sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Rare Footage Of Lionel Messi And Diego Maradona Passing To Each Other Is Incredibly Silky

Rare Footage Of Lionel Messi And Diego Maradona Passing To Each Other Is Incredibly Silky

Messi and Maradona are both Argentine legends.

Daniel Marland

Daniel Marland

Rare footage of Diego Maradona enjoying a passing session with Lionel Messi in Argentina training has emerged.

Maradona tragically died in November 2020 and is widely regarded as one of football's greatest ever players.

He coached the Argentine national team between 2008 and 2010, with a young Lionel Messi being featured in his squad.

Messi saw Maradona as an idol and during one warmup at the 2010 World Cup, they enjoyed a little exchange.


He attempts to pass the ball to a teammate for a simple give-and-go, but Maradona cheekily pokes it away and the duo engage in a mini-drill.

Argentina reached the quarter-finals of that year's tournament before being eliminated by Germany.

Maradona's stint as manager would come to an end shortly after and fans are grateful they got to see him manage Messi in that time.

His influence on the six-time Ballon d'Or winner came in the form of his trademark technique - scoring from free-kicks.

Speaking to LaSexta per Marca back in 2018, former Argentina fitness coach Fernando Signorini recalled an exchange between the pair.

Image
PA

"I started walking to where Diego was, and at the same moment I see Messi place the ball down. He takes three shots and misses all three and turned to us with a look of clear frustration.

"He turns towards the dressing room and I shout 'no' before hugging him and telling him that the best player in the world can't leave a training session like that. Diego arrives and they talk to each other, the world seems to stop at that moment.

"He places the ball in the same place and then gives some very paternal words. He told him not to take his foot off the ball so quickly when he takes a free kick."

The pair have shared a pitch in the past, although not in an official game.

A teenage Messi linked up with a 45-year-old Maradona for an Argentina All Stars team in a charity match.

The likes of Sergio Aguero, Diego Simeone and Juan Sebastian Veron were also involved but it's the link up play between the two incredible 'number 10s' that really catches the attention.

Featured Image Credit: @Elpibedeoro_10/Twitter

Topics: Football News, Football, Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Argentina