Lionel Messi’s recent meeting with Donald Trump has sparked debate in Argentina after former president Alberto Fernandez compared the political expectations placed on him to those once carried by Diego Maradona.
The discussion emerged as footage circulated online showing Messi interacting with the U.S. president at the White House.
Fernandez used the moment to reflect on how differently modern football stars engage with politics compared to past icons.
Alberto Fernandez compares Lionel Messi’s politicization to that of Diego Maradona
Former Argentine president Alberto Fernandez said expectations placed on modern players often overlook how different their backgrounds and careers can be.
“I have the impression that not everyone has the level of politicization that some of us have,” Fernandez said. “And suddenly we ask football players of a generation where depoliticization is very evident to have attitudes like those of Maradona.”
The remarks referenced the contrast between Messi’s generally private public stance and the openly political personality of Diego Maradona throughout his career.
Maradona frequently spoke about political issues and developed close relationships with several political leaders during his lifetime.
Alberto Fernandez explains the differences between Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona
Fernandez also emphasized that Messi’s upbringing and life path were very different from Maradona’s, which shapes how each figure connects with politics and public issues.
“He [Maradona] had a commitment to his people that perhaps someone who went to live in Spain at the age of 12 does not have. So what? Am I going to criticize him for that? No. They are different realities,” he added.
Messi moved to Spain as a teenager when he joined Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, spending most of his professional career outside Argentina.
Maradona, by contrast, became a powerful cultural symbol in Argentina and often expressed political views that resonated strongly with many fans.
Fernandez suggested those different life experiences help explain why Messi and Maradona have approached politics in very different ways.
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