Soccer: Maradona believes Messi could be the best

Never mind Wayne Rooney - one world football icon feels a little Argentinian will be the player of the World Cup, while a top Premiership coach thinks it will be an England midfielder.

Diego Maradona is a big fan of England striker Rooney but believes it is the heir to Maradona's throne, Lionel Messi, who has the capacity to become the best player in the world. Maradona lifted the World Cup for his country in 1986 as his cunning and brilliance knocked England out in the quarter-finals en route to victory over West Germany in the final.

And the man who has seen many youngsters hailed as his successor rates the two most exciting prospects in world football very highly. Asked about Rooney - before his broken foot - Maradona said: "I like him. He's got character, he's got strength and he uses his butt!

"But Lionel has all the necessary qualities to be the best in the world. I hope it happens for him because he is a great lad and handles himself really well.

"He had his problems as a boy but he's got his head screwed on right. Now he has got to have the head to believe that he can grab the world," he added.

Maradona believes England have a side strong enough to win the World Cup this year - albeit speaking before Rooney suffered the foot injury which has put his participation in the finals in doubt. The former Barcelona and Napoli star rates his own country's chances less highly.

"As ever, I think England are well positioned and I'm not just saying that as a compliment to the English. England has a good team, perhaps even stronger than those of previous World Cups. Because of the experience which members of their team have, they may very well win it.

"For Argentina, it's going to be hard, very hard. You have to give your all for one month and it depends on how Argentina plays. Argentina is going to have to battle it out and it's going to have to battle it out with Brazil. They, too, are very strong."

But the player who can win the World Cup for England, with or without Rooney, is Steven Gerrard, says Liverpool manager, Rafa Benitez, who believes that the marathon season undergone by his captain has turned him into "the complete player".

Gerrard, determined to keep Liverpool in with a chance of second place after Manchester United's defeat at Chelsea, beat Aston Villa by himself, racing around with such a spring in his step, it was hard to believe it was his 51st appearance in a campaign that began last July.

The two goals he scored took his tally for the season to 21. The goals - one from six yards, the other from nearing 30 - were an expression of the wonderful range of Gerrard's football.
But he could always strike a ball well. What makes him a better player now - and might make him England's trump card, said Benitez - is what has happened inside his head.

"He is thinking about the game more now," Benitez said. "He was always playing with the head but now he uses the brain."

Benitez feels Gerrard has the potential to be the major influence in Germany - provided his talents are not restricted by the role he is given.

"He can play in a holding role," Benitez said. "But he likes to go forward. He can shoot from out of the box, he can get into the box and score from corners. He has pace, he has power, he is good with the ball, good without it. He is a complete player. He has everything you need to win games, to win trophies, maybe to win the World Cup."

- INDEPENDENT