From the mano de Dios to the "manita de Dios". From pibe de oro to the three-time Ballon d'Or (and already in the odor of poker). From Diego Armando Maradona to Lionel Messi. Two Argentines less than 1 meter and 70 centimeters tall but capable of becoming the greatest footballers in the world. But who more? This is the great dilemma of the third millennium: will Pulga, author of a historic "manita" (five) in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen, be able to equal - or surpass - his legendary predecessor, whose hand instead became famous for that historic goal against the hated English at the 86 World Cup?
Given that the reference to that hand is only for a play on words - also because in that same match Maradona scored what was voted by the whole world as the most beautiful goal in history - the similarities between the two are endless: Country of origin, team that consecrated them in Europe (Barcelona), favorite foot (but without disdaining right foot, head, heel and so on), extraordinary talent and unconditional affection from fans, teammates and even opponents.
To date, Messi's advantage is the extraordinary prolificacy of goal sills: at just 24, la Pulce has already scored 228 goals with the Barça shirt, of which 148 in the last three seasons, including the current one where it is already at 48, and we are only in March. The Spanish and European bulletin board is also already well nourished, with the beauty of 5 Liga, 3 Champions League and two club World Cups, just to mention the most important trophies. Not to mention the absolute domination in the Ballon d'Or rankings, which rewards the best player in the world and that for the past 3 years Leo hasn't given back to Fifa. Again this year, it seems that Blatter will have to resign.
Maradona instead, called il pibe de oro (the golden boy), he has never won this recognition. But be careful: simply, you have to get your hands on the fire, just because at the time when he went crazy on the fields of Italy and Europe with the blue shirt of Napoli, the award was intended only for community players. Just to give an example, in 1986, the year in which Maradona led Argentina to victory in the Mexican World Cup, the Ballon d'Or was mysteriously won by the Dynamo Kiev striker Igor Belanov (nothing to do with his heir Andriy Shevchenko ).
Diego never even lifted a big-eared cup, perhaps because he played for Napoli and not for the stellar Barcelona of recent years, but on the two occasions he had (at the time only the national champions competed in the competition) he failed to perform miracles, bringing the blue team to a lower level than that reached this season, in their small way, by Walter Mazzarri's men: a first and a second round.
However, what Messi lacks and which Maradona had, in addition to the infinite talent that still seems to lean slightly in favor of the older one, was leadership, charisma, and above all the extraordinary ability, never seen before in Lionel, to lead the national team to success. And that is the team with which you don't train every day, whose mechanics you don't know by heart – simply because there aren't any – but which you have to take by the hand a certain number of times a year, for a few but very important matches, and with which you cannot fail. Especially if your name is Messi and you have the number 10 printed on your shirt.
The point of the matter, in our opinion, is all there: iBarcelona lives in its own light and Pulga is not its only charismatic leader. There are other exceptional players, who in turn have made the fortunes of other national teams, especially the reigning world and European champions of Spain.
It is not possible, for example, to compare a Xavi with a "Rambo" De Napoli or a Salvatore Bagni, with all due respect. Just as Carnevale was not Sanchez or Iniesta. Or, returning to the Celeste, Was the 86 striker, a certain Cuciuffo, or Kun Aguero (Maradona's son-in-law) stronger? On the band better Burruchaga or Lavezzi? In the median, Borghi or Mascherano?
For Lionel Messi the appointment is in 2014 in Brazil, land of another myth like Pele. If he brings Argentina to the top of the world, he surpasses the pibe de oro and “O rey” in one fell swoop. Good luck.
