Maradona: Messi is better than me

Argentina coach Diego Maradona claimed Lionel Messi’s impact in 2010 World Cup finals will be greater than his in Mexico 1986.

Maradona was easily the most outstanding player in Mexico and has now instructed Messi to follow in his footsteps by leading Argentina to their victorious third World Cup next month.

Speaking to Sport he said: "Messi is better than me at World Cup '86. He's the best player in the world and better by far compared to others.

"In 86, in Mexico, I did it with the ball, I grew up and my team-mates followed. Now I have explained the same to Leo to do it in South Africa and he has understood."

He went on to admit that he wanted everything to go through Messi in the finals next month.

"It is fortunate that Leo was born in Argentina and I can train him. Whoever does not want to understand that, that it is their problem.

"Messi is well aware that colleagues expect him to be the icing on the cake.

"He has to be the leader with the ball. We need him to lead by example in the squad and on the pitch.

"He has to be the leader of the ball. When we play football and the ball does not pass through Messi, then ball goes through me but I cannot move so then we are going wrong."

From ESPN STAR.com