The emotional and stubborn rebel Maradona had no predecessor. Nor is there a successor still.

Measuring Lionel Messi with this yardstick would be a mistake. Just imagine any footballer of this day calling the American President a murderer! At least, no male footballer would dare. Yes, Megan Rapinoe had gone some distance by declaring she would not visit the White House during the times of Donald Trump.

Then why expect so much of Messi? Messi is like that quiet, disciplined first boy of the class. The boy who believes that he will rise not in words, but in deeds. The genius boy who never comes second.  Messi is what we call 'too much perfect'. Can a man be so perfect?

Messi grew up in Spain, in the La Masia Academy. He is an ideal family man with his father, mother and wife. The football at Messi's feet, even as he is 35, means there can always be a goal, as long as it is not cleared, with any number of defence.

Maradona had played 3 World Cups. In 1994, during his 4th, he was ousted on the dope controversy. He was 34 then. This is the 5th World Cup of Messi. Almost on his own, Messi has taken Argentina to the final match.

As Argentina fares so well in the ongoing World Cup, there is chaos and turmoil reigning across Argentina. The country is in an alarming financial crisis. Even their Vice President has been imprisoned for 6 years for a financial corruption of 100 crore dollars. Just a week back. Will Messi comment against the Vice President? Of course not. He is footballer to the last bit, not a politician.

Diego has played 91 matches for Argentina, Messi more than 170.

Hence, like the neighbours take pride in the first boy's performance, Argentina takes pride in Messi. Maradona is a different story. Even to this day, there are churches in Argentina that worship Maradona in place of Christ.

There is only one Lionel Messi, his own yardstick. He is the only stalwart playing fulltime in his last World Cup, creating magic and recreating the Barcelona Age