Former <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/bhaichung-bhutia-urges-khalid-jamil-to-maintain-consistency-with-indian-football-team-23593992" rel="nofollow">India captain Bhaichung Bhutia</a> rates Diego Maradona above Lionel Messi when it comes to their World Cup performances, but said the 39-year-old would reach the status of the 1986 Cup-winning hero if the South American country defends their title against Spain on Sunday.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Bhutia-a_e.jpg" alt="Bhaichung Bhutia" width="1280" height="720" /> Bhaichung Bhutia
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s difficult to compare. But Maradona single-handedly won the 1986 World Cup which I don&rsquo;t think any player in history has done that,&rdquo; Bhutia told PTI in an interview, when asked to rate Maradona and Messi in World Cups.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Maradona-a_e.jpg" alt="Diego Maradona" width="1280" height="720" /> Diego Maradona
&ldquo;Messi is a great player but he&rsquo;s got a great team around him who really works for him. But Maradona had to work for everybody and also create those goal-scoring opportunities [for himself],&rdquo; Bhutia added.
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Former India skipper Bhaichung Bhutia rates late Argentine great Diego’s World Cup exploits higher than current captain Lionel

‘Messi has a great team, Maradona didn’t’ Bhaichung Bhutia

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Home / Sports / Football / Article / ‘Messi has a great team, Maradona didn’t’ Bhaichung Bhutia

‘Messi has a great team, Maradona didn’t’ Bhaichung Bhutia

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