Boniek Criticizes Guardiola, Ranks Maradona Above Messi
UEFA vice-president Zbigniew Boniek said Pep Guardiola has ruined football in an interview with Corriere dello Sport.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Soccer
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UEFA vice-president Zbigniew Boniek criticized Pep Guardiola in an interview with Corriere dello Sport, saying Guardiola has ruined football. Boniek also said he ranks Diego Maradona above Lionel Messi.
Why it matters
Boniek's remarks, made by a senior UEFA official, add to ongoing debate over possession-based styles versus more direct, vertical play in top-level football. His comparison of Maradona and Messi centers on how foul rules and defensive treatment differed across eras.
Boniek cited 1,788 passes in a single Guardiola-style game as an example of the style he opposes. He is 68 years old and a former Juventus and Roma player, and the source gives no further statistical comparison.
The players
Zbigniew Boniek
Zbigniew Boniek is a UEFA vice-president and former Juventus and Roma player who has long been a prominent voice in European football administration.
Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola is a former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach known for promoting possession-based football and currently manages Manchester City.
The details
Boniek said he prefers vertical teams that move forward and pointed to Lazio and Frosinone in Serie A as examples of more direct play. On Messi and Maradona, he argued that defenders treated Maradona differently than players are treated today, which he said affects how the two should be compared.
Timeline
Boniek's comments were published by goal.com on November 14, 2026.
Season Trajectory
Boniek's criticism joins a wider argument in European football over whether possession-heavy styles pioneered by Guardiola have overtaken more direct, vertical approaches. His comparison also reopens the long-running debate over whether Maradona or Messi is the greatest player of all time.
For fantasy and tactical followers, Boniek's remarks point to a debate over whether possession-heavy or direct styles better suit modern squads. The comments do not change any match schedules, rosters, or contracts.
The takeaway
The debate over possession football versus vertical play remains unsettled, and Boniek's remarks show how era-specific rules shape comparisons between players. Readers following tactical trends can weigh these views against match data.
Further reading
Explore more in the Soccer section for coverage of tactics and player debates.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Goal.
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