Lionel Messi or Diego Maradona? Francesco Totti picks favorite between the 2 Argentine greats
Italy legend Francesco Totti has chosen Diego Maradona ahead of Lionel Messi in a recent Instagram chat. The former AS Roma skipper also chose the 1986 World Cup winner ahead of himself.
Diego Maradona is considered by many as the greatest footballer of all time. The Argentinean helped La Albiceleste transcend boundaries and win the hearts of millions of football fans worldwide.
When Lionel Messi first broke into the scenes with Barcelona and Argentina, he was hailed as the heir to Maradona's throne in world football. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner fulfilled that prophecy in December 2022, helping La Albiceleste to another FIFA World Cup.
However, when recently asked to choose between Diego Maradona and the Inter Miami man, Totti had a straightforward answer.
"Diego Maradona," said Totti (via Cronache di Milan).
Maradona is certainly among the legends of the game and one of the finest players ever to set foot on a football pitch. In Lionel Messi, however, the world has found someone equally mesmerising, and will a similar ability to churn out the impossible on the pitch.
There are quite a few uncanny similarities between the two. Both guided Argentina to two World Cup finals, winning one and losing the other to Germany. Some of the goals scored by the two have uncanny similarities as well. However, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was long criticised for his lack of trophies with his nation, although that burden is now off his shoulders.
How many trophies has Lionel Messi won with Argentina?
Lionel Messi won the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2005 with the Argentina Under-20 team. He won the World Cup Golden Ball as well as the Golden Boot, giving the world a glimpse of what was about to come.
Three years later, he guided his nation to the Gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. Then began his barren run with the senior team, which included defeat at the 2014 FIFA World Cup final.
However, Messi finally fulfilled his long-term dream of winning a Cup with Argentina at the 2021 Copa America. He played a starring role as La Albiceleste defeated Brazil in the final to win the tournament.
It would mark the start of Messi's golden run with the national team. He won the Finalissima in 2022, before lifting the Holy Grail of Football, the World Cup, later that year.
The 37-year-old has continued his stellar run with Argentina this year as well, lifting his second Copa America title this summer. He now has four international trophies with the senior team.