Lionel Messi on Maradona: 'He does not leave because Diego is eternal'

The Barcelona star remembers his fellow Argentine legend after his death aged 60

Maradona's 'hand of God' goal against England and Peter Shilton in 1986. Bongarts

Football legend Diego Maradona poses alongside the Fujairah FC logo designed by Ms Al Kendi Fujairah Football Club. Courtesy Fujairah Football Club

Fujairah manager Diego Maradona talks to his Fujairah squad during a training session in November 2017. The National

Diego Maradona holds up the World Cup after Argentina beat West Germany 3-2 in the 1986 World Cup final at the Atzeca Stadium, in Mexico City. Shutterstock

3 Apr 1996: Soccer star Diego Maradona juggles a soccer ball in the ring at the end of a charity boxing match against Falucho Lacier, former WBA Flyweight world champion at the General Paz Junior's Club in Cordoba, Argentina. Getty

Former Argentinian soccer player Diego Armando Maradona, during a game at the Juan Carmelo Zerilo stadium, in La Plata, Argentina, 09 February 2020. EPA

Argentinean soccer legend Diego Maradona shows his skills after the Ajax vs Boca Juniors soccer match during the Amsterdam four-team soccer tournament in the Arena stadium in Amsterdam on Sunday, 31 July 2005. EPA

Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona cheers his team Boca Juniors after winning the Copa Sudamericana soccer final against Mexico's Pumas Unam at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Sunday, 18 December 2005 EPA

Diego Maradona of Argentina is confronted by a posse of Belgium defenders during 1982 Wold Cup in Spain. Allsport

Maradona, head coach of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, gestures before a match in November, 2019. Getty

Argentina coach Diego Maradona plays with school kids at the Kgotlelelang primary school on January 19, 2010 in Shoshanguwe, Pretoria. AFP

Maradona washing his hair after a match in 1980. Allsport

Maradona resting with his feet up at home in 1980. Allsport

1986 World Cup winner Diego Maradona. Bongarts

Gimnasia coach Maradona in February, 2020. Getty

Maradona smokes a cigar as he watches the World Cup match between Argentina and Iceland at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow in 2018. AFP

Diego Maradona celebrates Argentina's goal against Italy in the 1990 World Cup semi-final. Action Images

Mexican second division club Dorados's coach Maradona in 2018. AFP

Cuban President Fidel Castro with Maradona during the recording of Maradona's TV programme "The 10's Night" in Havana, 26 October 2005. AFP

Argentinian footballer, Diego Maradona, in April 1978. Getty

Maradona answers questions during a press conference in Buenos Aires in 2005. AFP

Argentina's 1994 World Cup captain Diego Maradona after Argentina a goal against Greece. AFP

Diego Maradona with Marwan Bin Bayat, chairman of Dubai club Al Wasl, in 2011. AFP

Diego Maradona, head coach of Argentina, at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Getty

Diego Maradona of Seville in action during January 1993. Allsport

Maradona poses with his wife Claudia and two daughters Giannina and Dalma at his 35th birthday in Buenos Aires. AFP

Maradona juggles a ball surrounded by his wife of Claudia, daughters Dalma and Giannina, Serbian producer Maja Kusturica, Dunja Kusturica and Serbian director Emir Kusturica as he arrives to attend the screening of the documentary film 'Maradona by Kusturica' at the 61st Cannes International Film Festival on May 20, 2008. AFP

Maradona is greeted by schoolchildren during his visit to Kgotlelelang School at Winterveldt in South Africa in January, 2010. Getty

Maradona poses in front of his statue at the Boca Juniors Museum in, Buenos Aires in 2006. AFP

Maradona balances a soccer ball on his head as he walks off the training ground after a session with Argentina in 1986. AFP

Maradona shows his support for Argentina prior to the 2018 World Cup match against Nigeria. Getty

Argentina striker Lionel Messi celebrates with coach Diego Maradona at the 2010 World Cup. AFP

Maradona receives the keys of the Colombian city Cartagena from mayor Alberto Barbosa in 2005. AFP

Maradona signs autographs in Havana, Cuba, in February 2000. AFP

Argentina's 1994 World Cup captain Diego Maradona after Argentina a goal against Greece. AFP

Maradona dances with Italian Angela Panico during the TV show "Ballando con le stelle" in Rome in October 2005. AFP

Argentina coach Maradona during a press conference in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires in 2009. AFP

Pope Francis meets Maradona in Rome in 2014. Getty

President of Gimnasia y Esgrima Gabriel Pellegrino and Diego Maradona during his presentation as new coach in September, 2019. Reuters

Maradona sitting in a bedroom with his daughters in Italy in 1989. Getty

German great Karl Heinz Rummenigge with Maradona. Kicker

Argentina captain Maradona celebrates on the shoulders of teammates after they had beaten Russia 3-1 to win the 1979 World Youth Championships in Tokyo. Getty

Maradona holds a Aurora shirt during the inauguration of the Club Aurora football School in Bolivia in March, 2004. AFP

Maradona with United Al Wasel officials following a press conference in Dubai in June, 2011. AFP

Maradona, coach of Al Wasl, with his mother Dalma in 2011. AFP

Maradona is overcome with emotion during an event in his honour at the "La Bombonera" stadium of Boca Juniors in 2001. AFP

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez jokes with Maradona during the "People's Summit" rally in 2005. AFP

Maradona celebrates his 51st birthday with Al Wasl in 2011. AFP

Al Wasl coach Maradona with his son in law, Manchester City's Sergio Aguero (C), and his grandson Benjamin in 2012. AFP

Maradona poses on stage ahead of the 2018 World Cup draw at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow in 2018. AFP

Napoli' supporters wave a flag bearing a portrait of Maradona during a Serie A match in 2013. AFP

Maradona hands the honorary "Ballon d'Or" award to his wife Claudia, as former soccer great Alfredo Di Stefano looks on. AFP

Maradona juggles a ball in the ring at the end of a charity boxing match against Falucho Lacier, former WBA flyweight world champion, at the General Paz Junior's Club in Cordoba, Argentina, in 1996. Allsport

A young Maradona (centre) with his family on a beach in 1970. Allsport

Maradona playing for Barcelona in 1982. AFP

A relaxed young Maradona (l) has a drink. PA

Raffaele Di Fusco, Massimo Crippa, Maradona, Francesco Romano and Giuliano Giuliani of Napoli celebrate with the trophy after the UEFA Cup Final against Stuttgart in 1989. Getty

Maradona plays against his compatriot Juan Martin Del Potro in Dubai in 2013. AFP

Argentina's coach Maradona embraces his father Diego at the end of a training session in Buenos Aires in 2009. AFP

Gimnasia coach Maradona on the balcony of Government House after a meeting with President of Argentina Alberto Fernandez in 2019 in Buenos Aires. Getty

Maradona greets supporters in front of a hotel in Athens in January 2004. AFP

Maradona wipes the lens of a television camera during a celebration for his wife's birthday at a hotel in Havana in January, 2000. AFP

Maradona controls the ball as he poses during a photocall for Serbian director Emir Kusturica's film 'Maradona by Kusturica' at the 61st Cannes International Film Festival in 2008. AFP

Maradona backstage with Queen on The Game Tour in Buenos Aires, 1982. Wikimedia Commons

Maradona being carried by fans after winning the 1981 championship with Boca Juniors in 1981. AFP

Diego Maradona turns 60 on October 30, 2020. Action Images

Maradona at the 1994 World Cup in the USA. Action Images

Diego Maradona is gone but will never be forgotten, according to Lionel Messi.

The Argentine pair are regarded by many as the greatest footballers of all time, and after Maradona's death at the age of 60, Messi penned an emotional tribute.

"A very sad day for all Argentines and for football. He leaves us but does not leave, because Diego is eternal," he wrote in an Instagram post.

"I keep all the beautiful moments lived with him and I wanted to take the opportunity to send my condolences to all his family and friends. RIP."

Maradona died of a heart attack at home in Tigre, Argentina, where he was recovering following recent brain surgery.

Unlike Messi, Maradona experienced success on the international stage, as he inspired his nation to World Cup glory in 1986 when they beat West Germany in the final.

He provided two of the most memorable moments in World Cup history along the way with his Hand of God goal and incredible dribble - both against England in the quarter-final.

Maradona later managed Messi at the 2010 World Cup. Before the tournament in South Africa, he said Messi was "playing a kick-about with Jesus", and also said "Messi is better than me at World Cup '86. He's the best player in the world and better by far compared to others".

However, the pair were unable to experience success, and Messi failed to register a single goal despite Argentine reaching the quarter final where they were beaten 4-0 by Germany.

Messi has also spoken fondly of Maradona before.

"Even if I played for a million years, I’d never come close to Maradona," he said in 2010.

"Not that I’d want to anyway. He’s the greatest there’s ever been."

He also revealed the self-belief that Maradona gave him.

"The truth is that Maradona has always been very nice to me, even before he was our coach and I took my first steps as a professional," Messi told CNN in 2010.

"Now that I have him as a coach, he's even more close and he gives me a lot more of his confidence than he did before."

He added: "At first, it was strange to have him as our coach. The truth is he was a little imposing.

"But afterwards, we started getting used to him and he's been our coach for a while, so now it's normal. Also, he's really close to the players, he's one of the guys, so there's no problem."

Maradona played 91 times for Argentina, scoring 34 goals - the last of which came in 1994. Messi meanwhile has now made 142 appearances for his country, scoring 71 goals.

A fan cries as she pays homage to Maradona at Argentinos Juniors' Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in La Paternal, Buenos Aires, in November. AFP

Football fans surround the hearse carrying the coffin of Diego Maradona as it arrives at a funeral parlour in Buenos Aires. AP

A father and daughter mourn as they gather by the Buenos Aires Obelisk to pay homage to Maradona. AFP

People gather to mourn the death of football legend Diego Maradona, outside the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Reuters

A fan mourns the death of Diego Maradona, outside the Alberto J. Armando "La Bombonera" stadium, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Reuters

A fan mourns the death of Diego Maradona, at the Marcelo Bielsa stadium, in Rosario, Argentina, Reuters

Fans hold a vigil for Maradona outside the stadium of Argentinos Juniors, where he started as a professional footballer, in Buenos Aires. AP

A boy touches a mural of Maradona outside the Argentinos Juniors stadium. AP

Ffans carry a banner of Maradona in downtown Buenos Aires. AP

A man wearing a shirt with the face of Maradona cries outside the stadium of the Argentinos Juniors. AP

A sign reaing "Thank You Diego' hangs at the gate of the presidential palace in Buenos Aires. AP

Fans pay tribute to Maradona after the news of his death was announced in Buenos Aires. Getty

Fans cry for Maradona after the news of his death, Getty

Supporters gather at the door of the judicial morgue, in the town of San Fernando. EPA

Police guard at the door of the judicial morgue, in the town of San Fernando, Buenos Aires province. EPA

A fan with a Maradona face mask and motorcycle helmet at La Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires. Getty

People gather to mourn the death of Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona outside San Paolo stadium in Naples, Italy. Reuters

People gather to mourn the death of soccer legend Maradona, outside the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, in Buenos Aires. Reuters

Fans gather at Obelisk of Buenos Aires to mourn and pay tribute to Maradona. Getty

The back window of a car displays 'So long, God'. Getty

Fans gather to pay tribute to Maradona at the entrance of his former house in the corner of Segurola and Habana in Buenos Aires. Getty

A fan lights a candle to pay tribute to Maradona at the entrance of his former house in Buenos Aires. Getty

Tributes to Maradona at the entrance of his former house in Buenos Aires. Getty

Independiente's coach Lucas Pusineri wears a black armband in memory of Maradona before a Copa Sudamericana match against Uruguay's Fenix in Montevideo, Uruguay. AP

The Beira-Rio stadium with the colours of Argentina in tribute to Maradona in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Reuters

A fan holds a jersey reading 'Today football died' as fans gather to pay tribute to Diego Maradona at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Getty

Fireworks are let off and a screen displays the No 10 as a tribute to Maradona at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Getty