Who is the next Maradona?

[AussieLFCfan]

How does Ibrahimovic get included in this poll???

And how does Kaka not get included??????

[Blue-and-White]

I think Messi's biggest weakness are his FK's. Maradona was a FK specialist and scored loads of goals from FK's. I don't think I've ever seen Messi actually take a shot on goal from a FK.

He never really gets a good chance to. With Barca, Ronaldinho takes them all, and with Argentina, Riquelme takes them all. Only lately with the absence of Riquelme has Messi started taking them against Norway and Australia, and he never really had a chance to shoot on goal. From what I have seen though, he is pretty good at his FK's.

[bosterosoy]

How does Ibrahimovic get included in this poll???

And how does Kaka not get included??????

My thoughts exactly

[TKORL]

I think Messi's biggest weakness are his FK's. Maradona was a FK specialist and scored loads of goals from FK's. I don't think I've ever seen Messi actually take a shot on goal from a FK.
That, and also both his team have excellent options on FKs. Messi can surpass Maradona, but he's got a lot to improve upon.

[HSEUPASSION]

Jardel seems to have Maradona's tolerance for coke. Now he needs to get really fat.

[TKORL]

"get"?

[Moishe]

That, and also both his team have excellent options on FKs. Messi can surpass Maradona, but he's got a lot to improve upon.

So what has Messi shown that would indicate that he could surpass El Diego? the kid is talented no doubt and without question one of the superstars of the future barring injury but surpass El Diego? Aside from highlights, did you ever get to actually watch Maradona play?

[jerrito]

So what has Messi shown that would indicate that he could surpass El Diego? the kid is talented no doubt and without question one of the superstars of the future barring injury but surpass El Diego? Aside from highlights, did you ever get to actually watch Maradona play?

I am a big Messi fan. But I agree with you totally. Messi shows some real brilliance on the pitch, but I have not seen Maradona like skills since he retired. I remember entire games in Seria A which he totally dominated against some ridiculously talented defenders. Again, the difference between him and his peers was greater than any player playing the game today and his peers. And the England goal (no, not that one!) is still the greatest goal I ever saw for a number of reasons.

[Moishe]

I am a big Messi fan. But I agree with you totally. Messi shows some real brilliance on the pitch, but I have not seen Maradona like skills since he retired. I remember entire games in Seria A which he totally dominated against some ridiculously talented defenders. Again, the difference between him and his peers was greater than any player playing the game today and his peers. And the England goal (no, not that one!) is still the greatest goal I ever saw for a number of reasons.

What I feel a lot of the younger fans fail to realize is that players back in Diegos day got very little protection from the officials the way they do today. Granted the game is still physical but back in the day especially in Italy the game was outright violent at times.

What are some of those reasons that the gol was the greatest you've ever seen? For me was how slow and amateurish he made what were good players look. Shocking really considering the only good futbol comes out of Engerlund:D

[jerrito]

What I feel a lot of the younger fans fail to realize is that players back in Diegos day got very little protection from the officials the way they do today. Granted the game is still physical but back in the day especially in Italy the game was outright violent at times.

What are some of those reasons that the gol was the greatest you've ever seen? For me was how slow and amateurish he made what were good players look. Shocking really considering the only good futbol comes out of Engerlund:D

Claudio Gentile (the most physical defender I ever saw) pretty much mugged him on more than one occasion and got away with it regularly. But Maradona would repay the thugs by gaining a free kick at the edge of the area and whoosh, a stunning, curving, dipping shot that looked to be going out by 10 feet curling in to the "seven" as we call it in Italy.

"The goal" has always stood out to me because yes, he made those defenders look like they were trapped in cement, and the occasion was a big one. But in his career, he did that to many a defender. No one today does that as regularly as he did.

Sundays at the San Paolo watching Diego play is the biggest reason I fell in love with the game.

[TKORL]

So what has Messi shown that would indicate that he could surpass El Diego? the kid is talented no doubt and without question one of the superstars of the future barring injury but surpass El Diego? Aside from highlights, did you ever get to actually watch Maradona play?
Yes, I have seen Maradona play.

I see no reason why he cannot surpass Diego.

[JumpinJackFlash]

Although Diego is my all-time favourite player, its not like he is entirely untouchable. I mean Diego himself has always said that Alfredo Di Stefano was the greatest player ever... and after viewing a fair bit of footage of Omar Sivori at Juventus from the late 50s and 60s, I'd say he too is not far off and very similar to what Diego became.


So out of this list, the next Maradona would be Kaka.

Kaka isn't on the list and even then, his playing style isn't really similar to Maradona. Kaka has his own style.

[BigGuy]

There was only one Maradona. Who will be the bext one? He has not happened yet.

[CountBayesy]

Surely out of those 5 players, only Messi can be compared to Maradona. Not saying the others aren't decent players, but they play in totally different positions to DM.

On the same subject, I found a list of Argentinian players who have been called 'the New Maradona' on the link below...
http://www.midfielddynamo.com/players/pretenders_maradona.htm

[BigGuy]

[quote=CountBayesy;12800583]Surely out of those 5 players, only Messi can be compared to Maradona. Not saying the others aren't decent players, but they play in totally different positions to DM.

On the same subject, I found a list of Argentinian players who have been called 'the New Maradona' on the link below...


Messi is no Maradona but they are both Argentines.

[TKORL]

Although Diego is my all-time favourite player, its not like he is entirely untouchable. I mean Diego himself has always said that Alfredo Di Stefano was the greatest player ever... and after viewing a fair bit of footage of Omar Sivori at Juventus from the late 50s and 60s, I'd say he too is not far off and very similar to what Diego became.



Kaka isn't on the list and even then, his playing style isn't really similar to Maradona. Kaka has his own style.
Lol. Guess I didn't read the list.


Also, it's perplexing as to why Cesc isn't on this list.

[NorthernBoy]

Agree with CountBayesy, although Messi is different to Maradona, he's the only one on that list who can even roughly be compared to him.

[Moishe]

Agree with CountBayesy, although Messi is different to Maradona, he's the only one on that list who can even roughly be compared to him.

Not only a rough comparison, a stretch too when you take into account the mental aspect at a like age. Diego was making on field decisions at the same age that Messi has shown little to even compare.

[TKORL]

So what has Messi shown that would indicate that he could surpass El Diego? the kid is talented no doubt and without question one of the superstars of the future barring injury but surpass El Diego? Aside from highlights, did you ever get to actually watch Maradona play?
In terms of style, Maradona could be considered roughly a combination of Messi and Roman, but it's unlikely Messi will ever control a game the same way as Maradona, but they play different positions, and comparing influence on the game IMO may not always be the best way to compare the players due to their positional difference. Maradona, being a CAM, has to dominate games to be considered one of the greatest, whereas Messi needs to make 3-6 explosive bursts with the ball that result in a few goals, regularly in matches to be considered a great players. In the end, they can both emerge as matchwinners, but you cannot make a direct comparison on playing style.


Messi has a different set of qualities and if he exploits them to his full potential, it's certainly possible that he will surpass Maradona.

[Dr. Know]

In terms of style, Maradona could be considered roughly a combination of Messi and Roman, but it's unlikely Messi will ever control a game the same way as Maradona, but they play different positions, and comparing influence on the game IMO may not always be the best way to compare the players due to their positional difference. Maradona, being a CAM, has to dominate games to be considered one of the greatest, whereas Messi needs to make 3-6 explosive bursts with the ball that result in a few goals, regularly in matches to be considered a great players. In the end, they can both emerge as matchwinners, but you cannot make a direct comparison on playing style.


Messi has a different set of qualities and if he exploits them to his full potential, it's certainly possible that he will surpass Maradona.

Well he certanily has a long way to go. And his passing and set pieces are nowhere near Diego's level yet. He also needs to start scoring more goals if he wants to surpass Diego.