Batista believes that Messi could replace compatriot Maradona as the greatest footballer ever...

Mar 24, 2011 4:00:00 PM

 

Argentina coach Sergio Batista believes that Lionel Messi is on course to become the best footballer in the history of the game.

The 23-year-old Barcelona forward is widely recognised as the best player in the world at the moment and has won the Ballon d'Or award for the past two years. Messi has already won the Champions League twice and the Club World Cup as well as domestic competitions in Spain.

Regular comparison has been made between Messi and his compatriot Diego Maradona, who won the World Cup in 1986 and two Serie A titles with Napoli. The controversial Argentine is regarded by many as the game's best ever player.

Batista believes that Messi could surpass Maradona in stature and has been quoted by Fifa.com as saying: "Messi is on the way to becoming the best footballer in history. "If one looks into the future, Lionel has everything. Maradona was one of the greatest, without a doubt. But Messi right now is the best in the world, and we have to take advantage of that."
Argentina will take on the USA in an international friendly on Saturday and Messi has been included in the squad, which makes US coach Bob Bradley's task difficult.
"Some players are just on the kind of level where you have huge admiration for them above anything else," enthused Bradley. "Messi is one of those. Would I pay to watch him? Without a doubt."

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