Trump is a cartoon character, Putin is a phenomenon - Maradona ridicules US president and hails Putin

Legendary Argentinian football icon, Diego Maradona, has courted fresh controversy after he US president Donald Trump as a 'cartoon character', who can't be treated seriously, but had good words for Russian president, Vladimir Putin who he also described as a 'phenomenon' who can bring peace to many in the world.

Maradona who visiting Russia made the controversial remarks while speaking to journalists in Moscow on Friday when he was asked for his opinion on the country’s incumbent leader, as well as the divisive American president but did little to hide his views when he said, 

I think that after Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro, Putin – together with [Ariel] Ortega and Evo [Morales], represent the ‘top league” of political leaders.

Putin is a man who can bring peace to many in this world,” he added, describing the Russian leader as “a phenomenon; simply a phenomenon.”

On US President Trump, who he doesn't regard among the top elite, he said: 

For me, he’s more of a comic. He’s like a cartoon to me, if we talk about politics… Every time I see him on TV, I switch the channel,” he added.

Maradona, 56 even went as far to imply that Trump’s presidency could lead the country to war.

Speaking on US dominant force in the international arena, Maradona:

 

“One shouldn’t forget about Russia, China, about North Korea. The US isn’t the county sheriff anymore. We’ll find a gun to match the one they have,” he said.

Insisting that nobody believes war is a good thing he said:

When you see such cartoon characters like Trump, you begin thinking that if such a man takes it into his head we may all become enemies.