A timeless football debate was reignited on the latest episode of the Obi One Podcast, as former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel put former England striker Gary Lineker on the spot with one simple but impossible question: if you had to win a game, who would you choose Lionel Messi or Diego Maradona?.
The conversation instantly struck a chord with football fans worldwide, touching on greatness, longevity, and the fine margins that separate legends from immortals. Lineker, who faced Maradona during his playing days, approached the question with caution and deep respect for both icons.
Rather than offering a straight answer, the former England international broke down the debate through context — era, style of play, and the realities both players faced on and off the pitch.
Speaking on the Obi One Podcast shared via its official X handle, Lineker said:
It’d be almost impossible to choose if you took them both at their absolute prime. Now, I think if you ask me who’s the greatest player ever, I think that’s a different answer. You have to take into account the longevity, and also the fact that Diego had his problems off the pitch, which led to him not performing as well as he possibly could on all occasions.
Lineker went on to highlight the brutality Maradona endured during his era, while praising Messi’s vision and intelligence as something almost otherworldly. He stated:
Maradona was kicked up in the air constantly. In those days, you could get away with that sort of stuff. Much easier. I don’t think there’s a better man than Diego… except I don’t know. Messi’s extraordinary passing range — but Messi sees things from above. His vision is just simply outrageous.
Lineker then admitted the debate remains unresolved even in his own mind, acknowledging that both players sit at the very top of football history, he said:
It’s mad, isn’t it? That the best two players I think of — I wouldn’t say all time, because I didn’t see much of Pelé — but you can only really judge players that you’ve seen constantly.
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The discussion comes at a moment when Lionel Messi continues to add to his legendary résumé, having just lifted the MLS Cup with Inter Miami after defeating Vancouver in the final. The triumph also marked the end of an era, with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba announcing their retirement from football shortly after the final.
Meanwhile, SoftFootball earlier reported that the Argentine icon is also visited Kolkata, India, where plans are underway to unveil a 70-foot statue in his honour, a testament to Messi’s global influence beyond Europe and South America.
While Lineker was careful not to dismiss Maradona’s brilliance, his reflections ultimately hinted at a slight preference for Lionel Messi particularly when weighing consistency, vision, and longevity at the very highest level.
The former England striker acknowledged that while Maradona’s peak may have been unmatched in terms of raw magic, Messi’s ability to maintain extraordinary standards over nearly two decades gives him a narrow edge when it comes to choosing someone to win a decisive game.
For Lineker, Messi’s unique vision, passing range, and sustained excellence seeing the game “from above,” as he described it subtly tipped the balance, even if the margins were incredibly fine.
In the end, it wasn’t a definitive verdict, but a gentle lean towards Messi, a reminder that in football’s greatest debate, even legends struggle to separate two once-in-a-lifetime talents.
