Ex-Super Eagles coach on Messi vs Maradona – “Messi is perhaps even better”

Former Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has placed Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi above Diego Maradona, Soccernet.ng exclusively reports.

Rohr, who led the 2013 AFCON champions to a World Cup match against Argentina where they lost 2-1, has said that Messi is “perhaps even better” than the man he once played against.

Now coach of Benin, Rohr spoke to Soccernet.ng after his side lost 3-0 to Argentina in Buenos Aires in Messi's final international. Messi set up the first two goals, for Nicolás Otamendi and Nico Paz, then converted a penalty to finish with 208 caps and a record 126 goals. Rohr also revealed he took a Messi jersey from the 2018 World Cup against Nigeria to the game so that the Argentina captain could sign it.

Messi vs Maradona

Rohr said he has the credentials for the comparison, having faced Maradona during his own playing career.

“I played personally against Maradona, sometimes with Bordeaux, and Maradona was already a fantastic player. Messi is perhaps even better,” he said.

He said the sight of Maradona's statue the day before the game brought the comparison to mind. “When we trained the day before the match at the Boca Juniors stadium, we saw the statue of Maradona. Messi and Maradona are really among the greatest players we ever had in our football.”

Rohr said Messi stands apart because of what he has built away from the pitch. “Messi is different because his life is a success too, and his family is wonderful. We couldn't speak with Lionel yesterday, but I have his signature, and that is already a success.”

A jersey from 2018, signed eight years later

Rohr said the meeting was personal because the two had faced each other when he was in charge of the Super Eagles at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“Yes, we played with Nigeria eight years ago in Russia against Argentina,” he said. “It was a great match, but in the end we lost 2-1, and we had Lionel Messi who scored the first goal for his team.”

Messi gave Rohr his shirt after that game but did not sign it. Rohr took it to Buenos Aires so the Argentine could finish the job. “After this match, he gave me his jersey. He didn't sign it in 2018, so I brought it yesterday to the match in Buenos Aires, and he signed it for me.”

He said the moment will stay with him. “So this historic moment is great. We will always think about this and have a wonderful memory of this big player, a humble, fantastic human being and, of course, an icon in football.”

Rohr believes Messi has shown younger players how to do it. “I think he will leave football for his country, not for his club. He's really an example for our young players: how to play technically, and what your attitude should be on the pitch and off it.”

Nigerian link in the Benin squad

Rohr also spoke about the Nigerian connection in his current squad, and how it has helped Benin.

“We have some players in our team who were born in Nigeria, especially Olaitan [Junior], who plays at Besiktas, and they did well,” he said.

He went on to name two more, forward Joseph Ede Oloko of Liepaja, who came through Nigeria's 36 Lion FC academy, and Wydad Casablanca winger Junior Olugbade. “They're doing well,” Rohr said.

He said the closeness of the two countries makes the exchange natural, and that the language mix in the dressing room is part of the job. “It's very close to Nigeria, Benin. And we have some players who speak better English than French, but it is interesting to work with them.”

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