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Maradona vs. Messi

So I heard  a commentator the other day say that Messi had to win a world cup before people could say he was better than Maradona. I think this is totally incorrect. People say that Maradona single handily won the 86 world cup and because Messi hasn't won one he isn't as good. Again that statement is wrong for a very simple reason: Maradona played in a time when the average international players skill level was well below what it is now. In those days a single player could win you a world cup, because the level of competition was much lower than it is now. The game has progressed to the point that we wont ever see a single player win a world cup alone again. The overall competition in world soccer has progressed to levels never before seen. Players are physically and mentally much better than the used to be, due to new training techniques and methods.
That being said this is a true testament as how good Messi truly is that he is as dominant as he is with a much higher level of competition.

But lets compare these to head to head. Maradona won 3 league titles (2 in italy and 1 in Spain) 1 Italian Cup, 1 Copa del Rey , 1 Supercopa de Espana, 1 Supercopa de Italia, 1 UEFA cup (what is now the Europa League) and of course his world cup over a 10 year period. Messi on the other hand has won 4 league titles, 4 Supercopa de Espana, 1 Copa del Rey, 2 UEFA Super Cups, 1 FIFA Club World Cup, 1 Olympic Gold Medal and 2 UEFA Champions leagues in a 5 year span. It is hard to compare individual awards due to the fact that some awards have changed name or been combined over the years, but they both have won 2 player of the year awards. So after looking at this, what does Messi have to prove? If you ask me, nothing. He has already won more titles than Maradona, and he has been able to to win the one Maradona never could the Champions league not once but twice.

So i don't understand why people compare the two. Messi is clearly better and unlike Maradona has the brains, work ethic and drive to continue to get better. To work like the true greats that have come before him, the ones that worked everyday not to waste there talent. If you want to compare him to someone compare him to the true greats the Di Stéfano’s, Cruyff’s, Raul’s, and Del Piero’s of the world. Players that not only had talent but that had the work ethic and mental toughness to have long successful careers with the worlds best teams. Player who day in and day out left it on the pitch not for one or two seasons or for only 2 months during a world cup, but players that spent decades amazing us with there skill. These are the players that we need to honor the ones that did things the right way, not the ones that wasted there talent.

Messi is clearly better than Maradona, and the scary part is that he is only 23 years old. Lets hope he keeps doing what he is doing not only while the cameras are watching during game day. But everyday of the week on the training pitch, because if he does the sky is the limit and we are in for one hell of a show.