Argentinian football legend and Ex-Barça star Diego Armando Maradona is full of praise for superkid Lionel Messi after seeing his performance in the Champions League on Wednesday. After yet another outstanding display against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League, in which he ran Asier Del Horno ragged until the Chelsea defender was sent off after only 39 minutes. Maradona himself exclaimed the Barça youngster is his natural successor in the national team:

Lionel Messi is the best footballer in the world and he will be able to occupy my place in Argentinian football. I see a lot of similarities between Lionel and myself. He could be the next Argentinian idol.

Joint Fifa Player of the Century Diego Maradona believes that FC Barcelona wonderkid Leo Messi has all the attributes to inherit his position as the darling of Argentinian football. A long list of promising Argentinian youngsters have been labelled as 'the new Maradona', including such names as Andres D'Alessandro and Pablo Aimar, but all have failed to live up to the monumental legacy of the World Cup winner.

The 18-year-old Messi is expected to be one of the breakthrough stars of the World Cup with his outstanding dribbling skills and Maradona believes Messi is a unique talent in world football:

I've seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentinian football and his name is Messi. He is beautiful to watch - my kind of player in our blue and white jersey. He's a leader and is offering classes in beautiful football. He has something different to any other player in the world.