New Maradona

This article is part of a series about Diego Maradona
Argentine professional footballer International goals The hand of God Goal of the Century Comparisons to Pelé New Maradona Eponyms and public art Estadio Diego Armando Maradona Stadio Diego Armando Maradona Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona Sistine Chapel of Football Films El camino de San Diego (2006) Maradona, the Hand of God (2007) In the Hands of the Gods (2007) Maradona by Kusturica (2008) I Am Diego Maradona (2015) Diego Maradona (2019) Media Maradona in Mexico (2019) Maradona: Blessed Dream (2021) Family Diego Sinagra Hugo Maradona Raúl Maradona Hernán López Related Iglesia Maradoniana "Maradona (kesä '86)" Peter Shilton's Handball Maradona (1986)
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This article is part of a series about Lionel Messi
Argentine professional footballer Career International goals Achievements Rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo New Maradona Eponyms and public art Cougar Dog Liolaemus messii Sistine Chapel of Football Media Messi (2014) Messi (2017) Messi and Maud (2017) Take the Ball Pass the Ball (2018) Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend (2024) Family Antonela Roccuzzo Maxi Biancucchi Emanuel Biancucchi Related Hong Kong v Inter Miami Más+
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New Maradona or New Diego was a title given by the press and public to promising Argentine football players in reference (and reverence) to Diego Maradona as a benchmark. Since Maradona retired, fans had been anticipating someone to lead the Argentina national team to a World Cup final, like Maradona did in 1986 and 1990. As a consequence, very talented youngsters were quickly labeled as the New Maradona (for example Lionel Messi or Juan Román Riquelme), sometimes without any similarity in playing style (such as Franco Di Santo). The New Maradonas were predominantly players in attacking or advanced playmaking roles — forwards, wingers, or attacking midfielders. The term gradually fell out of use after Lionel Messi successfully managed to lead Argentina to World Cup finals in 2014 and 2022, winning it in the latter, arguably emulating and surpassing Maradona to become the most successful Argentine footballer ever.