Legendary pair of South Americans Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona cannot and should not be compared, says Roberto Ayala.
Ayala, who currently forms part of Lionel Scaloni’s coaching team with the Argentina national side, is fortunate enough to have played with both considering Messi to be “Speedy Gonzalez” and Maradona to have been “pure art”..
The 47-year-old is reluctant to be drawn on an answer of his own, with Ayala the saying two talismanic countrymen are too “different” to be placed into the same bracket.
“I played with both of them, with Diego I was taking my first steps. They are two footballing giants, and when he retires, Messi will be remembered,” Ayala told Fox Sports.
“I don't know if it’ll be like Diego, it doesn't matter. They are different.
“Diego was pure art in all his mannerisms, Messi a Speedy Gonzalez who carries the ball two centimetres from his foot.”
Maradona helped Argentina conquer the world and the domestic game across memorable spells with the likes of Boca Juniors and Napoli.
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Messi, so far, has won the Ballon d’Or six times, breaking countless records over the course of his time with Barcelona.
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago
