Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have taken to their separate Instagram accounts to share their tributes to late Argentina football icon Diego Maradona.
The legendary football idol died of a heart attack at his home in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital, on Wednesday, November 25, 2020, at the age of 60. He died a few weeks after he was discharged from the hospital where he underwent surgery to treat brain blood clots.
Before the late Argentine football legend retired from football, he played for FC Barcelona and became a football god at Napoli where he won two Italian Serie A titles. He also won one FIFA World Cup Gold and Silver for Argentina.
After retirement, Maradona went into coaching and coached numerous clubs in Argentina and Asia. He also coached Lionel Messi and his national teammates at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
In his condolence message, FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi shared two pictures showing when he posed next to the late Maradona. In the caption, the 6 times Ballon d’Or winner described Maradona in Spanish as an “eternal” figure in football.
He wrote: “A very sad day for all Argentines and football. He leaves us but does not leave, because Diego is eternal.
“I keep all the beautiful moments lived with him and I wanted to take the opportunity to send my condolences to all his family and friends. RIP”.
On his part, Portugal football icon, Cristiano Ronaldo shared a picture where he posed beside the late Maradona. In the caption, the 5 times Ballon d’Or winner described Maradona as “an unparalleled magician”.
He wrote: “Today I say goodbye to a friend and the world says goodbye to an eternal genius. One of the best. An unparalleled magician. He leaves too soon but leaves a legacy without limits and a void that will never be filled. Rest in peace, ace. You will never be forgotten.”
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are always been compared to each other over the years. And sometimes, the Late Maradona and Brazilian Pele are brought to the argument whenever the debate of who is the greatest of all time in football arises.
Many football fans believe that Maradona was the greatest of all time even though drug abuse and addiction affected the full manifestation of his football career. Some are also of the opinion that Pele is the greatest of all time.
In the absence of these two football icons in professional football, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo came into the scene and started to set and break records which have tempted many people to limit the argument of who the greatest of all time is between Messi and Ronaldo.