Past plus present: 5 dream striker pairings at the World Cup

#2 Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona (Argentina)

Messi and El Diego

Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona both have a lot in common. Arguably the best players of their generations. Winners of the Golden Ball at a World Cup each. The expectations of the entire nation and fans across the globe on their shoulders. Playing in teams which were built around them to bring out the best in them.

But there is one exigent difference in their World Cup journeys where all that matters is victory. Everything else is academic. In the debate between Messi vs Maradona, the later just edges it out with his 1986 World Cup triumph with Argentina. And if Messi fails to lift the trophy in Russia, it will forever be a blot on his otherwise glorious career.

Things could have been different. In 2014 he led Argentina to the finals with his Golden Ball performance but stumbled in the game that mattered against the Germans. Maradona, on the other hand, revelled at the biggest stage. In the 1986 quarterfinal against England, he first became a villain with his 'Hand of God' goal and then turned it around completely by scoring the 'Goal of the Century' later in the same game. That World Cup will forever be remembered as Maradona's World Cup where he single-handedly won it for his team.

Despite having several star players in the national team, the pressure has always been on Messi to perform. And it seems that occasionally he has succumbed to this pressure like he did in his team's opening game against Iceland in the ongoing World Cup. Perhaps what he needs is another player of his class playing alongside him.

Can you imagine what Messi and Maradona would together do to oppositions? Tear them apart in the blink of an eye.

What positions would they play in? Well, when you have two of the most talented footballers of all time it hardly matters. They can play together anywhere in the front line and mesmerize us all with their skills and goal scoring abilities.

Notable mention - Alfredo Di Stefano: One of the most complete players ever, he is considered to be the greatest player never to have played in the World Cup despite playing international games for both Argentina and Spain.