Lionel Messi capturing the Golden Boot as the best player at the 2014 FIFA World Cup is a dubious distinction for some. Many believe Messi's tournament was merely average, culminating in a largely indifferent performance during the 1-0 defeat to Germany in the final.
Speaking on Latin American television station Telesur, Maradona dismissed Messi winning the award as a business move from FIFA:
Messi? I would give him heaven if possible. But it’s not right when someone wins something that he shouldn’t have won just because of some marketing plan.Those are fairly scathing words from the man who inspired Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986. They are particularly noteworthy because of the intense pressure on Messi to emulate Maradona every time he plays for his country.
The two players have often merited direct comparison for more than just their nationality. They both play in a similar style, using control so close it defies all logic to consistently baffle defenders.
Like Maradona, Messi generates excitement and expectation every time he receives the ball. No other player in today's game boasts his knack for tricking past the opposition at speed and finding the net.
However, there's no escaping that. As good as Messi has been for club side FC Barcelona, he's never produced what Maradona did internationally.
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