messi ‘better than maradona’

WORLD Cup winner Ossie Ardiles says Lionel Messi is better than his former team-mate Diego Maradona, even though the Barcelona star has yet to find success with Argentina’s national team.

“I played with Maradona for seven years and he was magnificent,” Ardiles said. “I thought I would never see another player like that but I have to say Messi is better.”

Ardiles said he is confident Messi can help Argentina win a World Cup before his career is over.

“Messi hasn’t had the results with the national team yet but I am sure that will come,” Ardiles said. “There is a natural evolution and players today are just getting better. Messi is by far the best.” Maradona captained Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup and was captain of the team that reached the final in 1990. Messi played for Argentina at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups where the team lost in the quarter-finals.