Argentina coach Diego Maradona admits he would love to see Lionel Messi make the same impact on this World Cup as he himself did back in 1986.

Maradona took the tournament by storm 24 years ago in Mexico, scoring five goals - including stunning individual efforts against England and Belgium - and setting up five more en route to helping Argentina claim their second and most recent World Cup crown.

It was one of the greatest showings the finals have ever seen and, although he failed to score in the 3-2 final win over West Germany, it was fitting that it should be Maradona who lifted the World Cup trophy.

Maradona enhanced his superstar status in 1986, and now the eyes of the world fall on his heir apparent, Messi, to see if the Barcelona magician can do likewise.

"I would love to see that," said Maradona. "I certainly would appreciate it if he could have the same impact on the World Cup that I had in 1986, the same leading role that I had then.

"But behind Lionel there is a whole team backing him up and he should be the cherry on the cake.

"I just hope from the bottom of my heart that Lionel gets to show what he can do and that he has the best performance of all time."

Argentina fitness coach Fernando Signorini had voiced concerns earlier this week that Messi was still feeling the after-effects of a gruelling season with Barca, but after yesterday's training session all 23 squad members were deemed fit for duty ahead of tomorrow's World Cup opener against Nigeria.

Maradona also eased any fears about Messi's health, but admits there is no certainty that the leading players will always be at the top of their game.

"(Barca coach Pep) Guardiola would take the other people off the pitch, Xavi, etc...and he wouldn't take Messi off, so he has played 63 matches, but Messi knows very well that he can make the difference and create chances," said the former Barcelona, Napoli and Boca Juniors star.

"But this is what a World Cup is all about, there's little margin for error and there is no guarantee that the players will always be at their best."

Messi is likely to find himself the centre of attention during the World Cup and opponents know they will have to keep an extra special eye on the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year.

Maradona hopes that does not mean teams will cross the line in terms of their approach to dealing with either the diminutive playmaker or any other players, though, and called on FIFA to ensure fair play.

"Those looking for fair play shouldn't stand alone, let's really look for fair play and referees should understand what fair play is," he said.

"When fair play started in 1990, I got a kick from a guy against Cameroon that nearly took my head off and we had (Claudio) Caniggia getting a yellow card for something little.

"We've been through that but we want to see good football, we want to have fair play in matches, we want to enjoy this World Cup.

"I think FIFA must definitely look for fair play. If you don't want to play clean football then go up into the stands. People want to see football and we want people to watch football peacefully, without violence."

Maradona looked in relaxed mood at today's press conference in Pretoria, at one point complaining tongue-in-cheek to a reporter that he was made to look bad in photographs taken of him this week.

Maradona also admitted he was much calmer going into this tournament than when he was a player - largely due to the squad at his disposal in South Africa.

"I was much more nervous as a player. I was telling (Javier) Mascherano yesterday that I had sweaty palms, I was wondering how I was going to play, I was trying to save energy while I was playing..." the 49-year-old said.

"I live it just as intensely today but I'm not as nervous because I completely believe in the 23 players that I have. I'm going to live or die with these 23 players.

"We've planned together, we train together, we speak together. I know what the people back home are expecting and feeling. Tomorrow I believe we will start building towards a dream. Many of us cherish this dream and this dream had not come true for quite some time.

"It's great what we have. We are proud, we're happy, and I think we've had good preparation. These 23 players, these monsters, these fighters, give me great peace of mind when I see them, which I've never felt before."