From Foreign Policy · Bobby Ghosh · · 1m 40s
Messi on Their Mind, Argentines Still Hold Maradona in Their Hearts
Argentines revere Messi as national icon after World Cup triumph, yet Maradona remains cultural symbol.
In brief
Argentines revere Messi as national icon after World Cup triumph, yet Maradona remains cultural symbol. Argentines now see Messi as the best player in their history, but Maradona represents national identity more deeply. Originally reported by Foreign Policy.
Messi's farewell
Lionel Messi ended his 21-year national team career with a 3-0 friendly win over Benin.
“I am proud to be Argentine”
Messi's identity
Messi insisted he was Argentine despite being born in Rosario and living in Spain.
“I’ve never stopped being Argentine, and I’ve never wanted to”
National team struggles
Argentina lost three straight World Cup finals between 2014 and 2:16.
“Why do they kill you in Argentina?”
Maradona's legacy
Maradona was a political figure who embraced Fidel Castro and marched against George W. Bush.
“They cut off my legs”
Polling results
73 percent of Argentines say Messi is the best player in their history.
“57 percent of Argentines identify more with Maradona than Messi”
Cultural divide
Messi represents individual aspiration while Maradona embodies national character.
“In values and way of being, which of the two great No. 10s do Argentines more closely resemble”
Soccer culture
Argentine soccer culture celebrates the scruffy 'pibe' who learns on the streets.
“el pibe de oro”
Class differences
Messi's support comes mostly from middle and higher income Argentines.
“Among Argentina’s poorest, the race was much closer”
Maradona's downfall
Maradona tested positive for ephedrine at the 1994 World Cup and was sent home.
“They cut off my legs”
National myth
Maradona is counted among Argentina's four great mythical figures with Eva Perón and Che Guevara.
“Comedians and Martyrs”
Messi's clean life
Messi has lived a clean life, which counts against his cultural impact.
“la pulga will never match el pibe de oro”
National shift
Argentines now see Messi as the best player in their history without needing convincing.
“In 2012, he had to insist that he was Argentine. Today, the nation needs no convincing.”
What happens next
Argentines continue to see Messi as the best player in their history while Maradona remains the cultural icon.
“Messi has always seemed content to let others argue about such things”
At a glance
Argentines now see Messi as the best player in their history, but Maradona represents national identity more deeply.
