For Lionel Messi, winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup will do much for his legacy, such as putting him in the conversation as the best player to lace up a pair of boots.
Many would suggest Pele or Diego Maradona since both led their respective nations to World Cups, something Messi hasn’t done but could change when Argentina faces France on Sunday.
However, Argentina legend Ossie Ardiles insists Maradona will always be the one-true GOAT regardless of whatever occurs between Argentina and France. The 1978 World Cup winner says that Messi will never reach his level.
“I wouldn’t say ahead of Diego, I will say maybe on level terms,” Ardiles (h/t talkSPORT). “Messi is an absolutely wonderful, wonderful player. I have no doubt, by far, that he’s the best player of his generation, and of course he’s one of the very best in the history of football.
“But I would say that he can only go level with Maradona, and I personally would go for Maradona. Because when we played football I think it was much more difficult for a skillful player to play, so this is why I will say Maradona. He will always be a touch, touch, touch better than Messi.”
Now there is some bias on Ardiles part since he did play with Maradona, so there’s a reason he prefers the former footballer.
Nonetheless, the ex-Argentina player isn’t alone in his opinion, as AS Roma legend Francesco Totti also sides that Maradona is the undisputed best player regardless if Messi wins his first World Cup.
