There Isn't Anyone Like Messi

Not everyone will agree with you. You cannot satisfy everyone. But when someone from the same field says you are great, that means something special!! Life is not about hates, but about loves! Love more..

Messi reminds me of me, says Argentina coach Maradona

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina coach Diego Maradona says Lionel Messi’s importance to the national team is reminiscent of himself.

“Messi is my Maradona. There is no other player more important than Messi,” Maradona said in Monday’s edition of sports newspaper Ole. “I could say that in my team, there is Messi and 10 others.”

Messi, one of the best players in the world, has never performed as well with Argentina as he has with Barcelona, who won an unprecedented triple of Champions League, Spanish League and King’s Cup titles last season.

“I love working with him,” Maradona said. “He makes everything seem easy. He’s got the ball stuck to his foot, part of his body. It’s like, here comes his foot and the ball as well. This is something I haven’t seen in any other player, and I’ve seen lots of players.”

Maradona joked that the Barcelona star is so famous now, he can’t be bothered to return his calls.

“He’s impossible to reach,” Maradona said. “It’s easier to speak with (US President Barack) Obama than with Leo.”

Argentina host Brazil on Sept 5 in a crucial World Cup qualifier. Brazil lead South American qualifying with 27 points. Argentina are in fourth place with 22. Only the top four teams automatically reach next year’s tournament in South Africa. The fifth placed team face a playoff with the No. 4 side from the North, Central and Caribbean region to advance.

Argentina also have qualifying games remaining with Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.

“We have four very tough games, but we are aiming at the Brazilians. Brazil are the team to bring down,” Maradona said. “(Brazil are) a team that play well, that have talent, that have luck, and that have played so well for so long that they have many World Cups.

“But we are Argentina — you can’t forget that!”

Maradona again suggested it was unlikely that playmaker Juan Ramon Riquelme would be recalled to the team.

The 31-year-old Riquelme retired from international football in March, saying he and Maradona did not get along. Maradona had criticised Riquelme’s play and overlooked him for several friendlies after being selected as coach in November.

Julio Grondona, the head of the Argentine Football Federation, has tried to intervene and bring Riquelme back on the team.

However, Maradona said the situation is “closed, although nothing is definite”.

“But Riquelme has many things to explain to the players and staff,” Maradona added. — AP

Source: http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2009/7/29/sports/4407886&sec=sports

Messi Is Better Than Maradona

Well, if an average person like you say Messi is better than Maradona, I wonder who will listen! But to hear that from Maradona himself, the world will open up their ears (and perhaps their mouth - like "Woww!!")!

For me, I think Messi is Messi, the new legend. You can compare but both have their own way to play beautiful football. Maradona is already a legend, and Messi is going to become the new legend! Plus football is more challenging these days. Did anyone say anything about Christiano Ronaldo? I wonder why!

Maradona: Messi Better Than Me
Maradona shared a few words with Inter Channel and he is full of praise for Inter as well as Barcelona's Lionel Messi.

Messi finished second in the FIFA World Player of the Year award, but Maradona believes the Blaugrana striker can become better than him.

"Messi the new Maradona? I hope so, in fact I want him to become even better than me. Everyone will benefit if he does," added the former Napoli star. "I really hope Messi is not just the new Maradona, but that he is even better than me."


Maradona: Messi is like me
Argentina coach Diego Maradona expects Lionel Messi to emulate his World Cup winning display of 1986 in the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

Messi has been widely regarded as one of the best players in the world in recent years and Maradona, who was installed as national team coach last month, believes the Barcelona star will become even better and could lead Argentina to glory in South Africa.

"Messi still has a long way to go - I think he has another 10 years in front of him to improve," said Maradona at a press conference in Kolkata.

"He'll be doing fine in 2010, he'll be somewhat like me."

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Sources:
Maradona: Messi Better Than Me; I Would Have Played For Inter
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1707/inter/2009/01/13/1058957/maradona-messi-better-than-me-i-would-have-played-for-inter

Maradona: Messi is like me
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=599943&&cc=4716

Messi The Extraordinaire

Maradona sings praise on Messi again. This time following his great debut performance in No. 10 shirt with a win over Venezuela. In short, the reason to watch a football game is because Messi is on the field!

Maradona: 'It's a pleasure to see Messi like this'

Buenos Aires - Argentina coach Diego Maradona on Saturday praised Lionel Messi for his performance in the 4-0 win over Venezuela in Buenos Aires. "Seeing Messi like this everyday is a pleasure. We should all leave the stadium, pay for another ticket and go in again," Maradona said.

Messi - who for the first time wore the number 10 Argentina jersey that was once worn by Maradona himself - was the man of the match in the resounding win. The Barcelona striker scored a goal and was decisively involved in two others.

With reference to the whole team's performance in his first official match as Argentina coach, Maradona was thrilled.

"It was better than I expected, reality beat fiction," he said.

"Everyone wants to be in this national team, and I am proud of that. When we were 4-0 and Jonas (Gutierrez) blocked a ball and got it back, that's the kind of message I want to give," he stressed.

He described the midfield made up of Maxi Rodriguez, Javier Mascherano, Fernando Gago and Gutierrez as ideal, and he also praised the forward line with Messi, Maradona's son-in-law Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez.


Source:http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/261984,extra-maradona-its-a-pleasure-to-see-messi-like-this.html

Messi Scored the First Goal for Argentina in Maradona's Shirt

Messi scored the first goal for Argentina (vs Venezuela) on the 26th minute with a coolly taken goal after a one-two with Tevez. He is now wearing the number 10 shirt, formerly worn by Maradona. Messi created another goal-scoring chance for Alguera just before half time. But Alguera's shot was blocked by the defender of Venezuela after he managed to beat the goalkeeper.

Shortly after the break, Messi dribbled the ball past several opponents on the right flank and hit a good cross for Tevez to score the second goal of the game. Rodriguez and Aguero completed a formidable home debut for Argentina new coach Maradona by scoring on the 52nd and 73th minute respectively.


News:
Dream Debut for Diego
http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2009/3/30/sports/3587756&sec=sports

Messi Happy Maradona Handed Him Argentina’s No. 10 Shirt
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/82/south-america/2009/03/30/1181937/messi-happy-maradona-handed-him-argentinas-no-10-shirt