Messi to be hailed greatest, but Maradona remains Argentinian icon

Lionel Messi is poised to be recognized as the greatest footballer of all time, but experts suggest he will never embody Argentinian identity in the same way as Diego Maradona.

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When it is discussed in 50 years, there will be agreement that Messi was the greatest.

While Messi's on-field achievements are expected to surpass those of Maradona, his lifelong residency in Spain since age 13 creates a distance between him and the average Argentinian. "Messi has not played in Argentina, so there is a distance between him and the general public," said podcast host and football writer Runar Skrøvset, who lived in Argentina.

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It is very difficult to argue that Messi is not the greatest as a football player, but he will never represent being Argentinian like Maradona.

Maradona, conversely, is described as a "national hero for the working class, the poor, and the older generation" because he "lived among the people." His iconic status was further solidified by his performance in the 1986 World Cup, particularly his controversial goals against England. These moments, including the "Hand of God" and the "Goal of the Century," symbolized Argentina's spirit, embodying both "trickery" and triumph, according to Skrøvset.

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Messi has not played in Argentina, so there is a distance between him and the general public.

This victory, occurring shortly after the Falklands War, elevated Maradona to a unique level of national adoration. While Messi has recently had his own significant moment against England in a World Cup semi-final, securing a place in the final, it is unlikely to carry the same cultural weight as Maradona's 1986 triumph. The article notes that Messi generally stays out of the spotlight, unlike the more public and outspoken Maradona.

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Maradona lived among the people and was an idol. He is a national hero for the working class, the poor, and the older generation.