Guangzhou Evergrande coach Fabio Cannavaro insists Diego Maradona is the greatest of all time.

Cannavaro played for Napoli, where Maradona enjoyed his greatest moments in the club game.

He said, “I respect (Lionel) Messi a lot. For the new generation he is one of the best, but Maradona is different because the football was different. They kicked him a lot, but he was always in control and he was tough.

“Messi is top, but Maradona is another world. I never compare him with other players. I never saw Pele, but I watched Maradona, for seven years I saw every game.

“He's not one of the best, he's the best."