http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=838051&sec=global&cc=5901
I wouldn't say Messi is better than Maradona just yet. He is definitely near that level though.
Messi is more effective at club level while Maradona was more effective for Argentina. But i can see Messi emulating Maradona on the World Cup stage one day. He still has a lot of chances to prove it.
Barcelona playmaker Xavi has heaped praise on team-mate Lionel Messi, claiming the Argentinian ace is "indisputably" the world's top player and is even better than his countryman Diego Maradona.
Messi and Xavi have both been shortlisted for the prestigious FIFA Ballon d'Or award, which Messi won last year having finished second in 2008 and third in 2007.
Messi himself has doubts he will retain the award, believing this summer's World Cup will play a big part in the voting - Argentina were beaten 4-0 at the quarter-final stage by Germany, while Spain, who provide seven of the 23-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or, won the tournament.
However, while Messi may not fancy his chances of defending his title, for Xavi there is not a player in the game who can compare with the 23-year-old.
When asked about his own possibilities of winning the Ballon d'Or, Xavi told FIFA: "I'll repeat what I've been telling everybody: I hope that a Spanish player wins it and if not, I hope it goes to my friend Leo Messi.
"He's indisputably the best player in the world, and he's going to win the Ballon d'Or several more times. But in World Cup years the tournament is a big factor, and Andres (Iniesta) and I won it, while La Albiceleste didn't hit the heights expected of them."
Xavi continued about Messi: "A player like him only comes around once every 50 years. The only reason the rest of us have any chance of winning this year is because the World Cup didn't turn out too well for Argentina, because if it had, then it (the Ballon d'Or) would be no contest.
"In my view, Leo is now even better than Maradona was. He's going to be at the very top for many years to come, there's nobody like him.
"He loves taking responsibility, he never hides away. And I've known him since he was a kid, I've watched him develop and I can say that he's tremendously professional and has good people around him. He's got all the ingredients for success."
Xavi feels the only person in the modern game who can compare to Messi is Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, although the Spain international still rates his club-mate above the world's most expensive player.
"Cristiano is an incredible player. That's something you realise when you come up against him and see his speed, strength and his shooting," said Xavi.
"At the moment he and Messi are on another planet, a notch above everybody else, and Leo's a step above the Portuguese. Messi is undeniably the best player in the world."
Xavi, meanwhile, also admitted he might not be as effective in a team like Real Madrid as he is for Barca and Spain.
"Let me say one thing: I depend on my team-mates. My football and my passing would be worthless without my team's help. That's something which is very clear to me," he said.
"Sometimes I start thinking and I look at Madrid for example, who have truly great players, but I'd struggle with them. They play through the middle and I need players who open the play down the flanks, who make diagonal runs, who leave space for me in the centre and who never stop moving."
I wouldn't say Messi is better than Maradona just yet. He is definitely near that level though.
Messi is more effective at club level while Maradona was more effective for Argentina. But i can see Messi emulating Maradona on the World Cup stage one day. He still has a lot of chances to prove it.
No man, they are just pure useless collectively.
Bale
