Any player dubbed the 'new Maradona' is bound to face a mountain of expectation. But when the epithet is bestowed by the great man himself most players would crumble under the pressure. Not so Lionel Andres Messi. Since he was a teenager, the Argentine superstar has proved that he is more than a match for his illustrious predecessor.
Barcelona brought the extraordinarily gifted Messi to Spain from Argentinian club Newell's Old Boys in 2000 at the tender age of 13. He proved a phenomenon in Barcelona's famous La Masía youth academy, and it wasn't long before he broke his way into the first team set up.
When he made his debut in October 2004 he became the youngest player to appear in La Liga. He soon developed an almost telepathic understanding with Ronaldinho and just as quickly became an idol of the Nou Camp faithful.
While Messi made his Barcelona breakthrough during Frank Rijkaard's tenure, it is under Pep Guardiola that he has reached truly stratospheric heights. 2011-12 has seen him surpass 60 goals in a Barcelona shirt, becoming the club's all-time leading goalscorer in the process. This year has also seen him win his third consecutive Ballon d'Or award. Never before has a player as young as 24 dominated world football so completely.
As a player Messi is peerless, possessing astonishing awareness, touch, passing and shooting skills. But it is his ability to run at defenders that marks him out as the true inheritor of the Maradona crown.
Indeed, one of his two goals for Barcelona during a Spanish Cup semi-final against Getafe in 2007 bore an uncanny resemblance to Maradona's famous 'goal of the century' against England in the 1986 World Cup. Afterwards the press dubbed him 'Messidona.' So frequently does he score stunning goals, that that famous strike already seems a distant memory.
With Barcelona Messi has won five Spanish league titles, three Champions Leagues and a Copa del Rey to go with a hatful of individual accolades. His relentless goalscoring feats have steered Barcelona through the most successful period in their history.
Leo is also the focal point of the Argentina national team. He has featured for for his country at every major tournament since the 2006 World Cup, and won a runners-up medal at the 2007 Copa América. A World Cup with Argentina is the only major absence his CV, but, at 24, he has time on his side.