Argentina v France - Sun 18th Dec, 15:00 | Final | World Cup 2022

[Keeper!]

What are the actual arguments for it being Maradona though?

- He won a World Cup and Messi hasn't...

... that's it. And that record might not even last until Monday morning.

Maradona was an exceptional technician, incredibly entertaining to watch and often the player who dragged his team through games when they were struggling. Messi is all of those things AND a far better goalscorer AND a better assister.

Maradona retired about 25 years ago. In 25 years, I think most Argentinians will recognise Messi as being the better player. Nostalgia is a hell of a thing, that's why half the clowns in England are still pretending Gerrard was better than De Bruyne.

It's not Maradona people are in love with, it's the memory of how much better they think football used to be in the 90s.

Also, I don't doubt that many Argentinians would call Maradona the best of all time, but they aren't unbiased. It's well known that Messi is quite unpopular with many Argentinians for reasons that have nothing to do with football. I should probably have led with that to be honest.

Maradona played on terrible pitches and was the subject of GBH during every game.

He played at a time when it was acceptable for opposition players to simply take a player out, some of the 'tackles' made on him were scary and it was a miracle he played as long as he did.

Maradona was magnificent, so is Messi, I have been incredibly fortunate to witness and watch both in the flesh and it was a privilege.

 

[kunavellaneda]

There is no such discussion in Argentina. Maradona is idolized by everyone but he is only considered better than Messi by those over 45 years of age and with much more emphasis if they are from the lower classes, since they see in him someone who defeated poverty and climbed to the top of the world. In the rest of the population, except for the garbage of journalism, it is clear that Messi far surpassed the career that Diego had

 

[KS55]

Getting offended by that is like the Germans getting offended by the "German bombers" song. It is part of football culture, not to be taken literally.

Do you really think that folks like Aguero, Zabaleta, etc., who have lived on England for a big part of their lives and surely have a lot of respect and love for England and their people, really sing that song (and make no mistake, they have sang it many times during their lives) with any other intention than just sparking footballing banter?

The Falklands war was in 1982 so none of these players were alive at the time.
It‘s just silly banter. English response: GOTCHA.

 

[bigstanhibbert]

Not sure if this has been posted, do it for Zabba

'90 minutes from glory' - what it's like to play in a World Cup final

Former Argentina defender Pablo Zabaleta explains what it feels like to be one of only 444 men to have played in a World Cup final.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Champions Again Ole Ole]

The little boy from Rosario argentina. On behalf of every little boy wearing his shirt. Messi on a million backs. Messi for a million flashbulbs.

Hopefully today is the day all doubt is removed and Messi becomes the greatest there ever was. Anyone who doesn't want Argentina to win today isn't a football fan.

 

[The Future’s Blue!]

If Qatar could‘ve paid for 2 teams to make the final, they couldn’t have done better than this.

 

[Ric]

All Argentina today, aren’t we?

 

[mac]

All Argentina today, aren’t we?

I just want Julian to bag a couple and win the golden boot. Just so we don't have to hear about the 2 pompous pricks. Julian has had a very good world cup. He works tirelessly for the team.

 

[Dr Jacoby]

77% think Argentina will win….

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

All Argentina today, aren’t we?

I always feel a lot better when the French take a beating - no matter what! Football, rugby, tennis, tiddlywinks. There's just something that puts a spring in the step, gets the wheels on my bike spinning along!