MELBOURNE, Sept 10 - Lionel Messi has played down
comparisons with Argentina hero and compatriot Diego Maradona
ahead of his country's friendly against Australia in Melbourne
on Tuesday.
Despite the presence of Carlos Tevez, Gabriel Heinze and
Hernan Crespo in Alfio Basile's party for the clash at the
Melbourne Cricket Ground, the diminutive Barcelona forward has
been unwittingly dominating the focus of local media.
Even though Maradona has hailed the roaming playmaker as
the heir to his crown, the 20-year-old insists the comparisons
are premature and misguided.
"I have answered this question so many times around the
world," Messi told reporters through a translator in Melbourne
on Monday.
"There's only ever going to be one Maradona and I feel
honoured to be compared with him.
"I know I am still learning, I'm still young, I'm still
developing as a player and I'm going to keep giving my best for
the national team."
The match had originally been scheduled for June but
Football Federation Australia agreed to a request from
Argentina to postpone the game when they feared they would be
unable to muster a full-strength squad.
Basile will be using the match as preparation for the South
American World Cup qualifying campaign which starts next month.
Australia, the only Asian side to reach the second round at
last year's World Cup, are seeking to regain confidence after a
staid Asian Cup campaign which saw them exit in the
quarter-finals at the hands of Japan after a penalty shootout.
They are without Premier League players Mark Viduka, Harry
Kewell, Tim Cahill and Brett Emerton although West Ham defender
Lucas Neill has been handed the captain's armband by coach
Graham Arnold.
"To lead the team out in a game such as this -- not that it
needs any extra incentive -- is a great responsibility," Neill
said.