Maradona: Messi doesn't need title to cement greatness

Lionel Messi does not need a World Cup winners' medal to be considered among soccer's all-time greats, fellow Argentine Diego Maradona said on Tuesday.

"Messi doesn't need to win the World Cup to be the best player in the world," said Maradona, who led Argentina to the title in Mexico in 1986.

"If he did it would be great for Argentina, the fans and for Lio, but (winning) a World Cup or not won't take away any of his achievements up to now to be among the greatest."