Platini: Messi needs WCup to be best
Source: Agencies |
January 11, 2012, Wednesday
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LIONEL Messi must win a World Cup with Argentina before he can be considered a contender as the greatest player of all time, according to Michel Platini.
Platini hailed 24-year-old Barcelona forward as one of the greats after he won his third straight FIFA world player of the year award on Monday. But the former France star believes Messi must win football's biggest prize in order to rival Pele and Diego Maradona, who are often mentioned as the greatest of all time.
"Messi will always be great with or without (winning) a World Cup, but the World Cup, it's something special," Platini told reporters. "The World Cup will stay in the mind of the people."
Platini compared Messi with Maradona, another Argentine icon who carried his national team by sheer force of will and a touch of genius to win the 1986 World Cup. "When you see Maradona, you see what he has done in '86," said Platini.
Platini suggested that Maradona is more often remembered for his achievements at World Cups than his similarly impressive achievements at Napoli, where he led the team to its only two Serie A titles. "At the World Cup he was very strong. To score in a World Cup is an important matter," said Platini.
He said Messi's ability to score is proven, with more than 200 goals already for Barcelona. "He's a pearl. He's a scorer, first of all. He looks very quiet but he is a killer," Platini praised.
Barcelona's Pep Guardiola was voted the best coach.
Brazil and Santos forward Neymar won the award for the goal of the year, a stunning effort in a Brazilian championship match against Flamengo, while Ferguson also took the FIFA presidential award for outstanding service to the sport.
Platini hailed 24-year-old Barcelona forward as one of the greats after he won his third straight FIFA world player of the year award on Monday. But the former France star believes Messi must win football's biggest prize in order to rival Pele and Diego Maradona, who are often mentioned as the greatest of all time.
"Messi will always be great with or without (winning) a World Cup, but the World Cup, it's something special," Platini told reporters. "The World Cup will stay in the mind of the people."
Platini compared Messi with Maradona, another Argentine icon who carried his national team by sheer force of will and a touch of genius to win the 1986 World Cup. "When you see Maradona, you see what he has done in '86," said Platini.
Platini suggested that Maradona is more often remembered for his achievements at World Cups than his similarly impressive achievements at Napoli, where he led the team to its only two Serie A titles. "At the World Cup he was very strong. To score in a World Cup is an important matter," said Platini.
He said Messi's ability to score is proven, with more than 200 goals already for Barcelona. "He's a pearl. He's a scorer, first of all. He looks very quiet but he is a killer," Platini praised.
Barcelona's Pep Guardiola was voted the best coach.
Brazil and Santos forward Neymar won the award for the goal of the year, a stunning effort in a Brazilian championship match against Flamengo, while Ferguson also took the FIFA presidential award for outstanding service to the sport.
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