Lionel Messi is on the verge of winning the World Cup for Argentina, but Gomorrah actor and Napoli fan Salvatore Esposito insists ‘he can never compare to Diego Armando Maradona.’
The title of GOAT – Greatest Of All Time – is bandied about on social media and Messi has been edging closer to his own hero with the performances in Qatar.
However, Napoli fans are up in arms about the suggestion Messi could even surpass their iconic legend Maradona by liftin the World Cup trophy.
“Messi can never compare to Diego Armando Maradona,” Esposito told Radio Marte.
“It could never be made even if Messi should win the World Cup. I don’t just say this as a Napoli fan, but as anyone who actually saw Diego play or was teammates with him.
“After all, Messi has always been protected by big clubs and big coaches, while Diego won with Napoli and an Argentina squad that was much, much worse than the current one.
“How can you try to compare the opponents Diego faced at Napoli on a daily basis, back when Serie A was undoubtedly the best league in the world?
“Don’t get me wrong, I hope Messi wins the trophy, but certain comparisons simply cannot be made.”
It is sad that we have such idiots in this world.
Messi is one of a kind.. he is a gift from God.. He is not a drug addict.. he is flawless in his football.. he broke almost all records in a MUCH MUCH MUCH more difficult and suphisticated era of football.
This is a very biased opinion from a Napoli fan. I think if Messi is able to lift the World Cup trophy he will have achieved that Legend status in his own right. Anyone who has seen him play can’t deny this. And I am quite sick of hearing the question about who is better. Its a stupid question. They are both legends in their own right and you can’t say one is better then the other as that will always be left to opinion. They are both incredible players and that is how they should be remembered.
@FORZA MOGGI, I wouldn’t expect that opinion to appeal to your own bias so your first sentence applies to you as much as those you criticize.
Well said Salvatore…with you 100%.
People say you can’t compare the eras but the eras can be given context. El Pibe de Oro played during a time of extreme man marking and when your leg could be broken with tackles. Messi escaped this and was indirectly protected. But so many factors could brought into the football landscape of their time, some already mentioned by Salvatore.
Could Messi have done what Diego did with Napoli vs the Serie A powerhouses at that time? No.
He could win his WC on Sunday. Diego will be on the pedestal for me.
Different players from different eras makes comparisons difficult and I love them both. What can be said is that Maradona was a stronger and more charismatic leader, and had to put up with substandard pitches, brutal defenders and far more pressure than Messi ever did (with god-like status in Argentina and Naples and pressure from criminal circles). If Messi had to play in that age he would have had to retire hurt by the time he was 27. Maradona also made average teams great (Napoli and the 1986 and 1990 Argentina squads are examples of that) whereas Messi has always been surrounded by great players and coaches. Even the Argentian teams of the last 15 years have been more talented than what Maradona had to lead.
On point Frankie! Excellent points.
No doubt Maradona was a gift from god absolute genius he made love to the ball he made football an art he was an artist while Messi plays during a different era and even the success at Argentina is at the dawn of his career where his contribution is much smaller. I remember the game where he single handedly dismantled Arsenal with Barca and he had some great performances, but I still think what Maradona did with Napoli and Argentina could not be matched by any player past or modern. The guy was phenomenal and his problems off the field do not make him a parriah they add to his myth he was human and he was a by product of his environment and the world at the time. Both Roberto Baggio and Maradona represented THE PEOPLE. They played FOR THE PEOPLE thats why they will be forever loved they did not act like they were bigger the anyone and they had love for the sport and for the fans. Not many players can say that they hide behind their Instagram posts and their Ferraris nowadays. This is not someone I can idolize
Making comparisons between eras is simply pointless. For many reasons. If WC are the measure to go by consider that Mbappe could win his second WC on Sunday. And he’s 23 years old.
Firstly I think it’s pointless to compare eras but what’s important is the records which Messi has so far broken over and over again and should he win the world cup on Sunday, that makes him the greatest player the world has ever seen whether some fans like it or not…it easy to say that Maradona’s era was more difficult but let’s not forget football then was also much slower and the smaller teams were much easier to beat compared to this era where football has developed so much and so many distractions like social medias and extreme criticism…both are legends but the records are what matters not eras and so far Messi has been a better man.
I hope he wins the world cup to shut many people up