Diego Maradona and Dani Alves are the latest duo in football to have a verbal joust, and it's got pretty intense.
Both figures are no strangers to controversies and spats, and they've exchanged words in recent interviews.
It all kicked off with Alves, soon to be a Manchester City player, criticising Maradona when comparing the two-time World Cup winner with his former Barcelona colleague and five-time Ballon d'Or winner.
Image: PA
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The Brazilian takes issue with the manner in which Maradona won the 1986 World Cup thanks to his infamous 'Hand of God' goal against England in the quarter finals, despite Messi doing the same years later against Espanyol.
Speaking to Brazilian TV channel Canais Esporte Interativo, he said:
"You want to compare Messi to Maradona? You can't compare them.
"I would not be proud to say that I won a World Cup with a 'Hand of God.' I wouldn't be able to tell my son that I won a World Cup like this with the whole world talking about it.
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"The 'Hand of God' tricked us, you have to take this firm position. A sportsman like this can't be an example for youngsters."
In a separate interview, Maradona has fired back and he did not hold back.
"Dani Alves is an idiot. He makes 28 passes and only gets four right," he said to TyC Sports.
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"As a 'four' [right-back, Cafu and Maicon were good. Dani Alves? Poor thing.
"He speaks because he plays in a position on the pitch where football is not played.
"They [right-backs] touch the ball three times and make eight fouls per game."
Image: PA
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Maradona's eldest daughter, Dalma, laid into Alves a few days earlier before her legendary father did, posting a lengthy statement on Twitter, translated as follows:
"Mr Dani Alves, I'm writing to you with the aim of explaining who my father is as I think I have that knowledge that you don't.
"I saw an excerpt in which you said that you cannot compare Messi with my father (I couldn't agree more and I always said that only ignorant people would make such a comparison) and, as an Argentinian, I love Messi and I always celebrate his successes.
"You say you wouldn't be proud of winning a World Cup with a handball goal, and I ask you - did you have a chance to see the other goal my father scored in that same game?
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"To top it all off you say that you wouldn't consider my father as a sporting example to youngsters and I think my father would agree with you on that because he never wanted to be an example of anything and did what he could."
Maradona vs Alves. Wrestlemania 34. Let's hope it happens.
(h/t ESPN FC)
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Dani Alves, Barcelona, Diego Maradona, Argentina, Brazil