Messi vs Maradona: Sir Alex Ferguson’s opinion on the debate | OneFootball

Lionel Messi vs Diego Maradona is a debate that will never truly be settled.

Even if Messi lifts the World Cup with Argentina in Qatar later this year, there will still be many who firmly believe that Maradona was the superior footballer.

Blessed with extraordinary natural talent, Maradona was the dictionary definition of a flawed genius. A magician with the ball at his feet, Argentines fell in love with Maradona the footballer and Diego the man.

One of the sport’s all-time great leaders, Maradona is often credited for single-handedly inspiring Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986.

While that claim is unfair on the other members of Argentina’s 1986 World Cup-winning squad, there’s no doubt that the South American nation wouldn’t have lifted the trophy in Mexico that summer without their legendary No. 10.

Maradona went on to inspire a then-unfashionable Napoli to the only two Serie A titles in their history in 1987 and 1990.

Napoli’s stadium was renamed the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona following his tragic and untimely death at the age of 60 in November 2020 and images of the legendary footballer are everywhere in Naples, where he’ll forever be worshiped.

Many football fans understandably assumed that we’d never see a player like Maradona again. A host of rising stars from Argentina were initially compared to the great man but couldn’t live up to the hype.

Then Messi came along in the mid-2000s and exceeded all expectations.

In the eyes of many, Messi is the greatest footballer of all time – above Maradona, Pele and the rest.

A seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, Messi has produced countless moments of genius throughout his illustrious career with Barcelona, Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain.

An ultra-consistent performer, Messi has scored almost 800 career goals for club and country. Maradona, by comparison, scored fewer than 400 career goals.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s opinion on the Maradona vs Messi debate

Sir Alex Ferguson, considered by many as the greatest footballer manager in history, followed both players’ careers closely – and there *is* a winner in his eyes.

When Scottish sports journalist Hugh McIlvanney passed away in January 2019, it was revealed that the legendary sportswriter firmly believed that Maradona was better than Messi.

But one person who disagreed with this assessment was Graeme Souness – even though the former midfielder-turned-pundit played against Maradona on several occasions.

The Times’ Jonathan Northcroft wrote after McIlvanney’s death: “With rising intensity Hugh and Graeme Souness debated whether Lionel Messi (Souness’s call) is greater than Diego Maradona (Hugh’s).

“An exasperated Souness had to finally beseech: ‘Look, I played against Maradona five times and I’m telling you — Messi.’ Hugh growled back: ‘I don’t care who you played against. It’s Diego.’”

Ferguson was informed of their heated debate and agreed with Souness.

Northcroft added: “Told of this, ‘I would side with Souness on that one,’ says Ferguson.

‘Maradona’s career at the very top was only a few years.’”

That may come as a slight surprise to some, especially because Ferguson has previously stated his belief that Cristiano Ronaldo is a more complete player than Messi.

But Messi’s longevity gives him the edge over the late, great Maradona in Fergie’s opinion.

Can you get at least 15/20 on our Ultimate Lionel Messi quiz?

1 of 20

Which city was Lionel Messi born and raised?

Buenos Aires Rosario Mendoza Cordoba