@ Mwenza....I apologise for assuming that you didn't get a chance to watch the 1986 World Cup in real time.

@Taz, read your history again. Maradona's time at Napoli led to them winning their only two Seria A titles, Coppa Italia, UEFA Cup. He singlehandedly led his mediocre team to their most successful period, in addition to leading Argentina to the world cup trophy in 1986 and becoming the tournament's MVP. Wachana na mambo ati it was all about drugs.

Messi seems reliant on Xavi and Iniesta, that's why he cannot replicate Maradona's feats. Messi has yet to prove his international appeal. He has to prove he can singlehandedly be counted upon just like Pele and Maradona, the greatest among the greats. He has time now, but bado hajafika.

Taz, the same comparison was done between Pele and Maradona, yet they played decades apart.

I think the link below sums up the debate pretty well...

http://www.goal.com/en-g...-argentina-why-lifeless

The pressure on this young man is just too much!!!!!

BUBBLING OVER

Lionel Messi frozen out by Argentina team-mates

By Tim Sturtridge & Alejandro Pérez in Cordoba

The deep freeze in the Argentinian dressing room makes the sub-zero temperatures at the 2011 Copa America seem positively tropical. With just two points to show after meetings with Bolivia and Colombia the cracks are being to show in Sergio Batista’s squad of explosive egos.

A locker room dust-up between Lionel Messi and defender Nicolás Burdisso has the host nation’s press in a frenzy. Burdisso is believed to have confronted Messi after the attacker put in yet another below par performance for his country. Burdisso told Messi in no uncertain terms to pull his finger out. When the Barcelona star reacted to the comment team-mates had to separate the pair.

Messi will be itching to set the record straight in Argentina’s final group match against Costa Rica. A hat-trick from the number ten is priced at 15.00 with paf.com. With Messi coming in for abuse from all sides in Argentina it took the player’s father to speak out in his defence.

Jorge Messi revealed the forlorn figure Messi has been cutting whilst wearing the Argentinian shirt extends beyond the pitch. “I’ve never seen Leo like this, he feels beaten. Just a few weeks ago there was so much enthusiasm in the country about the Copa America. Now it’s turned into one big slap in the face for Leo.”

Jorge has a particular issue with the constant comparisons with Diego Maradona that his son has levelled at him. “People criticise Leo for not singing the national anthem but they forget that he turned down the chance to play for Spain. Leo doesn’t have to prove his passion for his country to anyone.”

Messi’s father also had an answer for the fans that can’t understand why the player who turns up for Barcelona disappears when he pulls on the blue and white stripes. “It’s foolish to compare Leo’s play with Barcelona with his performances for the national team. Barcelona are reaping the rewards of work that has been going on for years. Argentina is a team just looking for stability at this moment.

While Messi and Burdisso were going at it hammer and tongs after the Colombia game it’s also believed that a dust-up occurred between Javier Zanetti and Carlos Tevez. Staff at Colón de Santa Fe’s stadium now have their work cut out to repair the home dressing room in time for Colombia’s meeting with Bolivia on Sunday.

Yesterdays match of Argentina vs Costa Rica proved what Messi is made of. He tore the Costa Rica defence 10 times. Higuan wasted all the through passes made by Messi. All three goals scored by Argentina had assists from Messi. It was Messi and the ten robots. Boy is a genius.

@Freiks and just blazing; Maradona scored 22 goals in 36 appearances for Barcelona but back then he was not influential in the big games and only won the copa del rey and the super cup- before he moved to Napoli. You can argue that he was not designed to be a big club player. At Napoli, he scored 81 goals in 188 appearances (50% rate). His combined scoring rate for Napoli and Barca is 42 %. Messi on the other had has a 67% scoring rate for Barcelona (119 in 177).

Maradona achieved his fame more for his notorious dribbling and hob nobbing with the Mafia - thus great coverage from gazetta de la sporto and the other mafia controlled newspapers.

The Maradona of '86 was supported by a cast of talented and physical players - they mixed velvet with steel. Messi's cast for argentina is more velvet and no steel ~ without the skill of Barcelona. It reminds me more of Arsenal (and yes I am an Arsenal fan). I find it hard to heap the blame for argentina's failures on him.

Luis Nazario de Lima Ronaldo aka the rabbit is definitely the greatest striker of his generation but the best number 10 is Messi closely followed by Zidane. Maradona belonged to an earlier generation that should compare between Cruyff, Platini, Zico etc. He stood out in that generation.

Head to head for influencing games, I would find it hard to choose between him and Messi but any day give me the Messi-ah.

Please dont invoke the name of messi in vain by mentioning the likes of Thierry Henry. TH14 belongs in the third tier of Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Raul, Shevchenko and CR7.

Argentina bundled out of the tournament.

And Brazil out too courtesy of Paraguay.Incredibly they lost all four of ther penalties!My money is on Uruguay!

http://www.skysports.com...64,11065_3425791,00.html

@ Waza....Messi is a playmaker, at Barca he's the link between Xavi/iniesta and Villa/pedro. He carried the team last season in the CL when Iniesta and Xavi picked up injuries. I've been following the Copa America and my conclusion was that Argentina was let down by the likes of Tevez, Di Maria and Higuain. Messi created so many chances but they were not being executed. At Barca he's surrounded by creative players but back home its the likes of Mascherano and Cambiasso for company. Whether he performs for his national team or not the fact remains that no one is better than Messi at the moment....we can compare him with all the past greats but history will compare him with players in his generation.