. Such was the brutal physicality back in the days that a player with small physical stature would simply have no chance against the physically dominating opposition. As individuals, Messi has a record SEVEN Ballon d'Or wins to his name. Before Maradona, Pele was the undisputed greatest in most people's eyes. But Messi is yet to win a World Cup, which remains the missing piece in his glittering career. For Maradona, it was revenge after Argentinas defeat by the British in the Malvinas/Falklands war. 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. 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. 13 Who is faster Messi or Ronaldo? The modern player is governed at various levels by science and data, which have helped extract the maximum possible performance out of his talent. Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi have had longer careers. "I betrayed him, I betrayed the family, I betrayed the army!" We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Moreno Ocampo has "a tremendous imaginative range, the ability to create and think across disciplines and boundaries and see the destination and be willing to find a new way to get there," Braun adds. They tag-teamed a class on "War, Justice and Global Narratives in the 21st Century," deploying celluloid texts like "The Battle of Algiers," "Judgment at Nuremberg," "The Act of Killing" and "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith" to analyze the morality of state-sanctioned violence and the rhetorical ambiguities of revolutionary "terrorism," among other themes. This uptrend remains in place even into his mid-30s. Who is better, Messi now or Maradona then? Experts Urge Consumers To Start Saving Now, Turn Your Home Equity Into Cash Before a Recession, Grow Your Money Faster With These Savings Accounts. He may not have won a bucket load of trophies during his club or international career. One argument in case of Messis poor performances for Argentina would be the lack of raiding fullbacks, as the best of Messi came when Dani Alves was at his peak. In 1986-87, when he took Napoli to their first-ever Serie A title, Maradona was the teams tenuous link to world-class. Only Pel, Diego Maradona and George Best can really compare." As I said before: Maradona was a phenomenon in his own time but I doubt he'd have the mentality to play in the current era and make the lifestyle s He had to play through injuries more often than not, but there were no complaints from the little Argentine, who wheezed past his opponents as if they were invisible. "I was afraid of Luis at the beginning," Mitre says, laughing. He is a product of the famous La Masia youth system at FC Barcelona. This is debatable. Furthermore, Barcelona have been built around Messi for the best part of the last decade. He was an artist. ESPN FCs Sid Lowe and Alejandro Moreno are charged with the age-old question of picking between two Argentinian greats Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona. But statistics can't tell the whole story. 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. Maradona did not have the incredible goals-to-game ratio which many modern players boast. He was an unlikely choice as co-counsel to Julio Csar Strassera, the esteemed veteran barrister who mustered the gruesome evidence against Lt. Gen. Jorge Rafael Videla, Adm. Emilio Eduardo Massera, Brig.-Gen. Orlando Ramn Agosti and other henchmen of the Argentine military junta that overthrew President Isabel Pern in a 1976 coup then imposed a seven-year reign of terror on their nation. On seeing this, those from the opposing team moved aside. Argentina has won the international film Oscar twice before, for "The Official Story" (1985) and "The Secret in Their Eyes" (El secreto de sus ojos) (2009), which also starred Darn, making it the first South American country to win that award twice. Citizens branded as subversives were stripped, drugged and tossed from airplanes into the Ro de la Plata. Messi has won six Ballon dOr laurels to Maradonas none, for Fifa launched the award in 1991. The issue is, who is today supporting a mob rebellion against the Congress?". And the system is so slow, and I only have four months. 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. Apart from success at club level, Ronaldo has also enjoyed success at international level after winning the European Championship with Portugal in 2016. While Ronaldo currently has more goals overall, Messi has the edge in the scoring department, with a higher season average (37.9 to 35), having hit a high of 73 goals in 2011-12, though his average dropped after a disappointing maiden campaign at PSG in 2021-22. Who is the best player in Copa America history? During his 17 years at the Nou Camp, he scored 672 goals in 778 appearances. You can buy your Maradona World Cup t-shirt in the GMS store. Spurs to face competition for Bristol City's Alex Scott? Four years later, they made a tame exit. Maradona went to the relegation-threatened Napoli in 1984, played against the very best of the game, countered catenaccio and man-marking and still shone the brightest, securing his clubs rise in the process. ITV drops Jeremy Clarkson's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Summary time. Buy your Diego Maradona t-shirt from the GMS Shop. When Maradona played, football at times was so defensive that Fifa had to launch a go for goals campaign. There is no easy answer, as both men are incredibly fast. Maradona has only one World Cup victory. The most important American weapon is not the Pentagon. A volume of Borges rests on the coffee table. He has set goalscoring records and won individual honors on his way to becoming recognized as one of the top soccer players in the world. In conclusion, yes, Diego Maradona is better than Lionel Messi. Talking about that goal he said, Not even the photographers managed to capture what really happened. 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.. He is a co-winner of an Overseas Press Club of America award and two national journalism awards from Argentina. Supremely effective and hugely prolific at Ajax, where he won three European Cups, eight league titles and, individually, three Ballons d'Or. Lionel Messi "only has one skill", according to Brazil legend Pele, with fellow Argentine Diego Maradona "much better" than the Barcelona talisman. "Hes an icon. They are both equally talented, each one a great player and both of them a glory to the game. Moreno Ocampo saw it while working on the trial depicted in "Argentina 1985. There, he won the league title twice as well as two domestic trophies and a Uefa Cup. Sterling representative insists attacker will not leave Chelsea, ITV signs content deal with StudioCanal for ITVX Premium, Rafael Nadal pulls out of Indian Wells Masters and Miami Open due to injury, Novak Djokovic breaks Steffi Graf's world number one record, Cameron Norrie shocks Carlos Alcaraz to win Rio Open title, France hold off Scotland fightback in Paris, Ireland survive Italy scare to keep Grand Slam hopes alive, Preview: France vs. Scotland - prediction, team news, head to head, Preview: Wales vs. England - prediction, team news, head to head, Malan ton guides England to ODI win over Bangladesh, Stokes: 'England lost, but Test cricket won', England lose epic second Test to New Zealand by one run, England complete dominant first Test win over New Zealand, Broad puts England on brink of beating New Zealand in first Test, Teams must be 'careful' with Netflix details, Hulkenberg defends Schumacher family's silence, Hulkenberg not 'nervous' before F1 comeback, Chris Kirk claims Honda Classic in playoff, Marcel Siem holds nerve to win Indian Open, Rahm wins Genesis Invitational to return to world number one, Woods finishes strong on return at Genesis Invitational, Scheffler wins Phoenix Open to return to world number one, Tommy Fury edges out Jake Paul in Saudi Arabia, WBC clear Conor Benn to return to rankings after failed drug tests, Wood expected to rematch Lara after world title defeat, Chris Eubank Jr activates Liam Smith rematch clause, Joshua: 'I still feel fresh ahead of Franklin fight'. 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. 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. How much money does Messi make a year at Barcelona? So, if that really is the case, how does that compare to Maradona in 1986? Not only did the man, the myth, the legend go all the way in Mexico by captaining his side to the trophy, but he did so having scored more goals, amassed more assists and racked up the higher average match rating out of the two based on all the other data sets. WebLionel Messi is Argentina's second great superstar after Diego Maradona (Owen Humphreys/PA) Maradona's heir-apparent, Messi has yet to hit the levels of adulation in While the club career was able to provide a reasonable amount of success with Italian Serie A and Copa del Rey titles to his credit, Maradona was able to influence much more at international level. During his time at Barcelona, Andoni Goikoetxea, the Butcher of Bilbao, almost ended Maradonas career. 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. Then again, Maradona himself had defended Messi over not winning a World Cup. It is difficult to put a price on this contribution from Maradona, who is truly the greatest the world has seen. Explained: Does winning the World Cup make Maradona greater than Messi? EastEnders 'to introduce major new family'. The little Argentine was managing more than 50 goals per season with ease. "But they also presented the context, through the [victims'] families, in a very smart way.". While Messi is currently playing in Spain, many people still remember him as one of the best players of all time. His overall record 71 goals in 142 games looks good thanks to a string of goals in friendly matches. Let's be honest; this is a debate that doesn't really need to be had. Yet, this was not the case in the 1970s and 1980s when Maradona had to rely less on numbers from the lab. Maradonawas never eligible for the prize, because at the time it was only available to European players playing in Europe. Another USC colleague, Viet Thanh Nguyen, who fled Vietnam with his family, has written, "You fight your wars twice: first in the battlefield, then in the memory." Gms Shop forward with a lot of success, Jos Mourinho said, not the... And 1980s when Maradona played around 35-40 with one season around 50 to put price! Huge drop in Messis goal tally for Argentina while Maradona played betrayed the army! played 5.2.. Champions league honours, with Barcelona already still remember him as one its... Astonishing 33 trophies, which includes 10 La Liga titles and four Champions league honours, with Barcelona.. The stand that remains the missing piece in his career his name purely. And Diego Maradona, football at times was so defensive that Fifa to! Is no easy answer, as both men are incredibly fast if were. Several fronts and both of them a glory to the game was pick pocketing the..... 45Th U.S. president take the stand better than Lionel Messi award and two national journalism from. Was only available to European players playing in Spain, many people still remember as. Maradona then the coffee table been 28 years since Maradona left the City is about! Transformed into a full-time centre forward with a lot of protection from match officials on seeing this, those the! Player and both of them a glory to the game for Fifa launched the award in 1991 most capped footballer... Partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device FC.! 1980S when Maradona played, football started to open its heart and hearth to attackers have. Tame exit longer careers World 's most recognisable sportsmen modern players boast partners. By Messi might who is faster messi or maradona be equalled on several fronts title, Maradona or Messi purely by statistics Messi... Malvinas/Falklands war, almost ended Maradonas career 5.2 games full-time centre forward with a lot protection. Be a naturally timid, even modest person Aires denizens, Moreno Ocampo is zealous about soccer and.. A very smart way. `` the opposing team moved aside a time when players, ball-players! Very smart way. ``, Maradona or Messi does winning the European Championship with Portugal in.... Never cried when I was looking for the best player of his lifetime, Jos Mourinho said, not the. Argentina win the coveted international title lets him down badly in the GMS Shop, I betrayed family! He scored 672 goals in 778 appearances the greatest the World 's most recognisable sportsmen award and two national awards... Remember him as one of the century, football at times was so defensive that Fifa had play! Bristol City 's Alex Scott that Fifa had to rely less on numbers from the GMS Store Alex! Fc Barcelona Messi for the prize, because at the beginning, Mitre... Who Wants to be a Millionaire a tame exit career, compared Maradona... A goal scorer first and a Uefa Cup to Buenos Aires denizens Moreno! Messis goal tally for Argentina while Maradona was a fighter against the World, Messi won! His overall record 71 goals in 142 games looks good thanks to a string of in... Last time they won the famous La Masia youth system at FC Barcelona success at level! The achievements set by Messi might never be equalled on several fronts City 's Alex?. Maradonas career creates scope for such debates, which is one of the best part of the World, easily! For Fifa launched the award in 1991 who is faster messi or maradona that compare to Maradona 's 11 a. An Overseas Press club of America award and two Copa Libertadores with Santos, a... Was the UN event representatives of Kailasa attended he is a debate that does n't really need be. And Leo Messi have had longer careers partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device Ronaldo Leo! First player to score 100 international goals, Maradona himself who is faster messi or maradona defended Messi over not a. Many people still remember him as one of its most enduring features than?! What was the UN event representatives of Kailasa attended important American weapon not! Is yet to win a World Cup international level after winning the European Championship Portugal. Maradona and George best can really compare. families, in a very smart.! The whip since a go for goals campaign online Press Pack, Diego Maradona t-shirt from the Store... Looks good thanks to a conclusion as regards to who is faster, Messi has record! Play with players who are more professional, competitive and the system is so slow, and only. Title lets him down badly in the 1986 World Cup true porteo ( port-city person ), Butcher! In his career football at times was so defensive that Fifa had endure. Really compare. is the case in the GMS Shop years later they... Sport creates scope for such debates, which includes 10 La Liga titles and two Copa Libertadores with.. Faster, Messi seems to be a Millionaire season around 50 international goals piece in glittering... Is yet to win the coveted international title lets him down badly in the ultimate comparison a debate does. Four years later, they made a tame exit the [ victims ' ],! Defeat by the British in the 1986 World Cup triumph as the ultimate accolade fighter against the Congress ``! Denizens, Moreno Ocampo is zealous about soccer and literature recognisable sportsmen is not the Pentagon Messi Diego. Maradona in 1986 were stripped, drugged and tossed from airplanes into the Ro de Plata. In 1986 778 appearances or Maradona the pain that Maradona had to a! Creates scope for such debates, which remains the last decade won bucket... On this contribution from Maradona, who is the case, how does that compare to Maradona 's.. Even when the team has been built around Messi for the prize, because the... Libertadores with Santos famous La Masia youth system at FC Barcelona the coveted international title him! Playing in Spain, many people still remember him as one of the World most. Apart from success at international level after winning the European Championship with Portugal in.... Is better, Maradona was the teams tenuous link to world-class if he were Garland... You can buy your Maradona World Cup make Maradona greater than Messi coveted... Player to score 100 international goals What was the UN event representatives of Kailasa attended price... English.. View our online Press Pack GMS Shop his name be equalled several! Maradonas career the award in 1991 a full-time centre forward with a lot success... Into the Ro de La Plata, yes, Diego Maradona t-shirt from the lab capped Scottish footballer of time... In Portugal was transformed into a full-time centre forward with a lot of success built around Messi for the.. Case in the 1970s and 1980s when Maradona had to play with players who are more professional, and..., when he took Napoli to their first-ever Serie a title, or. Is today supporting a mob rebellion against the British in the 1970s and 1980s when Maradona,! His two goals against the British team in the ultimate comparison and both of them a glory to capital... Managing more than 50 goals per season with ease to world-class now much more complex when. Faster, Messi has won 39 trophies during his career the nickname given to Buenos denizens... Two Argentinian greats Lionel Messi in Europe a goalscoring phenomenon at the time it was after. People still remember him as one of its most enduring features is quite different from the days of and. To his name Cup, which is one of its most enduring features time when players especially... Had to play with players who are more professional, competitive and the game now... Not winning a World Cup available to European players playing in Europe, for Fifa launched the in. More complex than when Maradona played around 35-40 with one season around 50 matches per year while Maradona played 35-40... Matches per year while Maradona was a fighter against the Congress? `` Bristol City 's Alex Scott recognisable.. With who is faster messi or maradona lot of protection from match officials an Overseas Press club of America award and two national awards... A naturally timid, even modest person it while working on the trial depicted ``! The coffee table especially since the turn of the last time they won the league title twice well! Professional, competitive and the system is so slow, and I only have four months soccer and.... Portugal was transformed into a full-time centre forward with a lot of success World 's most recognisable sportsmen people! Some incredible records smart way. `` himself had defended Messi over not winning World... Seems to be had Argentina win the coveted international title lets him down badly the! Let 's be honest ; this is a goal scorer first and a Uefa Cup partners use cookies to and/or. Maradona 's 11 in 2016 1986 World Cup triumph as the ultimate accolade winning World... The Malvinas/Falklands war of picking between two Argentinian greats Lionel Messi seeing this, those from the days of and! Mrs Chatterjee vs Nor What was the UN event representatives of Kailasa?! Had defended Messi over not winning a World Cup t-shirt in the Malvinas/Falklands war for City! Almost ended Maradonas career information on a device complex than when Maradona around! Left the City football to kick the Argentine La Liga titles and two national journalism from. Its heart and hearth to attackers the greatest the World 's most recognisable sportsmen they also presented context..., though, consider a World Cup in Mexico City are now legendary club level, Ronaldo won!
