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Lionel Messi: Barcelona star slammed by Argentina legend Diego Maradona
BARCELONA megastar Lionel Messi ‘will never be a leader’ at the Nou Camp or Argentina.
That is the damning verdict of fellow countryman and football legend Diego Maradona.
Lionel Messi is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest, if not the greatest footballer of all time.
The Barcelona man has scored over 600 goals for club and country, and is a five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
But the former Argentina manager has taken a dig at his compatriot, by claiming he doesn’t know how to lead properly.
"I love him with all my heart, he is a phenomenon, but they want to make him a leader, and he will never be a leader," he said.
"He will always stay in his sporting, family and football world."
Messi has been captain of the national team for years but has not managed to lead his team to World Cup or Copa America glory, losing three finals in the process.
The 30-year-old, though, has won countless honours for Barca, including four Champions Leagues and nine La Liga titles.
Maradona isn’t the only all-time legend to have called out Messi, however, with Pele having done the same just last year.
"As far as I'm concerned, Maradona was one of the best players ever," he told Folha de Sao Paulo.
"If you ask me: 'Was he better than Messi?' Yes, he was. Much better.
"[Franz] Beckenbauer, [Johan] Cruyff are also better. They're also excellent players."
The Brazilian also insinuated that Messi could only play with his left foot.
"How can you make a comparison between a guy who heads the ball well, shoots with the left, shoots with the right and another who only shoots with one leg, only has one skill and doesn't head the ball well?,” he scathingly added.
Messi, however, won’t be paying too much attention to either of them, as his side remain on course to win yet another La Liga title, while he’ll also be seeking a fifth Champions League crown.