Sensationally, Diego Maradona has claimed that Lionel Messi has no personality and lacks the character to be a leader.
The footballing icon was berating his fellow countryman at pre-tournament festivities in Paris prior to the European Championships. Maradona was accompanied with Brazilian legend Pele where the pair were discussing the four-times Ballon d'Or winner at a publicity event, before Pele asked him whether he knows the Barca star personally causing this reaction;
"He's a really good person, but he has no personality. He lacks [the] character to be a leader."
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Pele replied, by saying; "Ah, I get it, he's not like we were back in the days. In the 70s we [Brazil] had really good players like Rivellino, Gerson, Tostao. Not like Argentina now, which depends only on Messi. He [Maradona] is saying that Messi is a good player, there's no doubt about it, but he has no personality."
The 28-year-old's only international accolade was an Olympic gold medal in 2008, yet hasn't been able to emulate his incredible club form to the International stage having lost twice in the Copa America final as well as a World Cup final against Germany.
Messi and co are currently in the States for the Copa America, where a back injury sidelined him from their opening game though without his services Argentina still beat defending champions Chile 2-1.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Argentina