Milei Hails Messi as Greatest of All Time, Snubs Maradona

Argentina’s President, Javier Milei, has sparked debate among football fans after declaring Lionel Messi the greatest footballer of all time—dismissing the legendary Diego Maradona in the process.

Speaking during an appearance on the podcast Nuera, Milei lavished praise on Messi, calling the Inter Miami star a “superlative player” and revealing that he has always been a devoted admirer—even when the media turned against him.

“I have never in my life seen anyone play like he does,” Milei said. “He is a superlative player. I am a crazy fan of Messi. When all the local media were attacking him, there were videos of me defending him as the best player of all time.”

The president’s remarks are likely to stir mixed reactions in Argentina, where many still idolize the late Diego Maradona, who famously led the national team to World Cup victory in 1986 and is considered a cultural icon.

Messi, once criticised for not matching his club success with international triumphs, silenced critics by guiding Argentina to Copa America victory in 2021—his first major international trophy. He followed that up with wins in the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, delivering the country’s third world title.

In 2024, Messi added another Copa America title to his remarkable career, solidifying his legacy as one of the sport’s true legends.

President Milei’s comments reaffirm his unwavering support for Messi, and reignite the age-old Argentine debate: Messi or Maradona—who is truly the greatest?