Carlos Valderrama enthralls Kolkata with his skill, hails Diego Maradona as all-time greatest

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Kolkata, Sep 9: Carlos Valderrama, the crafty Columbian footballer who took part in three consecutive World Cups in the 1980s, hogged the limelight on Friday (September 8) at the Mohun Bagan ground.

The 56-year old skilled midfielder, who will be participating in an exhibition match next month in Kolkata, took a ball, juggled it, dribbled it, and even scored from a penalty, keeping Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Shilton Paul stranded on the goal line.

Later the Columbian midfielder smiled and said, “I was getting nervous before the penalty-shoot out at this age!”

Valderrama who is in Kolkata with his wife was trapped in the same old comparison between Maradona, Pele and Lionel Messi.

The former World Cupper did not make even minute’s hesitation and commented, “Diego Maradona is my all-time greatest footballer. We are actually contemporary as I have also played the youth level when he was representing Argentina in the under-17 and then at under-19 level.

"He is simply the most amazing footballer I have ever seen. I cannot describe it. Every time I became spellbound while watching his impeccable control over the ball. He could do everything with it. I have never seen such a complete footballer like him,” he added.

On Black Pearl Pele, the Columbian midfielder did not comment much. He said, “I have not seen much of Pele’s matches. So I should not thoroughly explain it. But there is no doubt he is also an all-time greatest.”

According to Valderrama, Argentine star Lionel Messi should not be compared to Maradona and the Barcelona star can be called the best of his time.

He said, “We must not forget how Lionel Messi’s brilliance guided Argentina to the last World Cup final. He also possesses that magical touch with the ball. Cristiano Ronaldo is another terrific striker. But I personally feel that both Messi and Ronaldo can ever be compared to Maradona.”

Asked about his own best match in the World Cup, Valderrama said, “It was against Germany in 1990 World Cup. The match ended in 1-1 draw. I was the skipper of Columbia.”