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Diego Maradona has rejected the idea that Lionel Messi's lack of a FIFA World Cup win makes him a lesser player.
The Barcelona superstar has had huge success at club level and won the Ballon d'Or on five occasions, but at international level he has endured consistent disappointment, losing three finals with Argentina—one at the World Cup and twice in the Copa America—in each of the last three summers.
However, compatriot Maradona, a World Cup winner in 1986 who coached Messi in the national team from 2008 to 2010, insisted the 29-year-old's lack of silverware with Argentina in no way diminishes his numerous other achievements, per TyC Sports (via ESPN FC):
I am not going to tolerate that people say Messi is not the phenomenon that he is because he did not win a World Cup.