Cybereagles

Diego Maradona questions Lionel Messi's commitment to Argentina

The former Argentina number ten asks 'dammit, are you Argentinian or are you Swedish?'

By Callum Davis

10:01AM BST 14 Jul 2015


Diego Maradona has waded into the debate on Lionel Messi's international career, insisting it's time to stop giving the Barcelona star special treatment.

Following defeats in the World Cup and Copa America finals, Lionel Messi's wait for a competitive international trophy at senior level goes on.

As in the World Cup final last year, the three-time Ballon d'Or winner was unable to make his impression felt in the Copa America climax against Chile, and Diego Maradona did not hold back in his assessment of the Argentinian number ten.

"It's logical that he comes in for flak, it's easy to explain. We've got the best player in the world, who goes and scores four goals against Real Sociedad, then he comes here and doesn't touch the ball".

"You're left saying to yourself 'Dammit, are you Argentinian or Swedish?" Maradona added.

In an interview with Argentine sports paper, Olé, the former Argentina coach backed criticism of Messi claiming it's "the only way he'll improve" his performances for the national side.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... ntina.html

"It's logical that he comes in for flak, it's easy to explain. We've got the best player in the world, who goes and scores four goals against Real Sociedad, then he comes here and doesn't touch the ball".

"You're left saying to yourself 'Dammit, are you Argentinian or Swedish?" Maradona added.

if Maradona had Higuain playing in front of him instead of Buruchaga or Valdano, he wont have won the WC in 1986.

If Messi had Cannigia playing with him in place of Higuain, he would have won world cup in 2014 and Copa America.

so, Maradona should shattap

Maybe our rating of these players are different but both a fan of Diego and Lionel but I tend to believe that Burucha and Canigia's greatness was enhanced due to Diego.

I believe the Argentina teams that played the last 2 WC and Copa American Grande Finales are better than the 1986 and 1990 squads I saw.

What do you think?

if Maradona had Higuain playing in front of him instead of Buruchaga or Valdano, he wont have won the WC in 1986.

If Messi had Cannigia playing with him in place of Higuain, he would have won world cup in 2014 and Copa America.

so, Maradona should shattap

That is a lot of conjecture, bro. The fact is Maradona imposed himself in Argentina colors. Often messi stays aloof as if he is just another player. That is the difference.

That is a lot of conjecture, bro. The fact is Maradona imposed himself in Argentina colors. Often messi stays aloof as if he is just another player. That is the difference.

That is how I see it.

The proof is not in 1986 alone, 1990 as well. Argentina HAD NO BUSINESS making it to the quarters talkless of getting past it in Italia 1990. That was all Diego. That guy was a colossus. They recovered from losing to Cameroon to manage a 3rd place finish, to beat a Brazilian team that was better than them? That Brazil game was all Diego - that was about heart and pride.

Did someone claim that Diego had more talented teammates than Messi? Seriously? Kun Aguero isn't as deadly a finisher / striker currently alive in the planet? Di Maria? Tevez? Pastore? Etc. Please come again.

You raise some good points but I'm not sold.

Recent Argentina teams are not balanced. Look at Argentina's first game in the Copa America this year. They could have gone up 4-0 in the first half but ended up drawing the game. The coach screwed up his subs bringing on Higuain and Tevez for Pastore and Aguero. Tevez was a waste-pipe. Messi was so pissed that he refused the MoM accolade.

Maradona had a better team. Just watch Argentina vs Brazil in 1982 when young Diego tormented the Brazilians and got sent off for retaliation.

Notice that you didn't mention any defenders or goalies.
It is a team sport.

How about you mention the super stars that helped Maradona win the WC?

By the way macherano, zabaleta, and demichelis aren't slouches and would walk into the starting 11 of many contenders.

How about you mention the super stars that helped Maradona win the WC?

By the way macherano, zabaleta, and demichelis aren't slouches and would walk into the starting 11 of many contenders.

Ghana's First President Kwame Nkrumah said: "We face neither East nor West; we face Forward"

TFCO - This fight against Messi is the height of foolishness. The guy is the best player of his era whether he wins with Argentina or not. The trophy will eventually come btw

Maradona played in an era when the game was very different. The game is faster and players are fitter and better. But despite all of this, when it comes to pure stats (goals and assists), Messi has better stats for Argentina than Maradona had

G4L,

KPOM. That is what many guys miss. Many of those players who played with Maradona particularly in 1986 had lesser international profile compared to those playing with Messi today. I have not researched this but I truly believe it because people are shouting Burruchaga without the realization that Burruchaga was a virtual unknown till the World Cup. Now compare that to Aguero, Higuain, Di Maria who are big names. The fact is that at the international level, Messi inexplicably does not command his team. He appears laid back too often for a guy whose status is supposedly on the level of Maradona and Pele.

That is how I see it.

The proof is not in 1986 alone, 1990 as well. Argentina HAD NO BUSINESS making it to the quarters talkless of getting past it in Italia 1990. That was all Diego. That guy was a colossus. They recovered from losing to Cameroon to manage a 3rd place finish, to beat a Brazilian team that was better than them? That Brazil game was all Diego - that was about heart and pride.

im a Maradona fan too. However, my point is that, in the final of 1986 WC, Maradona did not score. When he laid those passes for Buruchaga and Valdano, they scored. Had any of them missed their chances the way Higuain did at WC and Copa America final, Maradona would not have been champions.

At Italia 90, Maradona did much to take his team to the final. But he did not score a single goal. When he rounded 3 Brazilian players in the 2nd round and laid a pass to Cannigia, he rounded the keeper and scored to give Argentina the win. Had he missed his chance like Higuain does when put through, Argentina would not have beat Brazil.

At the same Italia 90, in the q/final match ended in penalty shootout. Maradona indeed lost his own kick. His team mates, especially the keeper bailed him out. The semi-final also went to penalty shootout. Had Maradona's team mates skied their kicks like Higuain did, Argentina would not have got to the final. That's my point. It is unfair to ask Messi to do the job of 11 men. Maradona did not, neither did Pele have to.