Who is Lionel Messi? A comparative study of Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi

This article tries to give an answer to the question of whether Lionel Messi will be judged one of the world’s greatest football players, whose reputation will outstrip those of both Diego Maradona and Pelé. The issue is approached in two ways. First, in the local context the purely Argentinean cultural concepts of the pibe and the potrero are applied. Thus, the possibility of Messi becoming much more than a gifted player in Argentina is discussed. Second, an identity approach, based on the press discourse from England and Spain, is put forward, to provide an international reference. Finally, I argue that Lionel Messi will not be able to equal or exceed the mythical status of Diego Maradona. This analysis suggests that the status of a player greatly depends on the cultural context and that performance on the field is of lesser importance.