Lionel Messi paid tribute to Diego Maradona on Wednesday by calling him “eternal” after his fellow Argentine died of a heart attack.
“A very sad day for all Argentines and football,” Messi wrote on Instagram. “He has left us but he will never leave us because Diego is eternal. I will keep all the beautiful moments that I lived with him and would like to send my condolences to all his family and friends. RIP.”
Messi and Maradona have often been compared in the debate about who was the greatest footballer of all time.
Both players are icons in Argentina and have been likened to each other due to their global status, dribbling style and famous number 10 shirts.
Maradona was also Messi’s coach during his brief time in charge of the national team, which included Argentina being thrashed by Germany in the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals.
The best player of the 20th century & the 21st century scoring the exact same goal. It was written in the stars. Maradona made Messi who he is pic.twitter.com/2RtAPVy46I
— IA3➐ (@Isaac3Amujo7) November 25, 2020
Maradona spent two years at Barcelona, where Messi is now captain and the club’s all-time top scorer, although Maradona’s greatest years were spent with Napoli in Italy.
Asked about Maradona in 2010, Messi said: “Even if I played for a million years, I’d never come close to Maradona. Not that I’d want to anyway. He’s the greatest there’s ever been.”
Author
World Cup News
-
FIFA World Cup
/ 11 hours agoGhosts of Gijon linger as new World Cup format encourages collusion
Algeria have waited 44 years for a shot at World Cup revenge against Austria,...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 12 hours agoRed or green? For Brazil, the politics of World Cup kits matter
When Brazil faces Scotland in the World Cup on Wednesday, the South American team's...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 13 hours agoDream job: US soccer fans paid to watch every World Cup game
It might just be the greatest job in the world. But for the two...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 2 days ago‘Has-been’ Belgium stars scorched after Iran World Cup draw
Belgian media on Monday lambasted the Red Devils' lacklustre scoreless World Cup draw against...
By AFP