'Maradona is light years behind Messi' - Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos has hit back at Diego Maradona by claiming Lionel Messi is the best Argentine player in history.

The Spain captain was responding to the 57-year-old who, earlier in the week, said the Real Madrid defender was not as good as his Atletico Madrid rival Diego Godin.

Ramos, 32, was speaking after Spain’s 1-0 win over Iran at the World Cup on Wednesday and made it clear his Barcelona rival was far superior to Maradona.

"In Argentina, they know that Maradona is light years away from the best Argentine player in history which, for me, is Lionel Messi,” he said.