Why is Messi better than Maradona? The duel of the Argentine gods sounds better for the younger one

Two legends, two idols, two footballers who rank among the best to ever step foot on the football pitch. Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi have a lot in common, but they have a lot in common with a lot in common. Why is Messi the better of the pair and not the still slightly more respected Maradona by many?

Seven Ballon d’Ors, the most team trophies in the history of world football, and he has won the most important and prestigious competitions at club and national team level. Yet there are still many who believe that Diego Maradona is higher in the ranking of the best footballers in history than Lionel Messi.

The two are constantly being compared somehow. On the football side, it can be said that they were similar, but on the personality and human side, not so much. Messi was certainly helped to regain his reputation by his triumph at the World Cup in Qatar. But why is he better than Maradona?

Maradona and the cult of personality

Not an easy question to answer objectively. It is a comparison of two very different personalities in two very different times. In fact, it would be easier to refute the idea that Maradona is better.

Why? Because many fans live more from memories. Nostalgia does a lot. Just as some people think life was better under communism, even though all arguments say otherwise, some people think Maradona is better.

The cult of personality phenomenon also does a lot. Maradona was seen everywhere, he was all over the media, he didn’t exactly live a model life, he enjoyed himself, he had flaws. He had scandals. There were people who could identify with him. It was the humanity of him that actually made him a god.

His distinctive personality came through on the field. He was boisterous, he was emotional, he was a leader.

Compared to Diego, Messi actually looks flawless. An exemplary professional, a quiet personality, a family man, he has no scandals, no tabloid scandals, he basically lets his performances speak for themselves on the pitch, but he doesn’t make a fuss about them either.

Marcelo Sottile, author of the book Messi El Distinto, gave a fantastic assessment of both footballers in an interview with Reuters: “Lionel is the Argentine we all want to be. He is respected, he has a good image and all the doors in the world are open to him and his family.”

“Diego, for a change, is the kind of Argentine we all really are. A fighter who rebels against power, a showman, he likes to convert,” Sottile mentioned an interesting thought.

The fact that Maradona headed to Naples and turned a mediocre club into a team that could compete not only with the Italian top flight also does a lot. He changed the reputation of the team from under Vesuvius forever. Moreover, Diego has spent a good part of his career in Argentina, while Messi has been in Europe since his childhood.

Why is Messi better than Maradona?

We have to admit that this comparison is not entirely fair, as its underlying factors could not have been influenced by either player, but all things considered, there is no other conclusion that Lionel Messi is higher in the ranking of the best footballers in history.

Diego Maradona used to play at a time when football was not yet overhyped. It was a time when there were many individualities that decided matches, football was not so “monotonous” then. Yes, it was tougher, the health of the players wasn’t as much of a consideration, and the professionalism wasn’t as much, which may have had an impact on how long Maradona lasted at the top.

Today, footballers have a very hard time standing out in any significant way. There is not as much individuality. Moreover, Messi is on a completely different level to all the great individualities of his time, with the exception of Cristiano Ronaldo. Thinking, numbers, style of play, importance to the team.

Tactical preparation is on a completely different level, which makes it all the more difficult for Messi. There is a lot more attention to defence. Before, one player could win a team matches and trophies, in the era of Messi and Ronaldo, practically only this duo could do it. Other players have been or are key to their teams too, but in an era where the team is more of a majority than individuals, no one is that special.

We must also mention the longevity already hinted at. Messi is consistent, he has been excellent every season. And that Maradona was able to pull off Napoli? We can see something similar with Messi in Miami now at 36. Yes, a different quality of competition, but also a different age.

Not to mention that coming to America makes Messi an even bigger personality in terms of PR, and the Argentine has had a big impact on the popularity of football in the United States.

The numbers, the consistency, the number of team and individual trophies, the success on the club and national team stage. All of this is on Messi’s side. For a long time, Maradona was only ahead of him because Messi couldn’t win the World Cup. But that is now in the past. He won and was the main hero. He was exactly the leader Argentina wished they had.

But both footballers deserve enormous credit and respect. They are both among the best to ever run on the football pitch. Two legends, two icons, two idols. Lucky are those who have experienced at least part of the era of both greats. Everyone else can only regret it.

Source: Transfermarkt, Reuters