Maradona or Messi?

[forzatm]

The argument that Maradona didn't score enough is flawed. Serie A back then was insanely low scoring. Top teams barely broke 40 goals in a season so Maradona scoring 15 is not the same as for example Hazard scoring 15 nowadays. Maradona's 15 would almost definitely be 25+ nowadays.

[KC McElroy]

The argument that Maradona didn't score enough is flawed. Serie A back then was insanely low scoring. Top teams barely broke 40 goals in a season so Maradona scoring 15 is not the same as for example Hazard scoring 15 nowadays. Maradona's 15 would almost definitely be 25+ nowadays.

Also keep in mind that he wasn't a forward.

[KC McElroy]

Mario Kempes in an interview with ESPN and later on Spanish radio about his autobiography and other things few days ago;

"Everytime Maradona opens his mouth it's a problem. He has no respect and to be honest, he's never had any respect for anyone other than himself and those few others nobody would even lift the tip of their cap to acknowledge, controversial people like himself, unsavoury to say the least."

"He always talks about Messi and it's almost like the words of a madman because one day he talks about Lionel as if he's a god, a saintly messianic figure and a week later in another interview he leaves Messi's name in the mud."

"Maradona doesn't seem to remember his own actions during his footballing career because they weren't all pretty shapes floating in fluffy clouds like his football was. How Argentina tumbled out of a World Cup because of cheating with drugs or all the other countless things he infamously done. He has always been respected in Argentina and never has anyone of note ever said a bad word about him, certainly not present or past players for Argentina. But yet he feels he is the judge and jury when the cables backfire in his head to say what he wants in any way he wants to say it."

"In sport and especially in football sometimes you win and sometimes you lose because otherwise it wouldn't be the sport loved by billions all over the world. There are times in life when you should shut your mouth and just enjoy the sport for what it is without moaning and looking for scapegoats in every corner while assuming unworthy godly purity for yourself."

His off the fields antics were certainly too much. But his impact on his teams when on the field is greater than that of Messi. In fact Kempes perfectly illustrated that by pointing out that with Maradona Argentina won their first 2 games at the 1994 World Cup and without him they lost the next 2 and crashed out in the second round.

[Adesor Vafaseya]

His off the fields antics were certainly too much. But his impact on his teams when on the field is greater than that of Messi. In fact Kempes perfectly illustrated that by pointing out that with Maradona Argentina won their first 2 games at the 1994 World Cup and without him they lost the next 2 and crashed out in the second round.

True, one of the highlights for Napoli and non-Napoli fans in stadiums was the 30 mins before the games, watching Maradona doing warm ups.
It always seemed his body had magnetic force connections with the ball. It glued on his head and shoes perfectly.

Here one of them in UEFA 1989 semis.

[Babak agha]

Mario Kempes in an interview with ESPN and later on Spanish radio about his autobiography and other things few days ago;
"Everytime Maradona opens his mouth it's a problem. He has no respect and to be honest, he's never had any respect for anyone other than himself and those few others nobody would even lift the tip of their cap to acknowledge, controversial people like himself, unsavoury to say the least."
"He always talks about Messi and it's almost like the words of a madman because one day he talks about Lionel as if he's a god, a saintly messianic figure and a week later in another interview he leaves Messi's name in the mud."
"Maradona doesn't seem to remember his own actions during his footballing career because they weren't all pretty shapes floating in fluffy clouds like his football was. How Argentina tumbled out of a World Cup because of cheating with drugs or all the other countless things he infamously done. He has always been respected in Argentina and never has anyone of note ever said a bad word about him, certainly not present or past players for Argentina. But yet he feels he is the judge and jury when the cables backfire in his head to say what he wants in any way he wants to say it."
"In sport and especially in football sometimes you win and sometimes you lose because otherwise it wouldn't be the sport loved by billions all over the world. There are times in life when you should shut your mouth and just enjoy the sport for what it is without moaning and looking for scapegoats in every corner while assuming unworthy godly purity for yourself."

I think that the question was who is the better player and not who is a better person.

None of what Kempes is saying/you are posting is relevant to who a better player. If any, just like KC pointed out Kempes is actually saying that without Maradona they were nothing and that's why they lost.

All of it proves the point that Maradona was better otherwise people would come with better arguments than to point out to Maradonna's behavior after his playing days.

Some people bring up stats (messi's goals vs Maradona) but 1. Maradona was not a forward and 2. he was not playing with Xavi, Iniesta, Suarez, Neymar, Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Zlatan, David Via, etc. etc. on his team.

And back then defenders would kick your teeth out of your mouth, now days (messi included) players role on the ground like they have been shot when they hear a popcorn pop in the stadium.

[Adesor Vafaseya]

True, one of the highlights for Napoli and non-Napoli fans in stadiums was the 30 mins before the games, watching Maradona doing warm ups.
It always seemed his body had magnetic force connections with the ball. It glued on his head and shoes perfectly.
Here one of them in UEFA 1989 semis.

SICK!

[Azeem98]

I think that the question was who is the better player and not who is a better person.

None of what Kempes is saying/you are posting is relevant to who a better player. If any, just like KC pointed out Kempes is actually saying that without Maradonna they were nothing and that's why they lost.

All of it proves the point that Maradonna was better otherwise people would come with better arguments than to point out to Maradonna's behavior after his playing days.

Some people bring up stats (messi's goals vs Maradoona) but 1. Maradonna was not a forward and 2. he was not playing with Xavi, Iniesta, Suarez, Neymar, Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Zlatan, David Via, etc. etc. on his team.

And back then defenders would kick your teeth out of your mouth, now days (messi included) players role on the ground like they have been shot when they hear a popcorn pop in the stadium.

His off the field character shows the fault in the argument Maradona was more consistent than Messi At 31 years of age, Maradona was serving a cocaine ban and he was a fat drug addict hasbeen then made a mediocre return to football with Sevilla.

Maradona's got the best highlight reel in football, some of the stuff he did is incredible. You compare a "best of Maradona" to a "best of Messi" video and Maradona comes off looking like the far better player.

But you've also got to consider that the sport's changed a shitload since then, players are all much more athletic - so Messi's doing it up against defenders who are much more athletic. But by the same token, Maradona had to deal with challenges that would be immediate red cards but they were tree trunkish. It's tough to judge them based on anything other than pure statistics.

[KC McElroy]

His off the field character shows the fault in the argument Maradona was more consistent than Messi At 31 years of age, Maradona was serving a cocaine ban and he was a fat drug addict hasbeen then made a mediocre return to football with Sevilla.
Maradona's got the best highlight reel in football, some of the stuff he did is incredible. You compare a "best of Maradona" to a "best of Messi" video and Maradona comes off looking like the far better player.
But you've also got to consider that the sport's changed a shitload since then, players are all much more athletic - so Messi's doing it up against defenders who are much more athletic. But by the same token, Maradona had to deal with challenges that would be immediate red cards but they were tree trunkish. It's tough to judge them based on anything other than pure statistics.

It's not. It's easy to judge them based on highlights of their performance especially considering the teammates they had.

[Azeem98]

For me Maradona was the most influential but Messi is the best. Which also confuses me that Ballon D'Or is given on what criteria being the best player or the most influential player in a calendar year?

If its the former than Messi deserves it this year but if its the latter than it has to be Modric.

[Babak agha]

During Maradona's time he was not eligible for Ballon d'Or as he was not European. And it's about the best not most influential (as the best is also influential)

[Azeem98]

^ Sneijder was more influential in that treble winning Inter team than any other player was for his team, by the same logic of the teammates he had around him if you take him out Inter would not have won nothing plus his performance in the World Cup but Messi was the best player that year but not as influential especially for Argentina but still Messi won. So not True that being influential means also being the best.

[Babak agha]

That's not what I said.

I specifically said that it's about who's the best not who's most influential.

Being the best makes you automatically influential as well. However being influential doesn't make you the best.

To make it easier to understand: all people are mammals but not all mammals are people. Same principle.....

[Adesor Vafaseya]

I think its fair to say MARADONA sarvareh AZEEMeh !!!

[Azeem98]

I know Sarwar means Leader we use it as a name for boys dont know what it means in Persian.

[Adesor Vafaseya]

I know Sarwar means Leader we use it as a name for boys dont know what it means in Persian.

It means leader and Azeem means "great/grand".
So what I wrote had a double meaning, you can't dispute hehe...