Lionel Messi: There Is Only One Diego Maradona

The 2009 FIFPro World Player of the Year Lionel Messi has admitted that he never thought of surpassing his mentor Diego Maradona. Messi revealed he didn’t feel comfortable with comparisons between him and the Argentina legendary star Maradona, and he declared that such flatters were far from influencing his performance on the field.

In a recent interview, the FIFA World Player of the Year 2009 spoke about Diego Maradona’s attitude with Albicelestes, as well as his personality:

“I think (Diego Maradona) he is a manager who is very close to his players. He is like one of us, and he gives a lot of confidence to each and everyone in his team,” Lionel Messi said.

“I feel flattered (by all the praises received), but, as I have always said, there is only one Maradona; and there will never be another one like him. I try to keep improving, to keep on learning, but I know I am far away from that. I always build my career without thinking of any comparisons with Diego (Maradona).”

Being asked on the 2010 FIFA World Cup which is set to take place in South Africa in June next summer, the Barcelona star Lionel Messi replied by saying:

“In reality, I know very little about South Africa; in short, I know practically nothing. And I hope it will be a great World Cup for us (Argentina national football team). I think we are getting ready in the best possible way, and I believe Argentina has many good players who are very eager. They are very illusioned about getting as far as they can.”

Lionel Messi then switched his attention to the differing styles of play in his country and in Barcelona.

“Both teams play very differently,” added Messi.

“At Barça, we have been working for a long time, and we do a type of football which is rarely noticeable anywhere else. We have known each other for a long time there, as we train together every day. With the national side (Argentina), we are still building a team together, and we are searching for our way of playing. We are looking for a team, and we do not have something solid like at Barcelona, where we work every day.”

Isaac Asante, LMF

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