Roll over Beethoven -- Maradona blasts Pele

22 March 2012 23:46

Diego Maradona kept up his attack on fellow World Cup winner Pele on Thursday by mocking the Brazilian legend's suggestion that he was the Beethoven of football.

"Beethoven! Never have I heard Beethoven on the pitch. The truth is they must have changed his medication," Maradona was quoted on the Al-Wasl website, the Emirati club which he coaches.

Pele had told the official FIFA website: "I was born for football, like Beethoven was born for music or Michelangelo was for painting."

But Maradona hit back.

"In that case, I am Ron Wood, Keith Richards and Bono rolled into one because I am the embodiment of passion in football."

Maradona also shrugged off comparisons with Argentine compatriot Lionel Messi who this week scored a record-setting 234th goal for Barcelona.

"It's not for me to say who is the best or the worst. I have always said a thousand times to leave Messi in peace," said Maradona.

"Above everything else, the good thing when we talk about Messi and me is that there is a coloured man at FIFA who isn't happy that we are being discussed," he added in another barb at Pele.

Source: AFP