Maradona is just trying to get the attention because Argentina got through. I seriously think if Argentina went to the final he'd be praying for them to lose. By his words and behaviour it looks like he feels threatned by Messi winning a WC.
To me Messi is already greater than Maradona but of course, to many people the WC is what it counts, even if it's the only title players can win by pure luck. If you're born in Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Italy, Spain or France you have a high chance of winning a WC. If you're born in a smaller country, you're very luck to get to a quarter final or semi final.
To me, what counts is the trophies players get where they have the freedom to go: clubs. There has been plenty of great players who can't simply win trophies for their national teams because they were born in the "wrong" country. Eusébio, Shevchenko and Giggs come to mind. Any one of these 3 would have been world champion if they had been born in Brazil, Germany, France or Italy most probably.
Kind of off topic but since Maradona came up... well
I just saw Messi's goal.
Not sure what's more incredible: the ball reception with his thigh or the subtle touch right after (and without the ball touching the floor), that completely puts the defender off the play.
Not really. It's more a matter of luck since the world cup comes every 4 years. A lot of players score for the first time with 20yo+ because they couldn't go with 16. But if there was a WC when they were 17 or 18, they could be there in their teens. Ronaldo for example, went to his first WC at 21 because at 17 it was his first year playing for the main team (Sporting CP). Messi, because he was born 2 years later than Ronaldo, went to the 2006 WC at 19 yo.
I don't see a feat in that at all, sorry.
Ronaldo is the only player in history to score in 8 consecutive international tournaments (since the Euro 2004 when he was 19yo to this world cup, at 33).
I think I'm right in saying that South Korea are the only team to lose both of their first two games but still have a shot at qualifying - and as I'm typing they almost take the lead against Germany... Neuer with a fumble and Germany are looking shaky.
Mexico really need a goal - if they can claw one back, then they would still qualify even if Germany find a late winner against Korea... (presuming that Germany only win by 1, that is...)
That's how worried I am at the moment.
