I will always remember Lionel Messi crying : Diego Maradona

I will always remember Lionel Messi crying : Diego Maradona - It wouldn’t be a day of international friendlies without Diego Maradona waxing poetic on the game. Today’s topic: Lionel Messi’s legacy. 

“Messi does not need to win the World Cup to be the best player in the world,” he told La Nacion. “That has nothing to do with it – we should not confuse being fat with a swollen belly.” 

“To win the World Cup would be monstrous for Argentina, it would be monstrous for the fans, and it would be monstrous for Leo. But winning a World Cup or not winning a World Cup does not take away any of what he has done to be where he is.” 

Of course few will deny that Messi has already been – or is now (although Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo would say otherwise) the best player in the world. The concern of his winning a World Cup has more to do with whether Messi will be considered the greatest…ever. It’s a topic that divides opinion and one that Maradona says could be resolved by this summer as Messi is injury free and in his prime. 

“Thanks to his age and the experience gained in these years, this is the World Cup which is best for [Messi],” said Argentina’s 2010 World Cup coach. “I have the memory of South Africa,” Maradona continued. “I can still hear, and I believe I will always be able to hear, the sound of Leo crying when we were knocked out against Germany. 

“He came up to me and I told him that he would have a pile of World Cups to get revenge. I said it to him with the heart. They were all thinking about the return, about their tickets… and he was there, distraught, crying.” 

Describing the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as the time when Messi can seek his “great revenge,” Maradona noted that along with Argentina he believes Germany, Spain and Brazil are the main threats to win the tournament. ( espn.co.uk )

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Messi does not need World Cup for greatness

Messi does not need World Cup for greatness: Maradona   - Lionel Messi does not need a World Cup winners' medal to be considered among soccer's all-time greats, fellow Argentine Diego Maradona said on Tuesday.

"Messi doesn't need to win the World Cup to be the best player in the world," Maradona, who inspired Argentina to the title in Mexico in 1986, told La Nacion.

"(If he did) it would be great for Argentina, the fans and Lio, but (winning) a World Cup or not won't take away any of his achievements up to now to be among the greatest."

Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a penalty against Manchester City during their …

Twice World Cup winners Argentina face Romania in a friendly in Bucharest on Wednesday as they begin to crank up their preparations for this year's finals in Brazil.

Former captain and coach Maradona said everything appeared in place for Messi to shine although Argentina's task would be tough with hosts Brazil, title holders Spain and Germany among the sides to beat.

Maradona said Messi had had a great World Cup in South Africa in 2010 despite not scoring any goals. The Argentina team coached by Maradona lost 4-0 to Germany in the quarter-finals.

"Messi had an exceptional World Cup with me... and no-one said so. (Was it) because he didn't score? He turned all the goalkeepers into stars," he said.

Maradona said he could not forget Messi's sobs when Argentina were eliminated.

"I approached him and told him he'd have many World Cups to get revenge. I said it with all my heart. While the rest were thinking about our return (home) he was there, head bowed, crying."

Argentina are in Group F with Bosnia, Iran and Nigeria at the finals starting on June 12.

"There's Spain, Germany and there's Brazil with a tremendous defence. You think of Brazil's defence and six or seven names come to mind, you think of their attack and there's only Neymar," Maradona said.

"For Lio it will be a test of character, to bring out all that crying he has in his heart. Brazil can be his great revenge," added Maradona, who will commentate on the tournament for a Venezuelan television programme. (Reuters)

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