Former Scotland Captain Graham Souness Calls Lionel Messi Greatest Player, Surpassing Maradona

Graham Souness, former captain of the Scotland national football team and a prominent British midfielder in the 1970s and 1980s, expressed his conviction that Lionel Messi is the greatest footballer he has ever seen, even surpassing Diego Maradona. Souness, who played five times against Maradona during their careers in Italy, including when Maradona scored his first Serie A goal in September 1984, praised Maradona's magical skills and football intelligence.

Despite his admiration for Maradona, Souness revealed that by 2011, after the Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United, he was already convinced Messi was the best. At just 23 years old, Messi was performing extraordinary feats weekly at the highest level, consistently outplaying world-class defenders. Souness highlighted the difference between great players and geniuses like Zico, Maradona, and Messi as their ability to think several moves ahead on the pitch.

Ahead of the World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina, Souness warned Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel against trying to set traps for Messi, stating Messi can anticipate and embarrass opponents easily. He noted that Messi, now 39, is still striving to defend Argentina's World Cup title, a feat some believed was necessary to complete his career.

Souness emphasized Argentina's advantage due to their combination of creativity and toughness, contrasting England's less technical and less attractive style compared to France or Spain. While acknowledging England's fighting spirit and heart, he stressed they must improve to have a chance against Argentina. The article also references the ongoing World Cup 2026 and the anticipation surrounding the Argentina-England match.