ZURICH — Michel Platini says Lionel Messi must win a World Cup with Argentina before he can be considered a contender as the greatest player of all time.
Former France star Platini hailed the 24-year-old Barcelona forward as one of the greats after he won his third straight FIFA world player of the year award on Monday.
But unlike Pele and Diego Maradona — the men most often mentioned as the greatest — Messi does not have a World Cup winner’s medal.
Platini said "Messi will always be great with or without (winning) a World Cup — but the World Cup, it’s something special."
Platini, who was European footballer of the year from 1983-85, but like Messi was never part of a World Cup-winning team.
