Gatti’s Most Controversial Statements
Argentina’s Crazy Goalkeeper Who Loved Ronaldo But Not Messi
Loco Gatti, the former Argentine goalkeeper who passed away yesterday, was always known for his blunt and outspoken opinions. He was a staunch supporter of Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo.
According to reports, Gatti passed away on Sunday at the age of 80 after weeks of hospitalization. The Argentine goalkeeper will not only be remembered as one of the most important goalkeepers in his country’s history but also for his controversial personality and unique views on football analysis. Below, we review some of Gatti’s most controversial statements, especially after his football career ended.
1. “The Chubby Little One”
On November 9, 1980, before a match between Boca Juniors and Argentinos Juniors in the Nacional tournament, Gatti angered Diego Maradona with his comments in an interview: “Do you know what worries me? His physique. I feel that in a few years, he won’t be able to resist the temptation to get fat.” Maradona, furious at the remark, told his coach, Miguel Angel Lopez, before the game: “Miguel, I’ll score four goals against him.” And he did just that. Maradona scored four goals and left the field to the cheers of the fans.
2. “Messi Wasn’t Decisive”
During the 2022 World Cup, Gatti boldly shared his opinion about Argentina’s victory and who played the most crucial role. He first praised Emiliano Martinez: “He saved a vital ball and was decisive in penalties. He was the most impactful player.” Then he praised Angel Di Maria: “The most important player in the attack was Di Maria. He penetrated and created chances for Messi.” But the most controversial part of his statement was: “In my opinion, Messi wasn’t decisive.”
3. “Cristiano Was More Important”
During Cristiano Ronaldo’s final years at Real Madrid, Gatti took the Portuguese side in the eternal Ronaldo-Messi debate: “In recent years, Cristiano has been more important than Messi. He played for bigger clubs, scored more goals, and always challenged himself. You have to say, ‘I am the best player in history,’ but I haven’t heard that from Messi or Maradona. Cristiano says it, and it suits him.”
4. “No One Like Pele”
Despite his admiration for Cristiano, Gatti believed the best player in history was someone else: “I love Cristiano very much, but there has never been and never will be anyone like Pele. Pele was better than Maradona, Cristiano, Messi, Ronaldinho, and Cruyff combined.” Gatti always defended Pele as the greatest player in history and placed him above everyone else.
