Cocaine snotter he may be, but Maradona was arguably the greatest player that ever lived. Here are 10 reasons why Diego Maradona was greater than the current best player in the world, Lionel Messi:
10. Playing Through Cocaine Addiction:
Despite being a cocaine user from 1983-2004, Maradona managed to have one of the most decorated footballing careers of all-time.
9. Supreme God
The “Religión Maradoniana” was created by the Church of Maradona and views Maradona as a Supreme God. The religion has a reported following of tens of thousands.
8. More than a footballer
Maradona was a man of the people. His former teammate Jorge Valdano has said that the former Argentine number ten, “offered to the Argentines way out of their collective frustration, and that’s why people love him. He is a divine figure.”
7. Superstar Pedigree
The United States based newspaper The Houston Chronicle had a brilliant take on what Diego meant to Argentina on and off the pitch, “To understand the gargantuan shadow Maradona casts over his soccer-mad homeland, one has to conjure up the athleticism of Michael Jordan, the power of Babe Ruth – and the human fallibility of Mike Tyson. Lump them together in a single barrel-chested man with shaggy black hair and you have El Diego, idol to the millions who call him D10S, a mashup of his playing number and the Spanish word for God.”
6. Played professionally in Argentina
Latin cultures are always proud of their country and heritage. The fact that Maradona earned his calling while playing in Argentina for Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors separates him from Messi.
5. Hand of God
Arguably the most famous goal ever scored, and bar none the most infamous deliberate hand ball of all-time. The importance of the goal was also second to none. It came in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals match against England, which Argentina won 2-1.
4. The Goal of the Century
Maradona’s second goal versus England was tabbed FIFA: Goal of the Century. His marauding 66 yard run saw him dribble passed six England defenders before he slid the ball past the sliding keeper.
3. World Cup champion
En route to nearly single-handedly winning the World Cup for Argentina in 1986, Maradona turned in stellar performances in every match.
2. Winner of the Golden Ball
Maradona was named the 1986 winner of the Golden Ball, for the best player at the World Cup. This honour, plus the World Cup triumph, sealed Maradona’s legacy as one of the best footballers of all-time.
1. FIFA Player of the Century
Maradona shares the honour as FIFA Player of the Century with Brazilian legend Pele. This one-off award is the greatest individual award any professional footballer can win.
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Icompletely AGREEEEEEEEEE,NO ONE IS LIKE HIM.FULL STOP.FIRST HE WAS CHOSEN BY PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD AS THE GREATEST PLAYER ALONG SIDE PELE BY FIFA,PELE IS ONE GENIUS AND LEGEND MARADONNA IS ALSO GENIUS AND LEGEND.THEY ARE DIFFERENT,YOU HAVE NEWTON ALSO YOU HAVE EINSTEIN NO COMPARISON.
MESSI GOOD BUT NEVER BROUGHT ARGENTINA TO WORLD CHAMPION HE HAS TO PROVE,SORRRRRYYYYY.JACKY I FOLLOW SOCCER FOR 40 YEARS PELE MARADONNA ARE THE GREATEST IN THEIR OWN RIGHT.OTHERS WELLLLL SORRRRRYYYYYY,THEY HAVE TO BE 2ND OR 3RD,JACKY