Maradona hails Messi as one of the greats
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, March 6, 2014
Lionel Messi does not need a World Cup winners' medal to be considered among soccer's all-time greats, fellow Argentine Diego Maradona said on Tuesday.
"Messi doesn't need to win the World Cup to be the best player in the world," Maradona, who inspired Argentina to the title in Mexico in 1986, told La Nacion.
"(If he did) it would be great for Argentina, the fans and Lio, but (winning) a World Cup or not won't take away any of his achievements up to now to be among the greatest."
Twice World Cup winner Argentina was facing Romania in a friendly in Bucharest yesterday as it begins to crank up its preparations for this year's finals in Brazil.
Former captain and coach Maradona said everything appeared in place for Messi to shine although Argentina's task would be tough with host Brazil, title holder Spain and Germany among the sides to beat.
Maradona said Messi had a great World Cup in South Africa in 2010 despite not scoring any goals. The Argentina team coached by Maradona lost 0-4 to Germany in the quarterfinals.
"Messi had an exceptional World Cup with me... and no-one said so. (Was it) because he didn't score? He turned all the goalkeepers into stars," he said.
Maradona said he could not forget Messi's sobs when Argentina was eliminated.
"I approached him and told him he'd have many World Cups to get revenge. I said it with all my heart. While the rest were thinking about our return (home) he was there, head bowed, crying."
Argentina is in Group F with Bosnia, Iran and Nigeria at the finals in Brazil, which kick off on June 12.
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