“From watching TV at home you can’t fight” - When Maradona slammed Lionel Messi for skipping award ceremony that Cristiano Ronaldo won
Diego Maradona hit out at Lionel Messi after the Argentine skipped the Ballon d'Or ceremony in 2017 because Cristiano Ronaldo was winning the award. The legendary footballer claimed that the two rivals needed to share the stage and fight only on the pitch.
Speaking to the media, Maradona slammed Messi and stated that Barcelona stars should not be skipping an important event and said (via Bleacher Report):
"I'm disappointed with Messi, from watching television at home you cannot fight anything or anyone -- here you can fight. I do not know why Barcelona did not come to such an important event. They have priorities and the priority was for Leo not to come. I think coming here [Zurich] they could fight more than they would in Barcelona."
Ronaldo won the award in 2017 with 946 votes, while Messi came second with 670 votes. Neymar was third on the podium with 361 - he was with Barcelona at the start of the year but made his €222 million move to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the summer.
Barcelona decided not to let any of their players attend the gala in 2017 as they were preparing for the Copa del Rey clash against Athletic Bilbao. The Catalan side were to send Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Gerard Pique to the event as they were named in the FIFA Team Of The Year.
Diego Maradona on Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo
Diego Maradona has always been a fan of his countryman and stated that Cristiano Ronaldo would never reach Lionel Messi's level. He was talking to TVR in 2012 when he said:
"Cristiano Ronaldo will never be of Messi's level. Lionel doesn't need Cristiano Ronaldo's powerful shot. Messi just dribbles towards the goal with the ball at his feet. When Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or he told Messi 'No more second places'. Now silver is the best he can achieve."
He also spoke about the duo to Guillem Balague on Sky Sports' Revista de La Liga in 2015 and said:
"Cristiano is a predator in front of goal. You can't let Cristiano shoot from anywhere in the opposition half. Goalkeepers are scared of him. You have to be honest, goalkeepers are scared of Cristiano. They are not so scared of Messi in those areas because he doesn't have the same power as Cristiano. Cristiano is an incredible professional. I think at this present time he is right up there at Messi's level. It's not the case that Messi is better than Ronaldo or Ronaldo is better than Messi. I think they are at the same level."
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi dominated European football for almost two decades but have now left for other continents. The Portuguese star is playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, while the Argentine is playing for Inter Miami in the MLS.