Brazilian legend, Pele, hailed Lionel Messi as the best player in the world when he picked the Argentinian magician over Cristiano Ronaldo in a Q&A session in Glasgow. In the session titled, ‘An Evening with Pele’, the football great put rest to any doubts over who, in his opinion, is the best player in the world.
He said that Messi has shown in the least 10-15 years what he is capable of and has performed consistently in the same time period. "I could mention some names but what has happened in the last 10 to 15 years, I think Messi is the player who was the most consistent all those years, no doubt."
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The 75-year-old added that Cristiano Ronaldo was a goal-scorer more like his namesake, the Brazilian number 9, Ronaldo. However, the Barcelona playmaker was the more "organised" player in all aspects of the game.
"We have had a lot of good players. Then Cristiano Ronaldo came late but it is different because Messi is the more organised, he scores goals. Cristiano Ronaldo is like the Ronaldo from Brazil, he is a good scorer no doubt, but to me as a player it is Messi," he added.
While football fans around the world have debated time and again over the two superstars, Pele had no doubts over his choice.
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The 31-year-old Portuguese forward is the front-runner to win this year's Ballon d'Or after a successful campaign with Real Madrid and Portugal. Ronaldo went on to win the Champions League with the Los Blancos and led his nation to Euro Cup victory in France.
While Messi has several accolades to his name and has won numerous trophies for his club, some may argue that the 5-time Ballon d'Or winner is yet to win a major trophy donning national colours.
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Never before has the world witnessed a rivalry between two players that has been so fierce, with each of them trying to outdo the other, barely leaving anything to chance. If one scores a hattrick one day, the other responds with assists and goals the very next day, such has been the level of the healthy competition.
