Messi closes in on Maradona

Messi closes in on Maradona
19 December 2011
Juan Roman Riquelme said Lionel Messi is
slowly replacing Diego Maradona as
Argentine football's main character.
The 33-year-old Boca Juniors midfielder
said Maradona is rated the best player
ever by Argentines of older generations,
but Messi has taken his place with the
younger football fans.
"I was lucky enough to grow up during
the era of Diego Maradona, who all
Argentinians consider the greatest player
ever," Riquelme told the FIFA website.
"After watching him play I used to run
out onto the street with my mates, get
the ball and pretend that I was him. I'd be
commentating on myself and saying
'Maradona has the ball', stuff like that."
"Now that's what my son's like with
Lionel Messi. He starts kicking the ball and
saying 'Messi's on the ball'."
"For people my age, Maradona is the main
man. But for younger generations, like
my boy, Messi's their hero."
Riquelme has won more than 50 caps for
Argentina and lifted the Apertura title
with Boca Juniors earlier this month