'Messi's the closest player I've seen to Maradona,' Francescoli

Uruguayan football-magician Enzo Francescoli praised Lionel Messi and said “La Pulga” is the closest thing he has ever seen to great Diego Maradona.

“Maradona had speed like no other player. Messi is the closest I've seen to Diego but I would not like to say who is the best ever,” said the former River Plate idol.

“I’ve seen Alfredo Di Stefano, but Messi is different because he has that speed, this is a phenomenon that Diego also had, being the world’s best for nearly 20 years and winning championship after championship.”

Likewise, Francescoli, who has recently interviewed the Barcelona striker, indicated that Messi’s success is based on his focus and determination.

“It stayed with me when he said that he was lucky to have an Argentine background to help him when leaving to go to Europe at the age of 12. He's a mixture of Argentine stock and European mentality, he does things that he's picked up there, and he knows what he does.”