Diego Maradona was cited as one of the three undisputed legends of football history in a high-profile GOAT debate aired on 18 June 2024 in Florence, Italy. Former Italy forward Roberto Baggio placed Lionel Messi above both Pelé and Maradona, citing the Argentina captain’s two decades of sustained excellence. Marco Materazzi, meanwhile, doubled down on his long-standing pick: Ronaldo, the Brazilian phenomenon.
What happened in the debate
The exchange took place during a roundtable featuring Italy legends at the Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano. Baggio opened by calling the trio—Messi, Pelé and Maradona—“above the others,” then declared Messi the pick of the day. “As of today, I’d say Messi for what he’s been doing for 20 years, in terms of quality and quantity,” Baggio told reporters. “If I have to pick one, I’ll say his name, but we are talking about three incredible players.”
Materazzi, seated beside Baggio, fired back with his usual choice. “For me, it’s him,” he said, nodding toward Ronaldo. “What he did without two knees, going 150 km/h, nobody has done it. I’m a boomer, but when I watch YouTube, and I see what he used to do, at a time when defenders hit hard, you feel he was Martian—and he really was a Martian.”
Why it matters for Diego Maradona
Maradona’s inclusion in the debate underscores his permanent place in the sport’s pantheon. The Argentine icon, who led his nation to the 1986 World Cup title, remains a benchmark for flair and leadership. Baggio’s nod to Messi’s 20-year run implicitly acknowledges Maradona’s own era-spanning impact, from his Naples peak in the late 1980s to his coaching stints decades later.
The exchange also spotlighted generational divides. Materazzi, who won the 2006 World Cup with Italy, argued that Ronaldo’s physical feats—despite chronic knee issues—set him apart. Baggio, who played in three World Cups and missed a decisive penalty in the 1994 final, framed the debate as a clash of eras rather than a verdict on individual greatness.
What comes next
The debate aired on 18 June 2024 in Florence, part of a broader football roundtable. No formal rankings or polls emerged, but the exchange reignited online chatter over Messi’s legacy versus Maradona’s mythic status. Ronaldo’s name surfaced again as the wild card, a reminder that the GOAT conversation still swings on personal taste as much as trophies.
The roundtable also included Gabriel Omar Batistuta, Ronaldo and Romário, each offering their own takes. Batistuta, the 1990s Argentine marksman, kept his counsel, while Romário—Brazil’s 1994 World Cup hero—listened before weighing in privately. Materazzi capped his remarks with a nod to Cristiano Ronaldo, calling him a worthy rival, but insisted the original Ronaldo remained untouchable.
And the debate itself? It proved one thing: 40 years after Maradona’s Naples days, the GOAT fight still rages, fueled by fresh faces and old grudges alike.