Maradona hopes Messi can follow in his footsteps

World Cup Group B

Maradona took the tournament by storm 24 years ago in Mexico, scoring five goals – including stunning individual efforts against England and Belgium – and setting up five more en route to helping Argentina claim their second and most recent World Cup crown.

Maradona enhanced his superstar status in 1986, and now the eyes of the world fall on his heir apparent, Messi, to see if the Barcelona magician can do likewise.