text: He shouldn't have to.  Why dump all this pressure on him when he's an excellent player in his own right?  Maradona should quit trying to put the "Maradona successor" mantle on people who really don't need it to make their mark.  Messi should be allowed to be "The Messi", not "The New Maradona".\n\nBut I think he'll be better than Maradona was. :)  He won't punch any balls into the net and claim divine intervention, anyway.