Despite Lionel Messi having recently won the 2021 Copa America, his first major title with the Albiceleste, 1978 World Cup winner with Argentina, Mario Kempes, is adamant that the 34-year-old forward should not be compared to Diego Maradona.
A debate has been sparked over the last few years on whether Messi has managed to become a better player and leader than his compatriot and Argentina legend Maradona.
“For Messi, the misfortune is that he was the replacement for Diego Maradona,” Kempes told ESPN Mexico.
“And it is very difficult to overshadow Diego, with the idolatry that he has received around the world
“If [Messi] wants to be better than Maradona, he is not going to achieve it even if he wins four World Cups in a row.
“He still hasn’t won the World Cup. No matter how many [titles he] wins or what he wins, it can never be compared to what Diego did.”