Lionel Messi Is Not Diego Armando Maradona

Lionel Messi confessed in an interview with the US Latin TV Conglomerate Univision, that he is content with his game. He also confessed that he does not want to be compared with Diego Armando Maradona, considering him a legend among legends.

Messi does not have to worry about being compared to Maradona. In a career span that has lasted nearly two decades, he has accomplished being able to function under pressure and has won numerous awards such as the Superleague and the Spanish Supercup.

He has been able to prove himself when it comes to dealing with penalties, free kicks, and corners. Messi is also a professional within the field as outside the field. He has been praised as the new face of Argentine Football.

Messi knows how to be diplomatic with the people who surround him, and has helped in various charitable organizations.

Maradona was a success in Argentine football. He had one defect: He allowed success to go to his head. Maradona has degenerated to a drug addict that travels to Cuba for treatment only to relapse. He dared call himself God and inflamed sensitivities in the process.

The period of Maradona as coach of the Argentine National soccer team did not translate into victories. When Argentina barely qualified for the World Cup after defeating Uruguay, Maradona insulted everyone who disagreed with him during a press conference.

Just when things could not be more complicated, there are now videos of him making crude gestures toward journalists as he is boarding the team bus and when inside the bus. Maradona was suspended for the time being by FIFA for his antics.

Maradona is also a hypocrite. He invited Messi to his television show and declared him "my successor." After the interview, Maradona turned against Messi, accusing him of "being selfish with the ball and not sharing it with his teammates."

While I would have supported Argentina in better circumstances, and it is sad to see talent like Messi being downgraded by Maradona, I would like to see Argentina lose the 2010 World Cup. I have nothing against Argentina except that Maradona is destroying what was once a great team.

I would like to see Argentina lose so that Argentina and FIFA can place Maradona in permanent retirement such as a nursing home or a cottage so that he can write his autobiography.