WORLD SOCCER
Argentina president Javier Milei reveals why he thinks Lionel Messi is better than Diego Maradona
The Inter Miami star led La Albiceleste to World Cup glory in Qatar, 36 years after Maradona had done the same in Mexico.
Javier Milei, the President of Argentina, believes Inter Miami star Lionel Messi is a better soccer player than compatriot Diego Maradona was. In an interview with Argentine media outlet LaNación+, Milei, who took office in December last year, dared to take sides in the ongoing debate about which of the South American country’s two most iconic sporting figures was the best of all.
Messi “the best at every aspect of the game”
“Messi is the greatest player of all time, he’s outrageous. There’s an article out there titled ‘Messi is impossible’ which outlines how he’s the best at every single aspect of the game. He’s a phenomenon.”
Milei added: “I’ve never had the chance to talk to him. I’d like to, it must be interesting. It would be a chance to speak to the most important Argentine in the world. I’ve spoken to the Pope, to Queen Máxima of the Netherlands...maybe I’ll be lucky and get to talk to Messi”.
Maradona’s “unforgettable moments”
President Milei is no stranger to discussing his sporting views in public and has previously waded into the Messi-Maradona debate, which he did following the latter’s death in November 2020.
“Maradona was a wonderful soccer player who gave us some unforgettable moments. But, in my opinion, he wasn’t the best. At the same time, I think he was unfairly criticised on a human level, as what he did with his own life was his business. Your life, your property,” Milei wrote on social media.
The debate about the greatest ever Argentine, and indeed greatest ever player, will undoubtedly rumble on. For Milei, there is a clear winner, for others, things are less clear cut. One that is certain, however, is that both Maradona and Messi will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Argentine soccer fans having captained and led the national team to World Cup victories in 1986 and 2022 respectively.