Comparative analysis : Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona

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BARCELONA, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 24: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona runs with the ball during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Girona at Camp Nou on February 24, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) /

Pace

Both Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona are very fast compared to the other players in the era, but Maradona again edges Messi on this one. Despite his slightly overweight figure, he could run like the wind.

Maradona could sprint like no footballer in his era, or any other era. When surrounded by defenders, he could ping the ball ahead and beat the defenders to it. He had a tendency to sprint up to the line, and then cut it back or cross it into the box.

Messi had the ability to replicate Maradona’s wondrous feat when he was a youngster, but he left this aspect of his game to organically grow while he focused on the technicals. But nonetheless, Messi is a very fast runner, but not as fast as Cristiano Ronaldo or Neymar.