Lionel Messi Rated Above Diego Maradona by Ex-Argentina Boss Cesar Luis Menotti

Former Argentina and Barcelona manager Cesar Luis Menotti believes Lionel Messi brings more quality to the national team than Diego Maradona used to.

Both Argentinian legends, Maradona and Messi are key players in the conversation about the greatest footballers of all time.

Guillermo Arias/Associated Press

But, despite the fact that Maradona inspired the Albiceleste to World Cup glory in 1986—an achievement that has alluded Messi—Menotti insists there is little point comparing the two, per Veronica Brunati of Spanish outlet Sport:

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In the last twenty metres they are similar. Diego's development was a bit different, with more leadership. Messi's development was more correct because of the society he was formed in. He scores goals that only Diego did. 

There are ten morons who want to be original, but they do not understand anything. This country is infected with morons, they're like ants. You can't exterminate them. 

Messi gives much more quality, there's no doubt. And Argentina sometimes help him [show that quality] and sometimes not. 

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Messi was absent through injury for Argentina's two recent disappointing World Cup qualifiers—a 2-0 home defeat to Ecuador and 0-0 draw with Paraguay.

The Barcelona superstar is set to be out with a knee injury until mid-November, and it is touch and go whether he will be fit for Argentina's next two qualifiers against Brazil and Colombia.

Messi should have returned to action by the time Barcelona head to Japan for the 2015 Club World Cup, but Menotti—who won the 1978 World Cup as manager of Argentina—believes River Plate could be in with a chance of beating the Catalans at the FIFA tournament.

The 76-year-old is insistent that Luis Enrique's side are vulnerable, and if, as is likely, they meet the Buenos Aires outfit in the Club World Cup final, River Plate could prevail, per Argentinian outlet La Capital (h/t Marca): 

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This Barcelona of Luis Enrique's could lose to anyone. However, if it were against Guardiola's Barcelona, River would have no chance of beating them. 

If Messi doesn't play, River have a good chance of beating this Barcelona in Japan. But if he does play it's much more difficult because then it depends on how the boy performs.

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Messi's absence has been a major blow for Barca. Since he was sidelined, the La Liga giants have looked inconsistent as the lack of depth in Enrique's squad has been brutally exposed, per Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe:

Both Barcelona and Argentina will be desperate to see him return to full fitness as soon as possible as he is undoubtedly the key component in both sides.

There is quality galore throughout the two respective squads, but Messi is the man who brings all the components together. 

It is this factor that makes him such a fantastic asset and why Menotti believes he is more important even than Maradona was.