Ex-Juve centre-back Cannavaro: Diego Maradona is the best.

Juventus legend Fabio Cannavaro: "I respect Messi a lot. For the new generation he is one of the best, but Maradona is different."

Diego Maradona Napoli days will be remembered by many.

Former Juventus and Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro says Diego Maradona is the greatest footballer the planet has seen. The former Italy centre-back is convinced six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi is not on the same level with Maradona. Maradona, 59, had a good spell during his two-year stint at Barcelona as he helped the Blaugranas win the Copa del Rey, Copa de la Liga and Supercopa de Espana glory before moving to Italian side Napoli where he shone and won two Serie A titles, as well as the UEFA Cup, Coppa Italia, and the Supercoppa Italiana. Messi is also seen as a mini-god at the Nou Camp where he has won 10 LaLiga trophies and four Champions League titles amongst other accolades, but he hasn’t had the success Maradona had with Argentina.

"I respect Messi a lot. For the new generation he is one of the best, but Maradona is different because the football was different," Guangzhou Evergrande head-coach Cannavaro told Sky Sports. "They kicked him a lot, but he was always in control and he was tough. "Messi is top, but Maradona is another world. I never compare him with other players. I never saw Pele, but I watched Maradona, for seven years I saw every game. "He's not one of the best, he's the best."

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