Choosing between Lionel Messi or Diego Maradona as the GOAT is almost an impossible question, yet Juan Roman Riquelme could be the best judge for an answer.
The former Boca Juniors and FC Barcelona star had the privilege to play with both players during his career, with Riquelme a legend in his own right in Argentina.
And when asked via ESPN if Inter Miami’s Messi is better than Maradona, Riquelme was of course unwilling to name one player outright as the best.
Indeed, Maradona is considered by soccer fans of a certain age as the most majestic and brilliant player to ever grace the game having won the 1986 FIFA World Cup for Argentina.
However, in these modern times, it’s hard to look past anything but Messi when discussing this debate, with Riquelme seemingly hinting towards the Inter Miami man as well.
The pundit said: “Maradona? He’s the greatest I saw on a football pitch when I was a child. Now when I grew up, the greatest is Messi. I was lucky to play with both of them, for me it was a very big dream.”
Lionel Messi is the GOAT but Diego Maradona’s legacy is far bigger
Messi will go down as the greatest soccer player there ever is when all is said and done. Yet when it comes to legacy, Maradona’s will be hard to beat.
The legendary forward inspired an entire generation of players and continues to do even after passing in 2020, with many Argentinians still considering Maradona as their greatest-ever player.
With the city of Naples in Italy literally having a religion for Maradona as well as Napoli naming their stadium after their greatest-ever player, the impact the attacker made on the game cannot be understated.
Yet when it comes to raw talent and accolades, nobody will come close to Messi, who is arguably the greatest footballer the world has ever seen.