Inter vice-president Javier Zanetti doesn’t like comparisons so he won’t pick one between Leo Messi and Diego Maradona but says ‘the best players in history are Argentineans.’
Zanetti witnessed Argentina beat France in the World Cup Final at the Lusail Iconic Stadium on Sunday.
He joined celebrations on the pitch, hugging Leo Messi and his partner Antonella Roccuzzo after the PSG superstar had lifted the trophy.
Zanetti briefly spoke to La Gazzetta Dello Sport before returning to Italy on Monday morning: “It’s a great emotion the lads gifted us, especially because we’ve been waiting for it for so long- They crowned the dream of millions of Argentineans worldwide,” he sid.
“It was an amazing Final. We Argentineans suffered because everything seemed to be running smoothly but then France had a great reaction. Martinez’s save was crucial.”
After Argentina’s win inspired by Leo Messi, many believe the PSG superstar has overtaken his compatriot Diego Armando Maradona becoming the best player in history.
However, Zanetti refuses to be involved in the argument and is just happy that the best players in history are both from Argentina. “I don’t like comparison, we should just be happy that the best players in history are Argentineans,” he said.
“Messi hasn’t changed. I think he is just more mature and I believe he has transmitted his leadership to all the guys.”
Zanetti made his Argentina debut in November 1994 and scored five goals in 145 appearances with his national team.
He played in two editions of the World Cup, in 1998 and 2002. Zanetti spent almost his entire playing career in Italy, joining the Nerazzurri in 1995 from Banfield.
The former defender played 615 games in Serie A, scoring 12 goals. He won, among other trophies, five Serie A titles, four Coppa Italia and one Champions League. He retired in the summer of 2014 becoming the club’s vice-president in 2014.
I hugged Messi. Let’s invent in Italy angle!!!