From Madrid, Diego Simeone has sent a warm tribute to Lionel Messi after the Argentina great’s departure from the national team, placing him alongside Diego Maradona as one of the defining figures in the country’s football history.
The Atlético Madrid coach knows both eras closely. He played beside Maradona for Sevilla and Argentina, while his teams repeatedly faced Messi during the forward’s Barcelona years.
Quick facts
- Diego Simeone declined to choose between Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.
- He was Maradona’s teammate at Sevilla and with Argentina.
- Simeone faced Messi as Atlético Madrid coach during Messi’s Barcelona spell.
- The Argentine coach praised Messi’s conduct, resilience and long-term excellence.
- He had recently backed Messi for the Ballon d’Or after his World Cup displays at almost 40.
Simeone would not be drawn into a direct comparison between the two icons. “I will not play the game of selecting one,” he said. “I had the fortune to play with Maradona and not the fortune to play with Messi. Argentines should be grateful to have had two of the greatest in history.”
His message centred not only on Messi’s record but on the way the forward carried his status over two decades. Simeone described Messi’s numbers as beyond reach and said his development as both a person and athlete had surpassed every expectation.
“He has managed it with respect and good behaviour,” Simeone said, stressing how difficult it is to maintain that standard across 20 or 25 years at the top of the game.
For Simeone, Messi’s significance in Argentina extends beyond trophies and celebrated nights. He said the former Barcelona captain gave the country great joy, but also offered a lesson in persistence when circumstances turn against a player or team.
“He taught us to fight,” Simeone said. “When things are going badly, keep insisting. That is Messi’s value for Argentines.”
The tribute follows Simeone’s recent call for Messi to receive the Ballon d’Or in recognition of his World Cup contribution, an endorsement that underlined the enduring admiration held in Madrid for one of Argentina’s two towering modern football symbols.
