Can Messi do What Maradona Couldn’t?

Most fans and pundits now view Lionel Messi as the greatest footballer in history. However, there remain some who put Brazilian icon Pele above him. Others believe that Cristiano Ronaldo is the game’s GOAT. And yet others, mainly older fans from Argentina or southern Italy, would claim that not only is Messi not the greatest footballer ever, he isn’t even the best player from Argentina.

Diego Armando Maradona died in 2020 at the age of 60. In terms of his personality, he could scarcely be more different from the shy, humble and reserved Messi. Maradona was loud, brash and bombastic. He was a fierce warrior who stood up for his country. He did the same for the marginalised and often discriminated-against fans of Napoli. The Argentine remains a god to many because of this. In some ways, he is loved more than the man who has inarguably usurped his feats on the pitch.

Messi’s Magical Numbers Dwarf Maradona’s

The modern game is all about stats and data. In another sense, it is more than ever about winning and money. It has, of course, always been competitive, with players desperate to win. But the greater financial imperatives of the modern game mean that there is now less room for romance, magic, skill, flair and excitement.

Mavericks and players who can really excite the crowd have become less common. The game is quicker, more physical and far more structured. Maradona was a true maverick, a mercurial player who denied convention on and off the pitch. This is another reason why some fans would still rank him above Messi and certainly love him more.

However, when assessing their greatness, the stats paint a very one-sided picture. Ahead of Argentina’s Round of 32 clash with Cape Verde on 3rd July 2026, Messi has 19 World Cup goals. Maradona managed eight over his career. Messi now has 123 goals for his country, while Argentina’s earlier number 10 scored “just” 34. In club football, Maradona netted 115 goals in 259 matches for Napoli, the team with which he is most associated. Messi, in contrast, bagged 672 in 778 games for Barca!

Comparing players across generations is difficult, though. So much has changed between the 1980s and 1990s and the era in which Messi played his football. Additionally, Maradona tended to play a little deeper. All that said, there is one metric where the two Argentine legends are currently tied.

Can Messi Help Argentina Retain the World Cup?

Right now, both Messi and Maradona have been instrumental in helping their team win one World Cup. It seemed for many years that the game’s biggest prize would elude Messi. However, in 2022 the stars aligned and, helped by seven goals from their talisman, Argentina finally claimed their third World Cup. 36 years after Maradona dragged his nation to glory, Messi did likewise.

It would be fair to say that the Inter Miami ace had a better supporting cast in 2022 than Maradona had in 1986. But even so, Messi’s five goals in the knockout phase, including two in the final, were instrumental in his nation ending their long wait for another win on the biggest stage.

The question now is, can he do it again? Can he negate yet another minor argument against him being both Argentina’s and world football’s GOAT? In winning a first World Cup he removed one of the tiny question marks against him. However, if he can guide La Albaceleste to glory in North America, he will end the debate entirely.

Maradona Went So Close

Football greats, including George Best, Johan Cruyff, Eusebio, Ferenc Puskas, Michel Platini, and, of course, CR7, to name just a few, never won the World Cup during their incredible careers. Maradona won one, but he came very close to helping his country retain their crown in 1990.

By then a legend at Napoli, he was not quite the player he was in 1986. However, he was still almost certainly the best player in the world. He did not score at Italia 90. Despite that, he was named (as one of a midfield three) in the tournament’s FIFA All-Star Team. Additionally, he came third in the Golden Ball, awarded to the best player at the World Cup.

He played very well during the tournament and helped Argentina make it through to the final. They beat Brazil 1-0 in the last 16. They then needed penalties to get past Yugoslavia and Italy. Maradona missed against the former in the quarters but scored against Italy. Unfortunately, they came up short in the final, losing a dour, dirty and rather dismal decider 1-0.

West Germany lifted the trophy thanks to a late penalty. It was a final that few neutrals will remember. But of course, for the defending champions, the heartache lives on. What’s more, had Maradona been able to win back-to-back World Cups, the argument for him being the best of the best would have been significantly stronger.

Pele and Others Have Won Consecutive World Cups

Should Argentina go all the way, Messi, and several of his teammates, will not be the first players to have won consecutive World Cups. Another of the game’s GOATs, Pele, won the tournament in 1958 and 1962, not to mention a third success in 1970. However, Pele had a limited role in 1962, getting injured in the second game and missing the rest of the tournament.

Of the other Brazilians who won consecutive World Cups in 1958 and 1962, and the four players involved in both Italy’s victories in 1934 and 1938, none had anything like the impact Messi had in 2022 and is having in 2026. So in a sense, not only will Messi beat his compatriot if he steers Argentina to the title, he will also do something that nobody else has ever done.

But Can Argentina Do It: Route to Glory

Of course, Messi and his countrymen have a lot of work to do before they get their hands on the World Cup trophy once more. But can they do it? Can Messi do it? Well, he currently boasts an amazing six goals from just three games. Six goals from a mere 223 minutes, in fact. If he keeps scoring every 37 minutes, there is every chance that the 2022 champions will win again.

Indeed, the bookies make them 4/1 second favourites at the time of writing (behind France at 5/2). Messi’s form is a big part of the reason for that. But so is the draw. With the groups complete, we now know the full bracket for the tournament. Argentina certainly have a more favourable path to glory than most, although France’s path has eased somewhat after Germany’s shock defeat to Paraguay.

Likely Route to Success

Next, Messi and co face Cape Verde in the round of 32. The minnows came into the World Cup ranked 69th, and it is a miracle they progressed from the group. Next, they are likely to face the winner of Australia v Egypt. After that, it might be Colombia (or possibly Ghana, Switzerland or Algeria).

It is only at the semi-final stage that they are likely to be really tested. Even then, it is the weaker half of the draw. It might be England but could also be Mexico, or perhaps Brazil (although Carlo Ancelotti’s underwhelming side only just scraped past Japan and would need to overcome Ivory Coast or Norway to make the quarters).

In the final, they would be expecting to face France or Spain. Both of those nations would present a huge test. But might Belgium, the USA or even Morocco spring a surprise? Messi and Argentina will be focusing on their games. However, the draw has been kind and maybe, just maybe, Messi will get a Hollywood ending in New York!