The debate about who is the greatest footballer of all-time (G.O.A.T.) between Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi is one which will rage for many years to come.
Fans of Maradona believe his achievement in helping Argentina win the World Cup tips the scales in his favor, while Messi’s tally of trophies at club level makes him the clear winner with many people.
A recent study by Betway attempted to come up with a definitive answer using what can only be described as an unusual way to settle the argument.
They assembled a team of five real goats to choose the G.O.A.T. and after an epic battle it was Maradona who emerged victorious.
Messi fans will no doubt disagree with the outcome, so let’s take a closer look at how the two Argentinian legends stack up against each other.
Silverware
In terms of domestic league titles Messi (11) is way ahead of Maradona (3). He has also won the Champions League on four occasions, while Maradona has a single UEFA Cup success to his name.
It can be argued that Messi played in much better teams, while Maradona carried poor sides on his back and helped them win silverware.
Where Maradona has the edge is at the World Cup, having been the inspiration behind Argentina’s success in Mexico in 1986.
By contrast, Messi has underperformed at several major tournaments, although he does have a Copa America title on his CV.
Goals
Messi is the clear winner over Maradona in this department after racking up more than double the number of goals for club and country.
He has won a record six European Golden Shoes and is the all-time top goalscorer for Barcelona, Argentina and in La Liga.
Messi also holds the European record for the most goals ever scored during a single club season (73) and calendar year (91).
However, Maradona played more than 200 games fewer than Messi and spent much of his career operating in a deeper role than his compatriot.
International Careers
Messi’s failure to win the World Cup is a black mark against his claims to be the G.O.A.T, although he could still rectify matters with Argentina in 2022.
He has largely failed to deliver the goods at major tournaments, despite regularly featuring in squads packed with world class talent.
By contrast, the Argentina squads that reached back-to-back World Cup finals in 1986 and 1990 were significantly weaker.
The difference-maker was unquestionably Maradona – a man who single-handedly carried Argentina to two successive finals with moments of sheer brilliance.
Conclusion
Both Maradona and Messi have created a legacy that will be remembered for many decades to come and splitting the pair is an exercise in futility.
Maradona’s efforts for Napoli and Argentina helped him achieve legendary status, but he did not enjoy the same top-level longevity as his compatriot.
Messi has delivered more consistently at club level, but his lack of World Cup success sticks out like a sore thumb.
If can rectify this by leading Argentina to victory at Qatar 2022, you would be hard pushed to say the G.O.A.T. debate has not finally been settled.
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