Lionel Messi gives Javier Mascherano, Argentina's  captain, a playful kick during practice.
Lionel Messi gives Javier Mascherano, Argentina's captain, a playful kick during practice.

Maradona says he wants Messi to be 'best ever'



JOHANNESBURG // The comparisons will probably never cease. Lionel Messi, the diminutive Argentine magician, will take to the pitch this afternoon at Ellis Park knowing he stands on the cusp of greatness. And yet, irrelevant of how he performs against Nigeria, he cannot rival Diego Maradona, his compatriot and national coach, until he helps his country to win the World Cup.

Messi has in the past 18 months won every honour available to him both personally and with his team, Barcelona. The only winner's medal he lacks is the one he wants the most, yet his performances for his national team have paled in comparison to his exploits in Europe, where he scored 43 goals in 49 games in all competitions last season. It is the task of Maradona, the once mercurial playmaker who lifted football's most sought-after trophy in 1986, to ensure Messi produces on the pitch for Argentina this month. If he achieves that, the final is a very realistic goal. If he fails, both coach and player can expect a bitter backlash.

Messi is already somewhat of a controversial figure in Argentina, loved and loathed in equal measure for his seeming lack of patriotism and the fact he emigrated to Spain while still in his early teens. Maradona meanwhile, having enjoyed deity-like status at home for the past two decades, will see his image irreconcilably tarnished if Argentina fail to meet the country's high expectations. Maradona has faced criticism in the past for his inability to have Messi shine in the blue and white, with some cynics claiming the 50-year-old is deliberately playing the former Newell's Old Boys forward out of position, so he himself remains the country's greatest player.

Such arguments were dismissed yesterday, however, as Maradona claimed if his young protege has a successful World Cup, he will be remembered as the greatest player of all time. "I wish with all my heart for Leo to have a superb tournament and be the best of all time definitively," said the coach from his team's training base in Pretoria. "I'd love Leo to have the same impact [in this World Cup] that I had in 1986. But behind Leo there is a team that supports him, He should be the cherry on the cake."

Messi's chances of emulating his manager will hinge on whether he is allowed to play to his strengths, running with the ball at pace and quickly changing direction. In 1986, in a bid to halt an inspired Maradona, some teams reverted to fouling the playmaker. Yesterday, the coach, sporting a salt-and-pepper beard, called for referees to eliminate such tactics and know the meaning of fair play. "Those who don't want to play football should sit in the stands," Maradona said. "Those who do want to play and who the people want to see play should be able to do so without problems. Fifa has to keep fair play very much in mind. And the referees have to know the meaning of those words."

Obafemi Martins, Nigeria's explosive striker, said yesterday that his team will not fall into the trap of concentrating all their efforts on stopping Messi. "People talk a lot about Messi, forgetting that there are other very good players in the Argentinian team, such as Carlos Tevez and Diego Milito. It's a team game and we also have our own stars for the day," Martins told reporters, @Email:gmeenaghan@thenational.ae

Previous men's records
  • 2:01:39: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) on 16/9/19 in Berlin
  • 2:02:57: Dennis Kimetto (KEN) on 28/09/2014 in Berlin
  • 2:03:23: Wilson Kipsang (KEN) on 29/09/2013 in Berlin
  • 2:03:38: Patrick Makau (KEN) on 25/09/2011 in Berlin
  • 2:03:59: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 28/09/2008 in Berlin
  • 2:04:26: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 30/09/2007 in Berlin
  • 2:04:55: Paul Tergat (KEN) on 28/09/2003 in Berlin
  • 2:05:38: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 14/04/2002 in London
  • 2:05:42: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 24/10/1999 in Chicago
  • 2:06:05: Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) 20/09/1998 in Berlin
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Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

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Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

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Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum

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Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
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Fixtures

Wednesday

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5.30pm: UAE v Italy (Group A)

6.45pm: Russia v Mexico (Group B)

8pm: Iran v Egypt (Group B)

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Nutritional yeast

This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.

Seeds

"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."

Umami flavours

"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".

Onions and garlic

"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."

Your grain of choice

Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."

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