Lionel Messi can’t claim to be the best player of all time unless he wins the World Cup, according to Italy legend Andrea Pirlo.
One of football’s biggest debates over the past decade has been whether Messi is superior to Argentine compatriot Diego Maradona.
Maradona is regarded by many as the best footballer in history after virtually single-handedly taking a modest Argentina side to World Cup glory in 1986.
And Pirlo believes that Messi – despite winning five Ballons d’Or and breaking countless records for Barcelona – can’t overtake Maradona until he also lifts football’s biggest prize.
“It will be important for both Messi himself and for Argentina to win the World Cup in Russia,” Pirlo told Goal as he teamed up with Uber Eats ahead of Russia 2018.
“Messi is always compared to Maradona but he needs to win the World Cup because if you don’t win the World Cup you can’t be up there with the very best.”
Argentina’s preparations for Russia 2018 have been fraught with difficulties. They were thrashed 6-1 by Spain in a recent friendly and had their last game against Israel cancelled.
But despite all the doom and gloom surrounding Messi’s chances of finally winning the World Cup at his fourth and probably final attempt, Pirlo believes that Argentina can do well at the tournament.
“Argentina have had the time now to improve and find the right players for the World Cup and I think they are going to do well in Russia despite the big loss they had against Spain,” the Italian stated.
“Argentina have a lot of good players and if their top players perform they are going to do well.”
Pirlo played in three World Cups during his legendary career, famously lifting the trophy in 2006, but his last appearance four years ago in Brazil was a disappointing one as Italy were eliminated in the group stage after a 1-0 loss to Uruguay.
source: Goal
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