Maradona says Messi 'is a great person, but he has no personality'

Many refuse to accept Lionel Messi as Argentina's new Diego Maradona, as they can't overlook how the former left the country to play in Spain at a young age. In their eyes, he doesn't fit the wrong-side-of-the-tracks story Argentinian football is supposed to be about.

Maradona himself appears to be one of those people.

On Thursday, Maradona once again threw shade at Messi, attacking his personality and leadership qualities while participating in a promotional event for Euro 2016 in Paris, France.

"He is a great person, but he has no personality," Maradona said, according to ESPN FC. "He doesn't have the personality to be a leader."

It's not the first time Messi has come under criticism from Maradona. When the native of Rosario, Argentina won the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2014, the 1986 World Cup-winner referred to the decision as a "marketing plan."

That isn't to suggest that there's bad blood between the two. After all, ahead of the 2010 World Cup, for which Maradona was Argentina's manager, he said Messi was "the best player in the world." However, Maradona's words weren't backed up by his actions at the tournament. In La Albiceleste's humiliating 4-0 defeat to Germany, Messi was forced to drop deep and serve as a supply line for Carlos Tevez, who is loved unconditionally by Maradona.

Of course, that should come as no surprise. Tevez is following in Maradona's footsteps at Boca Juniors having returned to La Bombonera to don the club's iconic No. 10. Maradona was present for the homecoming.

Messi, on the other hand, acknowledged in March that he hasn't spoken to Maradona since the 2010 World Cup. He did, though, maintain that he has "a great relationship with him."