The parallels between Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi on the FIFA World Cup have grown much more exceptional following Argentina’s defeat within the 2026 remaining.
Softfootball gathered Maradona led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986 earlier than returning to the ultimate 4 years later, the place La Albiceleste had been crushed 1-0 by Germany within the 1990 remaining.
Messi adopted a strikingly comparable path. After guiding Argentina to World Cup triumph in 2022, he returned 4 years later and captained his nation to a different remaining, solely to endure a 1-0 defeat to European champions Spain in 2026.
Spain’s victory accomplished a historic marketing campaign, with La Roja claiming the World Cup whereas additionally sweeping the event’s main particular person honours.
Whereas the opponents differed, the similarities between Maradona’s and Messi’s World Cup journeys are troublesome to disregard each legends gained their first World Cup earlier than reaching the subsequent remaining 4 years later and narrowly dropping 1-0 to a European nation.
Soccer historical past has a means of repeating itself, and the careers of Argentina’s two best icons proceed to share extraordinary parallels.
