Published: June 23, 2026 at 4:28 pm
Lionel Messi is going to celebrate his 39th birthday on Wednesday, June 24. Some of the other players in the ongoing FIFA World Cup are 20 years younger than him. But the ageless wonder is not worried about slowing down. Like a true professional, he is focussed on his job. And he is doing it very well. Argentina have scored 5 goals so far in this competition and Messi has scored all 5 of them.
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Messi has broken the earlier record of maximum goals in the FIFA World Cup, the Argentinian is right on top of the charts with 18 goals to his credit. The record holder was Miroslav Klose of Germany with 16. Right now, France’s Kylian Mbappe is tied with Klose. The French striker also has 16 goals so he may go past Klose too in this edition of the World Cup.
Fans love to compare Messi with Maradona
It is inevitable that fans and experts will compare Messi with his predecessor Diego Maradona. In 1986 Maradona took Argentina to a World Cup triumph almost single handedly. Now, 40 years later, Messi seems to be on course to repeat Maradona’s feat.
Messi and Maradona are two of the greatest footballers ever to emerge from Argentina, and comparing them is a comparison between two eras of the game. Pic: PSG Talk
Messi and Maradona are two of the greatest footballers ever to emerge from Argentina, and comparing them is a comparison between two eras of the game. Both inspired millions with their extraordinary skill and both carried the hopes of an entire nation on their shoulders. Yet, despite many similarities, they left their mark on football in different ways.
Will the world see a reincarnation of Diego Maradona at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The choice between the two giants of Argentina often depends on personal preference and the era in which one grew up. The older generation will vouch for Maradona’s superiority while the younger ones will opt for Messi. There is no doubt that both men belong among the greatest players the sport has ever seen.
Maradona was an unpredictable genius
Maradona was the hero of the 1980s. But unlike Messi he possessed a fiery personality that made him both charismatic and controversial. In 1986, his performances against England and Belgium remain among the most celebrated in football history. Maradona’s influence extended beyond the national team. At Napoli, he transformed a modest Italian club into Serie A champions, becoming a near-mythical figure in the city of Naples.
The club enjoyed unprecedented success following the arrival of Maradona in 1984. During his time with Napoli, the club won their first two league titles, in 1987 and 1990. His seven seasons in Naples also saw them win the 1987 Coppa Italia, 1990 Supercoppa Italiana, and the UEFA Cup in 1989. It was Napoli’s only pan-European triumph. The club even renamed their stadium after him. It was earlier called Stadio San Paolo but in 2020, it was renamed Stadio Diego Maradona.
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After the huge successes, wherever Maradona went, he was offered goods and services for free. Shopkeepers refused money when he shopped, restaurant owners refused payment when he ate there and even cinema owners refused to charge him and his friends for tickets. How could they charge from a person they considered as their living god?
Similar styles between Messi and Maradona
In style, Messi shares many qualities with the legendry Maradona. Both of them are left-footers with extraordinary dribbling skills and a genius for creating goals out of nothing. However, Maradona was more explosive and emotional, thriving amid chaos and adversity while Messi is a methodical and quiet assassin.
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Messi’s game has been characterized by efficiency and precision. Maradona’s career burned brightly but was affected by injuries, an undisciplined lifestyle and off-field problems. Messi enjoyed greater longevity, professionalism, and sustained excellence at the highest level. Maradona was football’s romantic rebel while Messi its master craftsman.
Diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency
Lionel Messi represents consistency and longevity. Ten years after he was born in the city of Rosario, he was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency. His parents, Jorge and Celia, did not have the financial status to enable him to be treated. So, at that tender age one of the directors of Barcelona FC named Carles Rexach decided to take a gamble on little Lionel.
Rexach signed the little boy into admission at the famed La Masia football academy run by Barcelona. This academy has produced many of the game’s legendary players and Messi grew up in their midst. After emerging from La Masia academy, he developed into a complete player. His close control, passing, vision and finishing have enabled him to dominate football for nearly two decades.
Manager Pep Guardiola developed Messi’s motivation
The year 2008 was a very important one for Messi. It was his first season under Barcelona’s new manager and former captain Pep Guardiola, then recognised as one of the best brains in world football. Guardiola decided to give the crucial number 10 shirt to Messi to motivate the talented youngster.
Messi effectively became the tactical focal point of Guardiola’s strategy and his goalscoring rate increased as a result of the greater responsibility and faith that Guardiola placed on him. Pic: Manchester City
Over time, Messi effectively became the tactical focal point of Guardiola’s strategy and his goalscoring rate increased as a result of the greater responsibility and faith that Guardiola placed on him. During that season, Messi scored 38 goals, and alongside Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry, he contributed to a total of 100 goals (scoring as well as assisting) in all competitions. It was a record at the time for Barcelona.
The “Blaugrana” (as the Barcelona team is nicknamed) went on to win the Copa del rey, La Liga and Champions League thus achieving the first treble in the history of Spanish football. Later, Messi won numerous league titles and Champions League trophies with Barcelona, collected a record number of Ballon d’Or awards, and broke countless scoring records.
Messi made up for his shortcoming in 2022
But for many years, Messi’s critics pointed to the lack of a World Cup title as the one thing that separated him from Maradona. That changed in 2022 when Messi captained Argentina to victory in Qatar. The triumph cemented his status as a national hero and completed one of football’s most remarkable careers. But Messi’s appetite was not quenched after the 2022 victory. He now seems to be leading his nation towards another glorious victory.
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But ultimately, comparing players from different eras is impossible to do with complete fairness. Maradona inspired his teammates as well as fans with his passion and audacity, while Messi has now amazed everyone with his consistency and unparalleled achievements. Rather than choosing between them, football fans can celebrate the fact that Argentina produced two once-in-a-generation talents whose brilliance transcended generations.
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Maradona gave Argentina its greatest moment in 1986, and Messi gave the country another in 2022. Perhaps Messi will add another feather to his cap this time. Together, they form a unique legacy that few nations can match.
Many Argentines see the two legends not as rivals but as symbols of different generations. Maradona was the icon of the 1980s, while Messi became the face of modern football. Both, in their own ways, changed the game forever.
