Brazil legend Pele has described Barcelona's Lionel Messi as "the most complete player" in the modern game. Per Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Chris Burton of Goal), when quizzed on which current star he would most like to play alongside, the three-time FIFA World Cup winner said: "I think Leo Messi.
Pele Tells Spanish Newspaper He Is the Best Ever, Better Than Ronaldo and Messi | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report.
The debate surrounding the greatness of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo may never reach a consensus. That said, Pele, one of the greatest players to ever step on the pitch, believes the edge goes to the Barcelona and Argentina stalwart. BBC Sport passed along comments from the 74-year-old Brazilian legend.
Along with Messi, Pelé named the players he believed were in the ranks of greats of all time including Ronaldo, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Zinedine Zidane, Zico, and more.
Despite multiple run ins throughout time, Maradona and Pele had a good relationship in which they showed mutual respect.
Messi has 13 World Cup goals compared to Maradona's eight. In terms of overall goals, Maradona has 34 goals for his country, while Messi has scored 97 goals.
Maradona – 34
He scored many goals for the Brazilian team to contribute to their rise to fame. Pele played a total of 92 games for Brazil and scored 77 goals in his career whereas Maradona played a total of 91 games and scored a total of 34 goals.
An analysis of the players' statistics reveals that Ronaldo was labelled the undisputed GOAT of soccer with the most overall goals, Champions League goals, club goals and assists, and international caps and goals.
Born in Dico (now Três Corações), Minas Gerais, Pelé grew up mainly in Bauru, São Paulo, where, inspired by the soccer skills of his father, João Ramos do Nascimento (Dondinho), he excelled at versions of street soccer, peladas, thus acquiring his future nickname.
But their relationship soured in 1982 after Pele criticized Maradona when he was sent off for stamping on a Brazilian in a World Cup tie in Spain. From then on, they spent decades criticizing each other and then making up, with the praise as sincere as the insults.
Ronaldo has scored a record number of international goals and appearances, but Messi has won more Ballon d'Or awards (7). Messi has spent most of his playing career in Spain and France, while Ronaldo has played in Portugal, England, Spain, and Italy.
Cristiano is an incredible professional. I think at this present time he is right up there at Messi's level. It's not the case that Messi is better than Ronaldo or Ronaldo is better than Messi. I think they are at the same level.
Maradona, who along with Pele is widely considered to be one of the best players of all time, said Messi was one player at his club Barcelona and another with the national side. "We shouldn't deify Messi any longer," he told Fox Sports. "He's Messi when he plays for Barcelona.
Pele won the World Cup three times, in 1958, 1962 and 1970, a football milestone no other player has yet achieved. In 2000, Fifa named Pele as the player of the century along with Argentina's Diego Maradona, who died in 2020 at 60.
Pele, the legendary Brazilian footballer, is considered the football god of all time. No player has won more world cups (3) than him.
Neymar is Brazil's third-highest scorer of all time and well on pace to beat the records of Pele and Ronaldo. The former is the all-time leader with 77 goals, 17 more than Neymar. On the club level Neymar already ranks among the nation's greats.
Ronaldinho taught me a lot and [Diego] Maradona taught me a lot. But the most important thing is to keep training."
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele, was a football pioneer. He has passed away at the age of 82 after a battle with cancer.
Pelé began playing for Santos at age 15 and the Brazil national team at 16. During his international career, he won three FIFA World Cups: 1958, 1962 and 1970, the only player to do so and the youngest player to win a World Cup (17). He was nicknamed O Rei (The King) following the 1958 tournament.
According to the Spanish publication, Ronaldinho stated that Messi is the greatest player the sport has to offer: "He is the best in the world, and there's nothing more to be said."
GOAT, as a word used in reference to “Greatest of All Time,” had its origin in an expected place: Muhammad Ali. In Sept. 1992, Lonnie Ali, Muhammad Ali's wife, incorporated G.O.A.T.
Pelé's electrifying play and penchant for scoring spectacular goals made him a star around the world. He led Brazil to three World Cup football (soccer) championships (1958, 1962, and 1970). He scored 12 goals in World Cup play and tallied more than 1,000 goals in first-class matches.
Mbappe tops the league scoring charts with 13 goals and Messi is tied with PSG teammate Neymar for the most assists (10). Mbappe is co-top scorer in the Champions League with seven goals, while Messi again heads the assists chart with four.
In the eyes of many, Messi is the greatest footballer of all time - above Maradona, Pele and the rest. A seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, Messi has produced countless moments of genius throughout his illustrious career with Barcelona, Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain.