Riquelme: Lionel Messi may be above Diego Maradona
Juan Roman Riquelme praised Lionel Messi after Argentina's 2026 World Cup campaign, suggesting he may rank above Diego Maradona.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Bryan Berlin
Boca Juniors president Juan Roman Riquelme has reflected on Argentina's 2026 World Cup campaign. Despite the final defeat to Spain, the former playmaker was full of praise for Lionel Messi and the coaching staff led by Lionel Scaloni.
Riquelme believes that every Argentine has had the privilege of witnessing Messi's career. He acknowledged that the captain has forced supporters to reconsider the greatest debate in football.
We were all fortunate to see Messi. When we had Maradona, we thought there wouldn't be another like him, and then he appeared, and he even makes us wonder if he's better. Juan Roman Riquelme
In addition to praising Messi, Riquelme highlighted the impact of Scaloni, placing him among the best coaches in the history of Argentine football. He also paid tribute to legendary figures like Carlos Bilardo, Cesar Luis Menotti, and Alfio Basile, emphasizing the collective effort of all generations who brought joy to the country.
The Argentine squad is currently on break before returning to their clubs. While they are expected to return to action in the upcoming September and October international windows, no specific fixtures have been confirmed yet.