Messi Bids Against the Greatest Goal

• Reuters, Thursday, April 19, 2007 3:24 PM

The real "next Maradona" just stood up, so the countless Argentine pretenders out there may now sit down, and the press can stop crowning them as such. Leo's Messi's goal against Getafe at the Camp Nou Wednesday night was every bit as good as Diego's highly touted winner against England in the 1986 quarterfinals. This one may have been better, even, as Messi started the solo move with a series of nutmegs (possibly the only element missing from Maradona's goal).

Messi this year has proved to be every bit the player the world has expected. He struggled somewhat to regain his form after recovering from injury, but then announced his reemergence in March with a stunning hat trick against Real Madrid. The humble striker agreed that his goal was "similar to Diego's" but added he could "never be compared" to the Argentine legend. Coach Franck Rijkaard called the goal "a work of art," while teammate Deco said it was "the greatest goal I have seen in my life." Getafe coach Bernd Schuster, meanwhile, said "We should have fouled him -- he can't be allowed to reach the area like that."

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