Diego
Maradona apparently boasted that his 1986 World Cup-winning Argentina
team was better than the current squad now thrown into turmoil by Lionel
Messi’s departure, in a recording published Wednesday.
Previously critical of Messi, the
55-year-old ex-national captain and 2010 World Cup coach joined calls
this week for him to reverse his decision to retire from the Argentina
national team after a morale crushing penalty shoot-out defeat to Chile
in the Copa America Centenario final.
But in a recording published online by Argentine media, he was heard apparently belittling the side led by Messi.
“Every second that goes by makes us
greater, because we went and played with balls… We didn’t go and play
against Chile. We beat Germany,” Maradona told his old World Cup
teammates in a recorded message to celebrate commemorating the 1986
victory.
“You know what I mean: the difference there is between one team and another.”
Argentina’s congress held a tribute to
the 1986 squad on Tuesday to mark the 30th anniversary of their triumph,
but Maradona did not attend.
Credit: Guardian
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