Maradona vs Messi: Who’s the Best Argentinian Footballer?

When it comes to Argentinian football, there are two names that immediately come to mind: Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. Both are legends of the sport, having achieved incredible feats on the field and captured the hearts of fans around the world. But the question of who is the greatest Argentinian footballer of all time remains a subject of heated debate among fans and experts alike.

In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the careers of Maradona and Messi, comparing their achievements and impact on the game to determine which one deserves the title of the greatest Argentinian footballer of all time. We’ll examine their playing styles, statistics, and notable achievements, as well as their contributions to their respective clubs and the national team.

While both Maradona and Messi are widely regarded as two of the greatest footballers of all time, there are some key differences in their careers and playing styles that make the comparison between them particularly intriguing. From Maradona’s World Cup heroics to Messi’s record-breaking goal-scoring streaks, there’s no shortage of remarkable accomplishments to consider when weighing the merits of each player.

So join us as we delve into the fascinating world of Argentinian football and explore the legacies of two of its greatest icons.

Messi vs Maradona goals

When it comes to overall goals, Messi surpasses Diego. Only six players in history have amassed more goals than he has for club and country. He has also won a record six European Golden Shoes. Leo is the all-time leading scorer for Barcelona and Argentina, among many other scoring records. Additionally, he holds the European record for the most goals ever scored in a calendar year (73).

When it comes to overall goals, Messi surpasses Diego. Only six players in history have amassed more goals than he has for club and country. He has also won a record six European Golden Shoes. Leo is the all-time leading scorer for Barcelona and Argentina, among many other scoring records. Additionally, he holds the European record for the most goals ever scored in a calendar year (73).

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Diego scored 357 goals throughout his career. For almost 30 years, Diego was Napoli’s leading scorer before Marek Hamsik passed him. Messi has won the Pichichi Trophy six times and was the league’s top scorer. In 91 Argentina games, Diego scored 34 goals, while Messi has 70 in 138.

Messi vs Maradona all-time stats

Messi vs Maradona dribbling

Even though they both have a solid left foot and a weak right foot, Diego Maradona and Lionel have different techniques. Despite having comparable heights, they use other dribbling techniques.

While Diego was better at chasing down a running ball and carrying a lot of momentum, Leo sprints with the ball attached to his body. Diego is a master of deception. He would hold the ball up while waiting for a teammate or find a gap for a quick shot. On the other hand, Leo does not hold the ball up and must keep it in motion to perform his tricks.

Diego had a wide variety of dribbles, whereas Lionel consistently repeats the same move with the same result. Maradona was occasionally egotistical, whereas Leo is always a team player who puts the team before himself.

Messi vs Maradona World Cup

As of November 26, 2022, Leo had matched Maradona’s 21 FIFA World Cup appearances record. He eventually surpassed the late great in his recent game against Poland. He now has the most appearances for Argentina in the World Cup finals.

The PSG striker tied Maradona’s record of 21 goals in the FIFA World Cup for Argentina with his incredible goal against Mexico in the FIFA World Cup 2022. Leo has given his teammates six assists so far in his World Cup career. On the other hand, Diego has eight credit assists from 21 games over four FIFA World Cups.

Both Leo and Diego have won the Golden Ball award for individual achievement once. In 1986, Diego triumphed, and in 2014, Lionel did likewise.

Messi vs Maradona awards

Comparing the two regarding the highest individual honors is very challenging. Although Diego missed out on football’s most coveted individual award until the rules were changed to allow non-Europeans to compete in 1995, Leo has won a record six Ballon d’Or trophies.

Diego was 35 years old at this point. The FIFA World Player of the Year award, another prestigious individual honor in football, wasn’t established until 1991 when Diego was 31. Lionel has twice taken home the award. Likewise, Leo has earned the title of Best Player in La Liga eight times.

Messi and Maradona’s relationship

There will inevitably be comparisons between the two because they are practically inseparable when talking about the history of Argentine football. But the fact remains that they are interconnected within the same culture.

They are more like successive inheritors of an identity than distinct characters. Leo and Diego never existed together. He came first, followed by Lionel. According to quotes from Lionel’s father, Jorge, published by Diario Sport,

Leo grew up watching Diego’s videos. He received them from us.

Between 2008 and 2010, when Maradona was in charge of the Argentine national team for two years, Messi was under his tutelage. Although Maradona looked out for Messi and gave him prominence in the setup, their personalities were very dissimilar.

Messi vs Maradona: Who is better

Leo is the undisputed champion in terms of pure numbers. He has 24 domestic trophies compared to Diego’s eight, and ten league titles compared to Maradona’s three. He only has one club championship to Lionel’s ten continental and international ones. Although Leo hasn’t achieved significant success with the national team, Diego won the World Cup, which Messi hopes to win in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

The Maradona vs Messi debate seems to be never-ending, and a clear winner seems to be Messi just for the sheer ridiculous numbers that he has. Leo has stood out among the two players the most and only needs the World Cup trophy to top it all, and probably go down as the greatest football player in history.

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