As a kid who would go to the Camp Nou an hour before the game just to enjoy Diego Maradona's amazing warm-up, who was excited without being Argentinian when he won the '86 World Cup, and who closely followed the development of Leo Messi since he arrived in Spain at the age of 13 - I must say that the latter has every right sentarse en la misma mesa (to sit at the same table) with Maradona.
Don't worry, the table is big and there is also room for Di Stefano, Pele and Cruyff - but at the head is Messi.
The greatest Messi of all time?
If you take the question as legitimate, and forget that comparing players from other eras is always very difficult - the World Cup gave a positive answer, but will not end the discussion.
Because there is no football without arguments.
The fact that people don't agree who is the best team, which coach is more suitable or what the hell the referee decides, also explains why it is the number one sport in the world.
Beyond leadership and charisma, Maradona of course also had a unique talent in a completely different context, with fewer cameras and a fair play culture, where opponents had no problem mowing.
If today someone enters Messi as they did back then to Maradona - he will immediately be sent to prison.
He was the hero of Argentina after the Falklands War.
Maradona.
He had everything, photo: Getty Images
God also touched Messi's left leg, but when he arrived in Barcelona at the age of 13 he was less "Argentine" culturally and professionally, which contributed to his adaptation at "La Monsieur" - but hurt him in the last years in the national team.
The big difference between them is persistence and stability.
Diego had historic peaks, and off the pitch hysterics - while Messi has a very long peak, with almost 800 goals.
Diego won 11 titles, and Messi 42.
Both were essential for most of the titles, and yes, it is no longer possible to say that Messi is not successful without Pep, Iniesta and Xavi.
There was and will never be another player in history who won the World Cup, the Copa America, the Olympic Games, the Champions League, the Club World Cup, seven Golden Balls and six Golden Shoes.
Messi in Barcelona uniform.
Title machine, photo: AFP
Hate the festival, not him
In data and talent, Messi wins every comparison against every player today.
But in the World Cup he rose to a level, when he became a leader who does not bow his head after a blow - but raises it with pride and anger, even too much.
Those who saw him shout, and even curse, do not imagine that it came from that boy of Rosario, whose new friends in Barcelona feared that he could not speak.
In the last two years, a tragic event (Maradona's death) and a happy event (Copa America in Brazil), the drop in European titles and his departure from Barca (in Argentina they no longer angrily demand of him his ability in the club) helped him free himself from the chains of pressure with the Albiceleste.
I can understand those who hate what they call a "Messi festival", but not those who don't appreciate his football.
Few players become a historical figure, who has more fans than the club he belongs to.
The majority wanted to see Messi lift the trophy as an act of thanks to the man who gave them so much joy.
On the field in Doha, the fans saw not only the captain of Argentina, but the figure who has been in their lives for three decades - whether to forget about their problems, or just to enjoy football.
Leo Messi.
Everyone was just waiting for his swing, photo: AP
Messi's future will go through four possible stops.
Unfortunately, the least likely of them is to retire at Camp Nou.
The other options are: continue at PSG, experience life in the US through its league, or as some Argentinian journalists suggest - play for the first time in their league.
But the problem is not where he will end his career, but that he actually ends it.
Or at least Leo Messi the player ends it - Leo Messi the legend only gets stronger.
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