CORNERFLICK
Lionel Messi may have overtaken Diego Maradona in football terms, but many Argentines still place the former Napoli and Barcelona icon above him as a national hero.
That view was set out by Ronar Skroset, a football writer and podcast host who has lived in Argentina, in comments to Norway’s VG. He said Messi’s achievements mean the argument will eventually settle in his favour, but not in the way Maradona connects with the country’s identity.
“When people talk about this in 50 years, everyone will agree that Messi was the greatest,” Skroset said.
He added that Messi may never become “such a symbol of Argentine-ness” as Maradona. Another expert, Vigo Strømme, said Maradona lived among ordinary people and became a true idol for the working class, the poor and older generations.
Strømme also pointed to Maradona’s 1986 World Cup win over England as the match that turned him into a different kind of legend. Messi has now added his own chapter against England, providing two assists in Argentina’s semi-final win on Wednesday night to send his side into the World Cup final.