CHICAGO, (UPI) — Leave it to Argentina’s soccer legend to insult its current superstar, Lionel Messi.
While appearing with Pele at a Euro 2016 event, Diego Maradona conversed with the Brazilian legend. During their conversation, Pele asked Maradona if he knew Messi personally. Maradona’s response was somewhat shocking
“He’s a really good person but he has no personality. He lacks the character to be a leader,” Maradona said of Messi, according to multiple reports.
“Not like Argentina now, which depends only on Messi, Pele said. “He [Maradona] is saying that Messi is a good player, there’s no doubt about it, but he has no personality.”
Messi, 28, has lost the Copa America Final twice and one time in the World Cup Final. He won an Olympic gold medal in 2008. Messi missed Argentina’s first game in Copa America Centenario, but he is expected to play in its Friday match against Panama.
Messi passed Maradona, but still sits behind Gabriel Batistuta on Argentina’s all-time scoring list. Messi scored his 50th goal for Argentina in March.
