For decades, Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal and his 'Goal of the Century' in the 1986 World Cup defined Argentine football. However, a shift in public sentiment has occurred following Lionel Messi's leadership in Argentina's 2022 World Cup victory. Many Argentines now regard Messi as having surpassed Maradona's legacy.
Messi's triumph in Qatar, where he scored seven goals and provided three assists, including a brace in the final against France, cemented his status. A 2023 poll by the Argentine newspaper Clarín indicated that 62% of respondents considered Messi the greatest Argentine player of all time, compared to 28% for Maradona.
Maradona, who died in 2020, remains a cultural icon, but Messi's consistency, longevity, and recent international success have shifted the narrative. The article notes that Messi's impact is now seen as more sustained and less controversial than Maradona's, whose career was marked by personal struggles.
This change reflects a broader evolution in Argentine identity, where Messi's humble demeanor and team-first attitude are celebrated alongside his extraordinary skill. The 'Hand of God' is now viewed as a historical footnote rather than the defining moment of Argentine football.
