Valdano: Messi not yet in Maradona class

Posted Friday, March 23, 2012 by ESPN

Former Real Madrid general manager Jorge Valdano believes that Lionel Messi is more "efficient" than Diego Maradona but the two still should not be compared.

Valdano played with Maradona in the Argentinean side that won the 1986 World Cup. He scored the second goal in the game against West Germany which his side eventually won 3-2.

With Real Madrid, he was once manager in 1996 winning the La Liga before becoming a sporting director.

Messi surpassed the club's all-time goal-scoring record on Wednesday after notching his eighth hat-trick of the season and the Argentinean star has attracted a great number of adulatory messages.

Nevertheless, Valdano believes that Messi is not yet in Maradona's league and noted that the Barcelona forward still has much longer to go in his career.

"We judge Maradona based on his entire career, while Messi is still only 24," Valdano told Sport magazine.

"The fact that we're already comparing them is a tribute to what Lionel has achieved."

He believes that Maradona was a more "artistic" player.

"If we have to differ between them, you can say that Maradona was more artistic and had a unique, beautiful style of play.

"Messi on the other hand is more efficient and more consistent. He's dangerous every time he gets the ball.

The 56-year-old was quick to point out, however, that Messi has accomplished a lot more than any other player at his age. He also thinks that by the end of his career, Messi could very well be declared as being better than Maradona.

"If he continues to perform at this level, he will exceed everyone, including Pele."