Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has explained why he rates Diego Maradona ahead of Lionel Messi.

Rummenigge, now honorary president of Bayern Munich, was very clear yesterday when asked, after the Champions League match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Napoli (0-2), whether he prefers Maradona as a footballer or PSG star Messi.

Speaking to Il Corriere dello Sport, the former German international responded openly: "Between Maradona and Messi, I choose Diego.

"He was always beaten by his rivals." And he immediately justified his statement: "Leo is protected by rules and referees."