‘Messi does not need to win a World Cup, he is already among the football greats’

Dimitris Kontos 7 years ago 2.5k
Lionel Messi during Barceolona's 1-1 draw with Villarreal last Sunday. AFP

Argentinian legend Mario Alberto Kempes has publicly defended the status of Leo Messi as one of the greatest players in history by dismissing the claim that only those who have lifted a World Cup trophy can aspire to be included in the conversation.

Kempes says Messi would sit at the same table (of the all-time football greats) with the likes of Pele, Diego Maradona, Alfredo Di Stefano and Johan Cruyff.

“Messi is already there, he doesn’t need a World Cup,” Kempes said to Argentinian daily La Nacion. “If we include Cruyff and Di Stefano, who also did not win a World Cup, you don’t need to have that trophy in order to be in this company.”

Mentioned in the news story

L. Messi
Barcelona
Argentina
World Cup
S. America WC Qual.