Even Maradona thought
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.
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.
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.
The Argentine has scored more World Cup goals - 13 - than his two rivals, though he's played more games. Pele hit 12 goals at the World Cup and Ronaldo has notched eight times. Pele's ratio, though, sees him come out on top again; 0.86 compared to Messi on 0.5 and Ronaldo on 0.36.
Diego Maradona is a GOAT of soccer credited with scoring the best Goal of the Century at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, leading Argentina to victory.
The former French legend once weighed in on the 'greatest of all time' debate, and his comments have resurfaced once again. Zinedine Zidane once weighed in on the GOAT debate and chose Cristiano Ronaldo as the greatest over Lionel Messi.
Pele named two of his former Brazil teammates, Garrincha and Carlos Alberto, and the man who he found himself constantly compared to in later life: Diego Maradona.
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.
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. An ultra-consistent performer, Messi has scored almost 800 career goals for club and country. Maradona, by comparison, scored fewer than 400 career goals.
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.
Lionel Messi has surpassed Diego Maradona as the greatest player of all time after finally winning the World Cup.
"There's no doubt" - Recalling Pele's choice between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Pele was once given the onerous task of choosing between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The Brazilian great picked Argentina captain Messi.
Following is the list of the "FIFA 100" greatest living footballers as nominated by Pelé in March 2004. As of June 2023, Gianluigi Buffon is the only still active player on the list.
Some of the most skilled players in the history of the sport are also some of its most popular ones. Players like Ronaldinho, Ronaldo Nazario, and Zinedine Zidane are a few great examples of it.
Pele, the legendary Brazilian footballer, is considered the football god of all time. No player has won more world cups (3) than him.
Zidane, who won the Ballon d'Or in 1998, smiled when asked if he or Ronaldo was the better player. "I was clearly better. If I have to choose, I choose myself," Zidane said.
The strangest claims ever made by soccer legend Pelé, including saying that Lionel Messi only has 'one skill'
The 41-year-old told Corriere dello Sport, as reported by AS: "The two are very strong. It would be a difficult choice. "If I have to tell you I choose Messi because I've played with him, I've seen him up close and I know that everything he does is for nature, he's not built. It's all movement, all-natural."
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.
Pele is the clear winner in all criteria. His three-time World Cup-winning feat, from four World Cup appearances, is unlikely to be matched. Pele scored a Guinness World Record 1279 goals in 1363 games and also collected the following personal records along the way: Youngest winner of a World Cup.
Maradona, who along with Brazil's Pele is widely held 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," Maradona said in an interview with Fox Sports. "He's Messi when he plays for Barcelona.
Messi has NOT overtaken Maradona as Argentina's greatest player after World Cup win, insists Zanetti. Javier Zanetti has insisted that Lionel Messi has not overtaken Diego Maradona in Argentina's hall of fame after lifting the 2022 World Cup.