An Argentina legend believes Lionel Messi is still only the second-greatest player from the South American nation after Diego Maradona despite his recent 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph.
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Former Inter Milan right-back Javier Zanetti has insisted that Maradona remains the greatest player his nation has ever produced.
The diminutive Lanus native dazzled the world for years, his crowning moment with Argentina coming in 1986 when he lifted the World Cup, and now, for the first time since that victorious campaign in Mexico, the South Americans are once again champions of the world.
Their victory in Qatar was achieved in large part due to Messi, with the 35-year-old breaking a plethora of records on his way to helping Argentina secure their third world title.
Despite the Paris Saint-Germain talisman becoming the first player to win two World Cup Golden Balls and his nation's all-time top goalscorer at the tournament, Zanetti does not think his former teammate has surpassed Maradona.
"No, not for me," the 2010 treble-winning Nerazzurri captain answered when asked if Messi was now the greatest Argentine football of all time, as per Stats Perform.
"I don't like [the] comparison. We have to be grateful that the two greatest [players] in history are Argentines.
"I don't think [Messi] has changed. I think he is more mature now and he was able to transmit his leadership to the rest of the group this time."
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Zanetti is also delighted that Argentina were able to end their 36-year World Cup trophy drought.
"It's a great emotion that the lads gave us because we have been waiting for it for a long time," he added.
"I think they made it happen, the dream of millions of Argentinian fans around the world. It was a great final for us Argentines because it seemed it was all going in our way but then France had a great reaction."
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