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Thread about Maradona and Messi
There is that myth that Maradona led Argentina to WC glory singlehandedly, while Messi was an international failure.
Truth is, while Maradona in fact was one of the greatest international players, Messi is nothing less than him.
There is that myth that Maradona led Argentina to WC glory singlehandedly, while Messi was an international failure.
Truth is, while Maradona in fact was one of the greatest international players, Messi is nothing less than him.
Keep in mind that Argentina in Maradona's time was one of world's greatest football nations. They were WC winner 1978 without him, qualified for WC 1986 with him only participating in 2 out of 6 games. And although it is true that he had a great WC performance, which made him
the best player of the tournament, we must not forget that 9 of 14 Argentina's goals were scored by his teammates. And all 3 final goals were scored by Maradona's great teammates! So, there was nothing like anybody singlehandedly winning a WC. While Maradona's team in 1986 and
1990 was taken to the finals by very experienced coach Bilardo, Messi in 2010 had completely unexperienced Maradona as coach, whose gameplan was to hug the players and smile to the galery. They were eliminated by very experienced coach Jogi Löw, who had been
NT assistant coach for years, before he took charge in 2006. Only once in his prime, Messi had a decent coach and something worth being called a preparation. That was 2014, when they managed to reach the final. And remember, only 3 of 7 Argentina goals in WC 2014 were scored by
Messi's teammates! 3 goals in the whole tournament all the way to the final!
Messi haters will always remind you that he didn't score in WC 2010, in 5 games. Yet they don't remember or even know that Maradona didn't score in all 7 games of WC 1990! And Messi at least managed as
Messi haters will always remind you that he didn't score in WC 2010, in 5 games. Yet they don't remember or even know that Maradona didn't score in all 7 games of WC 1990! And Messi at least managed as
many assists as Maradona.
That's it for Maradona. Ah, wait! There were two more WCs.
1982 the super star was so enraged about their loss to Brazil that he stroke down his opponent with a karate kick into his stomach. Red card!
1994 he was disqualified because they found
That's it for Maradona. Ah, wait! There were two more WCs.
1982 the super star was so enraged about their loss to Brazil that he stroke down his opponent with a karate kick into his stomach. Red card!
1994 he was disqualified because they found
forbidden substances in his blood. He had only played two games.
So, Maradona shone in WC 1986, was not really outstanding in 1990, and was a shame for his country in 2 more WCs.
While soon after WC 1990 Maradona already had drug issues, he was banned from football for
So, Maradona shone in WC 1986, was not really outstanding in 1990, and was a shame for his country in 2 more WCs.
While soon after WC 1990 Maradona already had drug issues, he was banned from football for
15 months. In this time, in 1991 and 1993, the so called mediocre Argentina team won Copa America twice. Without him...
So, the big difference between Messi's L, who btw also won the best player award (2014), and Maradona's W, are all the goals Maradona's teammates scored for
So, the big difference between Messi's L, who btw also won the best player award (2014), and Maradona's W, are all the goals Maradona's teammates scored for
him, especially the 3 goals in 1986 final.
Talking about WC qualifiers:
Maradona helped his country in 4 qualifier games. He didn't need to qualify for 1982 and 1990, due to the fact that Argentina was title holder. In total, he played 4 qualifying games.
So, while Messi helped
Talking about WC qualifiers:
Maradona helped his country in 4 qualifier games. He didn't need to qualify for 1982 and 1990, due to the fact that Argentina was title holder. In total, he played 4 qualifying games.
So, while Messi helped
his country to 3 WCs, especially the last one, for which Argentina would definitely and provenly not qualify without him, Maradona was practically given 3 WCs by his teammates' efforts. Nobody ever mentions this.
When Maradona began his WC career, Argentina was current title
When Maradona began his WC career, Argentina was current title
holder and number 1 football nation in the world. Between Maradona's and Messi's time, Argentina only managed a quarter final and in 2002 even didn't make the group. When Messi started, Argentina was a nation without confidence and without quality football.
Yet after Messi came,
Yet after Messi came,
Argentina always reached the quarter finals, and once even the final.
So, if anyone wants to tell you that Maradona won 'mediocre' Argentina the WC, remind them that Argentina won one WC with him, but the same Argentina, in his time, won one WC and 2 Copa America without him.
So, if anyone wants to tell you that Maradona won 'mediocre' Argentina the WC, remind them that Argentina won one WC with him, but the same Argentina, in his time, won one WC and 2 Copa America without him.
And that Messi literally took Argentina to the WC, in a time, Argentina didn't have much to give to the football world, despite highly potential but never fulfilling attacking talent.
... the only true contribution they really had, was that little man Messi.
... the only true contribution they really had, was that little man Messi.
All I wanted to do here, is take a look behind that myth of Maradona winning a WC singlehandedly with a mediocre team.
That doesn't take away anything of his best phantastic and iconic WC moments. He was one of the greatest players of all time, just as Messi is, too.
It would be
That doesn't take away anything of his best phantastic and iconic WC moments. He was one of the greatest players of all time, just as Messi is, too.
It would be
worth taking a closer look on how Maradona was able to perform such iconic and artistic moments in his time, while Messi did, too, but in a less spectacular way. I'd say, it's the whole difference between the 80's and nowadays.
A player in Maradona's time had about 6 seconds
A player in Maradona's time had about 6 seconds
until the opponent tackled him. Today he has one second. There's no time left for the show.
