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| Is Messi the new Maradona? What You Think? |
Spanish newspapers have hailed Barcelona's Lionel Messi as the new Diego Maradona after his wonder goal in a 5-2 win against Getafe last night. The 19-year-old ran from his own half beating four Getafe players before rounding goalkeeper Luis Garcia and scoring from a narrow angle in the 29th minute at Nou Camp.
His strike has drawn direct comparisons with Maradona's winner against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals which also featured a long, dribbling run that left numerous England defenders and keeper Peter Shilton in his wake.
Frank Rijkaard, the Barcelona coach, described Messi's goal as "a work of art", while team-mate Deco said it was "the greatest goal I have seen in my life."
But former Argentina international Jorge Valdano, who played with Maradona against England in 1986, disagreed: "Diego played with pauses and acceleration. Messi's was down to breakneck speed and acceleration," Valdano told El Pais. "It's impossible not to compare Messi's goal with Maradona's, but the comparison doesn't turn Messi into Maradona."
Watch both goals below and let us know if you think Messi's goal matches up.
Posted in: Players News