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Lionel Messi or Diego Maradona? Barcelona legend Gary Lineker compares Argentine stars
FORMER Barcelona forward Gary Linker insists he never thought he would see a better player than Diego Maradona.
At least, that was until he saw Lionel Messi.
The Barcelona star has five Ballon d’Or awards to his name and is widely regarded as the best to ever play the game.
Those he often gets compared to when debating the best ever include Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pele.
But their similar playing styles, and Argentine roots make it a difficult topic of debate between Messi and Maradona.
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Lionel Messi is the best ever, according to Gary Lineker
Messi does four or five things in a match that I've never done one day in my career
However, Lineker is in no doubt who he feels is the best ever.
“Messi does four or five things in a match that I've never done one day in my career. You made some like him but Leo is every game,” he told Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo.
“He does amazing things. It is the best of all time. I never thought I would see someone better than Maradona.
“The numbers. Messi scores in almost every game. Diego did not put so many.
Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi are often compared
“Leo passes and dribbles like Diego but without being a born goalscorer he scores a lot. He is very clever.
“And it has been more years at the top of football. They are 12 already. It is a phenomenon.
They say that Maradona won a World Cup and Leo did not but Leo has four Champions Leagues and Diego never won the European Cup. Then, it can be debated.
“The two are the best but for me, Messi a little more. Barça plays with 13 players because they have Messi.”