Which one has been a greater player? Here are the stats:
Maradona has won 3 league titles, 1 in Argentina and 2 in Italy. Messi has won 9 (and counting) league titles, all in Spain.
Maradona has been league top scorer 4 times (3 times in Argentina, once in Italy). Messi has been league top scorer 8 times (and counting, all in Spain).
Maradona has won the World Cup with Argentine (once). Messi has not.
Neither one have won the South American championship.
Maradona has 34 goals in 91 matches for Argentina. Messi has 65 goals in 128 games for Argentina.
I think Maradona has been the better player. Aside from the fact that Maradona has achieved his stats as an attacking midfielder while Messi has been a forward, Maradona single handedly has been able to carry teams that otherwise were weaker if not mediocre. Napoli was an average/weak team before his arrival and an average/weak team after his departure. Yet while with them he guided them to 2 league titles, a UEFA Cup championship and an Italian Cup championship. Messi joined a stacked team that would have done well with or without him as they have been doing throughout their history. Even on a national level Maradona almost single handedly delivered the 1986 World Cup to Argentina. Without him they would have been good but no where near what they were with him. Messi has really not done anything remarkable on the national stage for a player of his caliber. On the other hand Maradona had many off the field issues which Messi doesn't although I'm comparing them strictly based on performance.
So who do you think has the upper hand?
Maradona has won 3 league titles, 1 in Argentina and 2 in Italy. Messi has won 9 (and counting) league titles, all in Spain.
Maradona has been league top scorer 4 times (3 times in Argentina, once in Italy). Messi has been league top scorer 8 times (and counting, all in Spain).
Maradona has won the World Cup with Argentine (once). Messi has not.
Neither one have won the South American championship.
Maradona has 34 goals in 91 matches for Argentina. Messi has 65 goals in 128 games for Argentina.
I think Maradona has been the better player. Aside from the fact that Maradona has achieved his stats as an attacking midfielder while Messi has been a forward, Maradona single handedly has been able to carry teams that otherwise were weaker if not mediocre. Napoli was an average/weak team before his arrival and an average/weak team after his departure. Yet while with them he guided them to 2 league titles, a UEFA Cup championship and an Italian Cup championship. Messi joined a stacked team that would have done well with or without him as they have been doing throughout their history. Even on a national level Maradona almost single handedly delivered the 1986 World Cup to Argentina. Without him they would have been good but no where near what they were with him. Messi has really not done anything remarkable on the national stage for a player of his caliber. On the other hand Maradona had many off the field issues which Messi doesn't although I'm comparing them strictly based on performance.
So who do you think has the upper hand?
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