Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has shared his thoughts on footballing great Maradona, after the Argentine passed away this week.
Maradona died aged 60 on Wednesday, after a heart attack. Mourners flocked to his wake in Buenos Aires, and there have been tributes flooding in from across the globe - notably from former club Napoli, which has decided to rename their stadium after the World Cup winner.
Ahead of Liverpool's match with Brighton and Hove Albion on this week, Klopp revealed his thoughts on Maradona - interestingly mentioning whether he thought current stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo matched up to the icon.
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Klopp may have a better chance than most of judging the trio, having played in Maradona's era and now coaching during Messi and Ronaldo's.
"The best through my lifetime. Maybe not now, I saw Cristiano and Messi now," he said. "In my career, he was the standout player. His life shows how nice it can be when you're world-class and how difficult it can be too.
"An impressive figure. I met him once which for a player of my level was like meeting the Pope."
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The coach also revealed his disappointment that more help wasn't offered to the footballing legend, who suffered from off-field troubles throughout his life: "You can see reactions all over the world. If we showed him the respect he deserves while alive instead of selfies, we could have helped him."
Both fellow Argentine Messi and Portuguese Ronaldo have often been compared to Maradona. Alongside Brazilian Pele, the four are considered by many to be the best footballers to have played the game.
All imagery: PA Images
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