"He is a great person, but he has no personality," Maradona said, per ESPNFC.com. "He doesn't have the personality to be a leader." Messi, 28, is one of the most prolific forwards in the sport's history. To some, he has already unseated Maradona as the greatest
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.
Like countless other young Argentines, Lionel Messi grew up idolising Maradona. Over the years, it was evident that despite their contrasting personalities, there was mutual respect, even if there was no 'friendship'. Maradona in fact had once famously said - "He (Messi) doesn't have the personality to be a leader.”
Even Maradona thought Pele was the greatest soccer player of all time | Marca.
Maradona would praise Messi publicly while simultaneously criticising him, leading to a relationship that was based more on mutual respect and admiration than friendship.
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.
However, the two feuded over the years with their rivalry including Maradona accusing Pele of being homosexual, arguments over Lionel Messi and shots at each other's playing style. The world is in a state of grief after the Brazilian legend died on Thursday at the age of 82 - two years after Maradona lost his life.
"If I had to decide, for my team, I'd start Messi," Pelé said. 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.
24 Mar / autty. Brazilian legend Pele says Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world, and that he is the greatest player in history.
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.
Christian Pulisic, who made his name at Borussia Dortmund as a precocious teenager, is another player who idolizes Lionel Messi. The 22-year-old, one of the most recognizable American footballers in Europe, won the Champions League with Chelsea last season.
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.
Maradona was half-joking, but it's fair to say he thought he was the best player that had ever lived - not Ronaldo. The Argentine was complimentary of Ronaldo later on in the interview. "[He's] Marvellous," Maradona continued. "The definition.
Pele, the legendary Brazilian footballer, is considered the football god of all time. No player has won more world cups (3) than him.
If you were compiling a league table of the all-time greats, Maradona would be 30 points clear at the top. In second would be Pele, followed by Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. It's difficult to explain to those who have seen only YouTube clips just how good Maradona was.
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.
Ali too came into the locker room and as the two legends hugged, a reporter asked Ali what he thought of Pele. “I don't know if he is a good player, but I am definitely prettier than him!” Once the laughter subsided, Ali would say, “Now, there are two of the Greatest!”
Pelé holds the record for the most hat-tricks scored by a Brazilian player, with 7. One of those hat-tricks was scored in the 1958 World Cup semi-final against France; he later scored a brace against Sweden in the final in which Brazil won with a 5-2 result.
Leo Messi is arguably the best football player in the world. He won the 2022 Football World Cup and 2021 Copa America for Argentina. He has won the Ballon d'Or for a record seven times.
Diego Armando Maradona received the Golden Ballon d'Or, which also honoured players from outside of Europe, in 1995.
1950s: Alfredo Di Stefano.
Pele Tells Spanish Newspaper He Is the Best Ever, Better Than Ronaldo and Messi | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report.
Lionel Messi has surpassed Diego Maradona as the greatest player of all time after finally winning the World Cup.