Messi better than Ronaldo - Maradona Saturday, January 17, 2009
Argentine coach Diego Maradona on Friday rated Lionel Messi as the best player in the world, rather than FIFA choice Cristiano Ronaldo.
"Obviously Messi is the best player in the world," said the 1986 world champion.
"They gave me the accolade as the best when I was 26 - look at Messi's age (just 21).
"They gave me the golden ball after a lot of time had elapsed. So just think how many Golden Balls Messi can get if he keeps his head down," said Maradona.
He added that as it is the convention that coaches of national sides do not vote for a compatriot "I voted for Cristiano Ronaldo - we couldn't vote for Argentines," explained Maradona.
Ronaldo duly topped the poll last week after his exploits in winning the Champions League and the English Premiership with Manchester United.
In contrast, Messi's Barcelona under-achieved and ended the campaign empty-handed.
Maradona was speaking after returning from a trip to Europe to check on his squad.
