JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – Lionel Messi has overtaken  Cristiano Ronaldo as the world’s best player and could take  Argentina to the final of the World Cup, coach Diego Maradona  said yesterday.

Touring South Africa to inspect his team’s World Cup base at  Pretoria University and other venues, Maradona was cheered by  construction workers when he visited the huge showpiece Soccer  City stadium in Johannesburg, where the opening game and final  will be played.   “This is a beautiful stadium. I would love to play but my  time has passed,” he said.

Argentina, who have not won the tournament since their 1986  victory inspired by Maradona as a player, will face South Korea,  Greece and Nigeria in the first round.

Maradona pinned his hopes on Barcelona forward Lionel Messi,  current FIFA World Player of the Year. “Today the best player in  the world is Messi, without doubt, and to leave Cristiano  Ronaldo second that means you have to be very, very good.”