PELE SAYS THAT after years of Lionel Messi “dominance,” Cristiano Ronaldo must now be regarded as the finest footballer on the planet — but added that the future belongs to Neymar.
Barcelona ace Messi won four successive Ballon d’Or awards between 2009 and 2012 but Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo has claimed the last two, sparking fresh debate over who is the greatest player in the game today.
Pele feels that the Portuguese has overtaken his Argentine rival in recent seasons but says that Messi’s 22-year-old Barca team-mate Neymar will soon be No.1.
“Now, after several years of Messi dominance, the best is Cristiano,” the Santos icon told L’Uomo Vogue.
“The future will smile on Neymar. He can be the key man at Barcelona and help Brazil to return to its rightful place in the rankings.”
Meanwhile, Pele admitted that he can see no reason why he would not have thrived in the modern game, despite all of the advancements and changes football has seen since the 1960s and 70s.
“I’d find myself at ease on the field today,” the former forward stated. “It’s not high-tech footballs that make a footballer, but talent and dedication.”
Despite having won three World Cups during his illustrious career, Pele admitted that he does have a couple of regrets from his playing days.
“Never having partaken in the Olympic games is one,” he added. “And never having played at Wembley.”
Aul Pele talks a lot of shi*#e most of the time in fairness
Dementia must be setting in
Pele before the 1994 World Cup: ‘Watch Columbia’(They were on the first plane home), ‘An African Nation will win the world cup before the end of the century(Not sure he realised there was only one more world cup between 1994 and the end of the century)
Marodona is better than pele. No reason
Who did marodona play with?
Sligo rovers?
In 1994 he said Norway would win the World cup.
When we all know it was north Korea. They’ve won every one before, and every one after. Our dear leader said so.
Go Home Pele you’re drunk.
Yes he’s an icon for his playing ability but no one takes any notice of what this fella says. He never makes any sense. Neymar is becoming world class and should become a great player. But he will never even touch the levels of brilliance Messi hits on a bad day.
Ronaldo is better
Pele is a clown, he seems to think that you cannot be judged as the greatest if you don’t win the World Cup, even though it only comes around every four years and most players aren’t fortunate enough to be born German or Brazilian. The man is just clutching at straws, the greatest show on earth is the Champions League but that bitter old fool just can’t accept it because he never played club football out of the Americas.
Maradona was better than Pele anyway but surely now Messi and Ronaldo deserve their place at the very top of the greatest footballers ever.
Can’t help wondering whether the great man actually watched the World Cup. Messi had some great moments while ronaldo was a petulant child on the greatest stage. I know he was injured but his attitude was awful.
Nasser Al Shamrani well be best player this year
He also said that Emre would become one of the best players in the world.
Messi is king of football and father of penaldo
…..
That relic is still hanging around??
I don’t think it’s right to say “Ronaldo is better than Messi” or visa versa. They are both amazing players. Two of the best to ever grace the game. To say one is better than the other is nuts. They are two different types of brilliant.
Pele would want to shut the F up
He had El Hadji Diouf in his top 100 as well