World Cup 2010: Maradona: Messi And Tevez Finest In South Africa

  Argentina national coach Diego Armando Maradona has declared that he has not seen a single player at this World Cup that can come anywhere near his attacking duo Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez.

"Not even 30 per cent, at this World Cup I have not seen not even one who is 30 per cent of Messi. I do not know if tomorrow I will be called arrogant, but not even one who is 30 per cent of Tevez either," he told La Nacion.

"Because Carlitos moves you when he is playing, do you understand? And I love my team."

Messi has been the subject of criticism in some quarters for allegedly not giving his all for his national team, but Maradona believes the Barca player is fully commited to La Albiceleste.

"I am thankful to Leo, because Messi is how he is because he wants to be like this. He is fine, he is happy, he is enjoying it, he wants to play, he asks me to play," Maradona added.

"To everyone who said Messi did not sing the national anthem and was sad: Guys, who likes to lose? And we were losing in the qualifiers.

"Making Messi happy is everyone's pride, including his team-mates'. Because today you see Messi pulling a joke on [Javier] Pastore, on [Ariel] Garce and he has never met them before in his life.

"And he talks to Veron and I spy on them: la Bruja is an intellectual of football, because he knows much more of football than Leo, but they start talking about it and the b*st*rd answers back."

The Argentina coach has confessed to having had a chat with Messi in which he stated the diminutive winger will have a free role in his team.

"I never believed in a static Messi. I want him to feel close to the ball because that gives us the possibility of making counter-attacks, creating chances or making assists," he said.

"I told Messi that no one told me where I had to play. Therefore, I could not tell Messi where he had to play. He had to decide to play where he wanted to play.

"He was a big man already and he had to say 'this ball is mine'. Guys, the one to know it best is me. I did it when I was his age. Now it is up to him. I did not say anything more than that."