Messi is above Maradona, believes former Madrid forward, Cassano

According to former Italian forward, Antonio Cassano, Lionel Messi has surpassed the all-time Argentinian star, Diego Maradona, as Argentina's greatest number 10.

Asking Maradona's fans to accept that the Barcelona star, Lionel Messi, is even better than their all-time star, Cassano believes that Messi's consistency over such a long period is the reason why he is the best Argentinian player ever.

Although Cassano left Barca and Messi to join Real in 2006-07 season with whom he won LaLiga title, this has not changed his opinion about his former teammate being the best Argentinian player, even better than Maradona.

"Maradona did something never seen before for four or five years, but Messi has done the same things for 15 years," he said in an interview with Corriere dello Sport.

"He has made 710 goals and 300 assists. When he plays you start with a 1-0 lead.

"The ‘Maradonians’ have to accept it: there is someone who has ousted him."

Cassano revealed that, prior to Messi moving to the top of the list, he believed Brazil striker Ronaldo – a former Madrid team-mate - was the game's greatest.

"We were losing 1-0 at home," Cassano recalled. "The whole stadium was whistling, especially him [Ronaldo].

"In the locker room the coach removes Ronnie to put [Ruud] Van Nistelrooy on, but he [Ronaldo] stops him and says 'no, you take me off in 15 minutes if I haven't scored two goals'.

"Minute 15: 2-1 and two goals from Ronaldo. I said that if there is a football god, it is Ronaldo. Then I discovered that Messi is above him."