From Grup14.com (@G14_EN)
Goal statistics in Europe
Games: Messi 482; Maradona 346
Goals: Messi 412 (.85); Maradona 161 (.47)
Penalties: Messi 49 (12%); Maradona 47 (29%)
Freekicks: Messi 16 (3.9%); Maradona 32 (20%)
Open play goals: Messi 347 (84%); Maradona 82 (51%)
Goals in Finals: Messi 20 (.83 per Final); Maradona 3 (.27 per Final)
Goals after 1+ dribbles: Messi 99; Maradona 22
Goals after 2+ dribbles: Messi 31; Maradona 3
Goals after 3+ dribbles: Messi 15; Maradona 2
Goals after 4+ dribbles: Messi 5; Maradona 0
Titles: Messi 24; Maradona 8
The only criteria where Diego comes out on top is free kicks. What's particularly staggering is how dominant Messi is over Maradona in terms of scoring off the dribble - given Diego's reputation as a master dribbler.
Messi vs Maradona
posted on 8/7/15
Exactly Robb
It was also 2 points for a win and a point for a draw so a lot of teams set up not to lose.
posted on 8/7/15
I remember how good the defending was/ how boring Italian Football was on Channel 4.
Wouldn't be now as I appreciate defending more, but as a kid it was toss, and to make it worse, it was on a Sunday - a typically boring day.
posted on 8/7/15
Loved Italia football on C4 when growing up,I did fall asleep a few times though.
posted on 8/7/15
Anyone who really wants to engage in this sort of debate with anything resembling a meaningful opinion needs to have watched Maradona in his day and context.
I would start by recommending they watch at least half a dozen randomly chosen games (as opposed to hand-picked standout performances) to compare the role he played to Messi's. One of the things that will immediately stand out is how deep Maradona used to drop to start attacking plays. Once they've taken note of these issues they will understand that statistical comparisons between the two are absolutely meaningless.
posted on 8/7/15
The Only Stat that matters.
Hand Of God
Maradona 1 Messi 0
posted on 8/7/15
If Messi had to take the kind of tackles dished out in that era he'd be sliced in two, bless him.
Search for Cannigia v Cameroon . Brutal. Three bites at him before they get him
posted on 8/7/15
I think Maradona would score an insane amount of goals in this day and age. Perhaps not as many as Messi, but give him the Barca teams Messi has had and the dual factor of referees protection and his natural strength on the ball and he'd be a force of nature
posted on 8/7/15
If Messi had to take the kind of tackles dished out in that era he'd be sliced in two, bless him.
----------------
True.
And if Maradona had to go through some of the tests that Messi has to face ..........
He'd be banned the druggie
posted on 9/7/15
Always thought Messi was more similar to Cruyff than Maradona in playing style. Maradona was an old fashion no.10 and played more in a David Silva type role.
posted on 9/7/15
I have seen both play, and for me Maradona was the better player.
He could drag a team of ordinary players kicking and screaming to a win against any opponent. On the pitch, he sometimes seemed like a god-like giant among dwarfs, commanding his troops like a general. All the player's and fan's attention was on him. And still he couldn't be stopped by the opponent.
Messi doesn't have the same influence on the game and the other players. And he, unlike Maradona, has always had great players around him. Both Barca and Argentina are star-studded, great teams even without Messi.