Messi level with Maradona ahead of final shot at World Cup glory, says Zanetti
Lionel Messi is level with Diego Maradona and deserves to lift the World Cup for the first time on Sunday, believes his former Argentina teammate Javier Zanetti.
Argentina will be in their sixth World Cup final at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday, when they look to prevent France from becoming the first side to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962.
Messi will claim the World Cup appearance record by playing his 26th and likely last game of the tournament, as he could become the first player to record 20 goals in the competition (currently 11 goals, eight assists) .
The Argentine captain's talismanic performance in Qatar has been compared to that of Maradona in the Albiceleste triumph in 1986, and Zanetti cannot separate the legendary duo.
"Messi is a great player, I think he is on par with Diego," he told reporters in Doha on Thursday.
"I think a lot of people want Messi to win because of what he represents in the world and because of the way he interprets football.
"Leo deserves it and the boys are working hard to get to this moment. He is the strongest player in the world and he makes the difference on the pitch."
However, the Inter great does not take victory for granted, adding: "I hope Argentina can bring the World Cup to our country.
"I'm worried about [Kylian] Mbappe, [Antoine] Griezmann, [Olivier] Giroud, if [Adrien] Rabiot plays, he's a quality player, and they have a great goalkeeper.
"It's a group that has worked with this coach for a long time. It's a very complete team, very organized. But it's a final and anything can happen."
Meanwhile, fellow former Argentina international Diego Milito hailed Messi's performance saying both teams deserved their place in the final.
"We know him, we know what he is capable of, that he is the best player in the world," Milito said of Messi. "He is living an extraordinary World Cup and he deserves it.
"The two best teams reached the final. It's a very difficult game but we have confidence in the team.
"We are happy to be in the final. Let's hope that this Sunday will be a good final and that we can achieve what we have been waiting for for a long time.
"This team gave people a lot of joy, they came on their way to the [2021] Copa America, and must be very happy and excited."
Lionel Messi is level with Diego Maradona and deserves to lift the World Cup for the first time on Sunday, believes his former Argentina teammate Javier Zanetti.
Argentina will be in their sixth World Cup final at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday, when they look to prevent France from becoming the first side to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962.
Messi will claim the World Cup appearance record by playing his 26th and likely last game of the tournament, as he could become the first player to record 20 goals in the competition (currently 11 goals, eight assists) .
The Argentine captain's talismanic performance in Qatar has been compared to that of Maradona in the Albiceleste triumph in 1986, and Zanetti cannot separate the legendary duo.
"Messi is a great player, I think he is on par with Diego," he told reporters in Doha on Thursday.
"I think a lot of people want Messi to win because of what he represents in the world and because of the way he interprets football.
"Leo deserves it and the boys are working hard to get to this moment. He is the strongest player in the world and he makes the difference on the pitch."
However, the Inter great does not take victory for granted, adding: "I hope Argentina can bring the World Cup to our country.
"I'm worried about [Kylian] Mbappe, [Antoine] Griezmann, [Olivier] Giroud, if [Adrien] Rabiot plays, he's a quality player, and they have a great goalkeeper.
"It's a group that has worked with this coach for a long time. It's a very complete team, very organized. But it's a final and anything can happen."
Meanwhile, fellow former Argentina international Diego Milito hailed Messi's performance saying both teams deserved their place in the final.
"We know him, we know what he is capable of, that he is the best player in the world," Milito said of Messi. "He is living an extraordinary World Cup and he deserves it.
"The two best teams reached the final. It's a very difficult game but we have confidence in the team.
"We are happy to be in the final. Let's hope that this Sunday will be a good final and that we can achieve what we have been waiting for for a long time.
"This team gave people a lot of joy, they came on their way to the [2021] Copa America, and must be very happy and excited."
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