Messi is better than Maradona - Xavi

James Shearman

• Updated: 23 Feb 2022 19:29 GMT
• 3 min read

Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has had his say on comparisons between Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.

The Barcelona legend spoke on the pair in his latest press conference, ahead of his side's trip to Naples.

La Blaugrana take on Napoli at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on Thursday night in the Europa League knockout rounds.

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The first leg, at Camp Nou, finished 1-1, meaning there is everything to play for in the return fixture.

And, given the Catalan giants' struggles in La Liga, winning the Europa League could be their best route into next season's Champions League.

''It’s an honour to play at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. He was a player who moved us all, and continues to do so whenever we watch his videos, even today,'' Xavi told the media.

Napoli renamed the stadium in Maradona's honour after he passed away in 2020, at the age of 60.

''If Messi had not appeared and played we would have said Diego Maradona is the greatest of all time,'' Xavi added.

Messi vs Maradona at Barca

Lionel Messi and Diego Marardona are considered two of the greatest players of all time, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Pele.

And, both made incredible impacts in their time at Barcelona.

Messi spent over 20 years at Barcelona, scoring 474 goals in 520 La Liga matches, before signing for Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

He also won every major honour at the club and will go down as their greatest player, by a long way.

Maradona only spent two injury-riddled seasons in Spain, but his impact on the club was lasting.

Signed for a then world record fee of £5 million ($7.6 million), the 1986 World Cup winner scored 22 goals in 36 league games.

Though, it was the way in which he captivated the Camp Nou crowd that he has gone down in Barca history for.