Can Lionel Messi be considered greater than Maradona when he has not won a World Cup?

[karthikc]

Maradona single handedly (no pun intended) won Argentina the world cup in 1986 and almost took a team full of passengers to the finals in 1990. His commitment to playing for the national side was unquestionable. Infact , many times, he used to argue with his club managers to let him go and play for the Argentine national side. Have never been able to see this interest from Messi's side.

 

[PetroDollars]

I think times have changed now and players are just less patriotic plus the money that now flows through domestic leagues have spiked through the roof and thats where everyone wants to be.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Maradona was unstoppable. Messi, great player though he is, very demonstrably is stoppable. He's generally been snuffed out of every world cup he's played in.

 

[karthikc]

Maradona was unstoppable. Messi, great player though he is, very demonstrably is stoppable. He's generally been snuffed out of every world cup he's played in.

True..Even weird considering fouling was much more rampant during Maradona's time. Remember that tackle which he received from Athletico Bilbao..

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Do not think Argentina can consider an international choker greater than Maradona.

Messi is a living legend, but has not achieved anything for Argentina other than pain and disappointment. Maradonna on the other hand shaped football for million of Argentinians.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Nobody comes close to Maradonna, the GOAT.

Messi and Ronaldo haven't scored a single goal in the knockout stages and i might be wrong but no assists either or very few.

 

[Kroll]

Maradona has proved he is the greatest. Messi is technically brilliant, on another level from all contemporary players apart from maybe CR7 but Maradona possessed something else, that sheer aura and will power to drag his country to glory.

 

[anikrc1]

Actually I think Messi would have fared much better if he played at the time of maradona. Messi like maradona is a magician with the ball at his feet. But without the ball he is almost static. Now a days teams are to much organised. As a result while playing for Argentina he always comes against 2 banks of 4 and tries to dribble through it. At Barcelona this problem is overcome by monopolising the ball and serving him with it time and again. I watched some matches of matadors full. He had the exact same style. But the teams were not as organised. I know refereeing was much more lenient then. But Messi doesn't struggle with physical game much. If only he had the off the ball movement of suarez