It's the eternal debate that elevates two giants in the history of soccer: Diego Armando Maradona and Leo Messi.
Two phenomena. But which of the two has been better? Opinions are divided, but Maldini has his own.
The debate even takes place in both their country: Argentina. Not even there do people agree, as both footballers have their supporters and detractors.
Messi or Maradona? Who has been the better footballer?
What seems clear is that the debate centers on Maradona and Messi. Pelé, Di Stéfano, or Ronaldinho are left aside.
He was asked on Instagram to choose one or the other with this question: Would you put Messi above Maradona in first place in history?
Maldini has expressed his opinion with an answer that won't leave anyone indifferent. He is clear about it and argues his point by differentiating quality and time spent at the top.
"The answer is..."
"The answer is no. I think that no matter what Messi does in the remainder of his career... He's not going to play soccer better than Maradona did.
Messi has had a much longer career, at the highest level and more than Maradona, I don't dispute that.
In fact, if I had to choose a player for my team, knowing the careers of each, I'd choose Messi.
But nobody has played this game as well as Maradona in the history of soccer, although for a shorter time, that's also true.
I don't think there has been in the history of soccer a better footballer, capable of playing soccer better, than Maradona.
Maradona's prime is impossible to surpass. Messi hasn't surpassed it.
Nobody has played soccer better than Maradona, nobody's going to take that out of my head. That's how it is.
"I know that many young people haven't seen Maradona live," is the justification Maldini gives to those who think Leo Messi has surpassed Dieguito's level.