Why Maradona can't be considered the greatest of all time

By that standard Michael Jordan can't be considered the basketball GOAT either, since on the Bull's last championship, he cheated and pushed off Bryon Russell on his game winning shot. Your criteria is nonsense.

by that logic anyone who faked an injury to get a penalty is also guilty.. looking at you italy.. (WCUP) (which would be most footballers at one time or another)

Well said !!

Beardan, do yourself a favour and watch a few old videos of Diego. The 'Hand of God' is not the defining characteristic of the player. I don't know who is the best ever, but I remember as an Aussie kid watching a guy from a different continent who didn't even speak my language and whom I had nothing in common with being brought to tears of joy watching him play. The guy was an absolute freak with his individual technical quality, but also his tactical awareness to make other players look better than they were was pure class. All of that whilst playing on cow paddock pitches and being hacked at every opportunity with tackles that would be an instant red today not even getting a yellow card.

As for me Pele is the greatest player of all time pure and simple.. Afterwards i would put Christiano Ronaldo and Messi... But for anyone to say Ronaldo does not have talent,is not in the top 20 and claims of being self centred is just envy and inferiority complex speaking... Christiano Ronaldo does not have the support cast that Messi has thats why he boasts less trophies than Messi... Does anyone in their right minds think Benzema,Bale,James and Isco compare to Xavi,Iniesta,Suarez and Neymar? Thats why Ronaldo is holding the European top scorer but no trophy because of inferior teammates compared to Messi's....It has been like that even at National Team level and even his time at Manchester United....

Messi is both a fantastic player worthy of being included in the best ten players of all time My List of top 10: 1. Pele - only remember the last 10 years or so of his career but more than a thousand career goals in 1100 odd career games for an attacking midfielder/striker is pretty convincing. Other players were better at various skills than him but NO player was as good overall when they put it ALL together 2. Ronaldinho - simply the most outrageously skilled footballer of ALL time 3. Maradona - ALL left foot but what a left foot and blessed with fantastic close control! His incredible natural foot speed over 60 metres gave him the edge over Zico who I would have otherwise placed above him 4. Zico - wrote the book on how to play No. 10 and a true football icon, who believed that to win without honor was NO victory at all, enuff said 5. Messi - both a fantastic player and true sportsman in the tradition of Zico 6. Alfredo Di Stefano - before my time and didn't see him play but from the old B/W films he was obviously superior to his contemporaries 7. Del Piero - wonderful No 10 cut from the same mold as Zico and Messi 8. Iniesta - awesome No. 10 9. Zidane - another fantastic no 10 10. George Best - when at his absolute best, for close control and outrageous skills he ranks behind ONLY Ronaldinho but never really had the opportunity to show it at international level

This ^ Messi and Ronald cannot carry their national team to another level. Messi has not proven himself outside his Barcelona team that is built around him. His lack of performance for Argentina reinforces this. Zidane is the greatest player of the modern era and surpasses Ronaldo and Messi combined.

Have we forgotten the other goal Maradona scored in that quarter final? He dribbled through the entire England team and put it in the back of the net. It was genius.

I know what ive seen....maradona was a gift....there has never been anyone as talented....his skill and audacity was unrivaled. Pele is universally adored and the only true comparison. I rate zidane too.

yeah thats why i have this big asterik next to messi, he is brilliant no doubt but he doesnt change a team enough for me. against good competition he doesnt stand up enough, especially at international level. argentina should have won a world cup or a big tournament with the team they had a few years ago or even have now.

also think what has CR7's 'more self centred player' really got to do with anything? does Messi come across as a nicer humbler person? probably. but not a big deal really. CR7 donating 10 million dollars or so to whichever disaster fund it was sure isn't a selfish act.........though his haters will interpret it as they will.

and you know this how?

Meh, Maradona never actually did anything in the Champions League, even with the Champions of Italy. If Messi went to Napoli now they would walk the league.

I think its time for your medicine…

Maradona made the team. That is the difference. Modern Argentina with Maradona instead of Messi would be a better team. Put Messi in that Napoli team and they would be a lesser team. Messi is fantastic, but has only succeeded when surrounded with the est of teammates. Ronaldo a bit off Messi. Pele I can't comment on having not seen near enough of his full games. His record though speaks volumes.

Never saw Pele, Best, Di Stefano, Puskas etc. 1980s onwards Maradona, Messi & Ronaldo are miles ahead of anyone else. Ronaldinho had the talent but didn't fulfill it. The question I have with Messi is how would he go for a lesser team. Based on Argentina when they have struggled the answer seems to be not much better then Ronaldo at Portugal and behind Diego at Napoli. The el classico was a good example of just how good Barca are without Messi. The fact that he has never led Argentina to a title and they are hardly slouches as it is questions his best ever standing for me. No doubt though he's got his head together better then Diego or CR7.

What about the other goal that he scored against England in that game? As a person, Maradona is probably not in Pele's shadow (i.e. drug use, cheating on his wife, shooting at journalists, cheating on his taxes), but many sportsmen are hardly great people, i.e. George Best was similar to Maradona.

wow and Pele does not even deserve a mention ... old saying ... Maradona was good Pele was better But George is Best...