Argentina legend Diego Maradona said that present captain Lionel Messi does not have the character to be a leader. Maradona was caught on microphone talking about the FC Barcelona icon with Brazil legend Pele at an event in Paris on Thursday.
“He’s a really good person, but he has no personality,” Maradona was quoted as saying by goal.com. “He lacks (the) character to be a leader.”
Pele responded saying, “Ah, I get it, he’s not like we were back in the days. In the 70s we (Brazil) had really good players like Rivellino, Gerson, Tostao.
“Not like Argentina now, which depends only on Messi. He (Maradona) is saying that Messi is a good player, there’s no doubt about it, but he has no personality.”
Messi’s commitment to the game has been questioned time and again by Argentina fans as the talismanic forward has struggled to replicate his club form in national colours. The 28-year-old has twice lost in the final of the Copa America and once if the World Cup final. He has only the 2008 Olympic gold medal as a significant international honour. He missed Argentina’s opening game of the Copa America, a 2-1 win over title holders Chile, due to a back injury.
Maradona hailed his old rival Pele as an “icon” as the pair were reunited for a “match of friendship”. The 75-year-old Brazil great and 55-year-old Argentine legend even embraced during the five-a-side exhibition game in a sign that they have drawn a line under their long-running feud.
“I want to thank Pele, we know who he is and who he will always be. We need icons like him,” said Maradona, who starred in Argentina’s 1986 World Cup triumph.
Pele, a three-time world champion, also struck a conciliatory tone in response. “The most important is the message of peace. Many thanks to my friend Maradona for this opportunity and a big round of applause to the players who have been here today,” said Pele. “This is a moment of peace.”
It was a far cry from the acrimony between them when FIFA was trying to decide the player of the 20th Century in 2000. The world body organised an online vote which Maradona easily won. But FIFA thought the online users at the time were too young and so the vote was skewed in Maradona’s favour.
It then organised a vote by readers of the FIFA magazine and cast by an international jury. This time Pele won by a landslide. FIFA decided to split the award and named Pele and Maradona as the two greatest players of all time.
“I had the vote of the people, Pele won by forfeit,” said Maradona, who walked out of a Rome gala so he did not see the Brazilian collect his award. Maradona later accused Pele of letting his former Brazil teammate Garrincha “die in misery”. Pele responded that Maradona was “sick”.
Maradona thrilled the crowd at the Palais Royal with a cameo appearance in the 30-minute five-a-side contest. Pele, still recovering from a hip operation in January, remained in his coaching role on the touchline.
The event, organised by a Swiss watchmaker with UEFA, featured the likes of former France striker David Trezeguet, Italy goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi and Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf. Ex-Brazil forward Bebeto, a 1994 World Cup winner, also took part alongside Rio Ferdinand, Dida, Hernan Crespo and Fernando Hierro as the match finished in a diplomatic 8-8 draw.