Diego Maradona Once Told Pele That Lionel Messi Has 'No Personality'

Diego Maradona might have been one of Lionel Messi's heroes but the Argentina legend once told Pele that the Barcelona star has 'no personality.'

Messi has spent much of his career being compared to his fellow countryman Maradona, as one of the greatest players of all time.

Both captained their country, and their club teams, to differing success, but both men were extremely different in character, even if their styles of play have been similar.

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Messi doesn't come across as someone who rants and raves at his teammates and comes across quite quiet, leading instead by example.

Maradona once took it further when discussing the six time Ballon d'Or winner with fellow legend Pele. The two men were talking in 2016 at an event and Maradona claimed Messi had 'no personality.'

"Diego, do you know Messi personally" the Brazilian enquired at a press event.

"Yes, yes, but..." replied Maradona.

"Is he a good person? I don't know him, I know him from..." Pele added.

"He is a good person, but he has no personality. He doesn't have much personality, like how to be a leader," Maradona bluntly said.

"Ah, I understand," Pele exclaimed, "Like there were many [players like this] in our time."

"Exactly, many players, many..." replied Maradona once again.

"In 1970, there was Rivelino. I was speaking about Messi, the Argentina of Messi. He said that Messi is a great player, there is no doubt, but he has no personality," three time World Cup winner Pele finished saying.

Messi paying tribute to Maradona, following the latter's death at the end of last year. Image: PA Images

Sure, Messi might not be as loud and in your face as Maradona but he's shown time and time again he has a personality on the pitch.

It brings to mind The Wolf's famous line in Pulp Fiction, "Just because you are a character doesn't mean that you have character."

Messi certainly has character in bucketloads!

And anyway, Maradona never did any stand up comedy...

Will Messi win a World Cup next year an equal Maradona's on pitch success with the national team? Let us know your thoughts.

Topics: Football, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Pele, Argentina, World Cup, Brazil, La Liga

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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