Messi is not God. Put him in Leeds team and let's see the result

high_lander is one of the worst bull$hit merchants on here, imo

Never been the same since he mentioned the **** problem

Some of the comments on this thread are laughable, someone said Pele is a mug another said they hate Pele, how can anyone hate Pele?! He's a gent and a great ambassador for football. He scored goals that Messi could only dream about. How about his ridiculously casual but perfect pass to set up Carlos Alberto, greatest goal ever scored. How about at 17 years old when he took the ball on the chest, surrounded by defenders in the box, chipped the ball over the defenders head then volleyed into the net, it was only the world cup final. How about when he dummied the goalkeeper and almost scored, who else had the imagination and the nerve to try it?

If Pele played for the current Barcelona side he would outscore Messi x3 and score better and more imaginitive goals, and while he was at it he would win more World Cups for Brazil.

High-lander, even someone as simple as you must know that Pele owes his place in football legend largely to the fact that televised sport was in its infancy when he was making his name and his legend grew as it spread its tentacles throughout the planet. Ok, he was a great player, but the argument about World Cups is somewhat spurious as Messi is playing among some lumpen footballers for Argentina and Pele had Garrincha, Jairzinho, Vava, Didi et al to support him. And you use his ten-yard pass to Carlos Alberto to support your argument, please!! Do you truly believe that Pele was a better player than Puskas, di Stefano, John Charles etc? Do you think his 1000 goals are worth more than the 357 James Greaves was scoring in the First Division at the same time? Or Greaves's 44 in 57 Internationals? The fact is that they tested themselves against the best players in the world at the time in the European Leagues, and Pele stayed at Santos, accruing huge totals against part-timers, amateurs and in exhibition matches.

Of course, anyone with half a brain knows that it is impossible to compare players across the ages - fitness, tactics etc play such a huge part, but I'll tell you this much. If Pele was better than Messi, he must have been some player. And he probably wouldn't feel the need to belittle Messi's achievements.

JamDav, it was a widely held opinion at the time that Argentina in '86 were a workmanlike side that had Maradona and maybe another two class players. No one is saying they were a terrible side, but by Argentinian standards they were regarded as ordinary except for Maradona. Without the great man they were probably good for a last 16 or maybe a quarter final place, but that's it.

JamDav1982 23 Mar 12 00:58 
Maradona did not win the World Cup single handedly. He was the best player in the team and had a fantastic tournament but no player ever has or ever will it without being in a solid side that gives their best player the platform to perform.

Go and watch the QF, semi final and final from WC 1986 on youtube, in none of the games did Argentina look inferior to their opponents. In the final for example they outplayed Germany despite Maradona having a poor game.

They arguably had he best defence in the tournament and and  good attacking players like Burachaga. Who had a fantastic assist to open the scoring in the semi final and got another assist and scored the winner in the final against Germany where he was probably Argentinas best player





It's true the Argies were no mugs and had players like Burrachaga and Valdano, but without Maradona, Argentina wouldn't have got past the quarters. He was also immense in the semis against Belgium

My apologies, but I can't help insulting Arsenal fans, it's their birthright.

tuckboy, Pele did take part in the '62 World Cup in Chile, he played at least 2 matches and scored one goal before he was injured, so didn't he get a winners medal for being in the Brazil squad?

No he didn't. If you remember it was only recently that FIFA awarded the members of the England squad who didn't play in the 1966 World Cup final a medal each.

Anyway, my point is, why does Pele feel the need to crab Messi? Messi is not Zlatan, he doesn't routinely spout off about how good he is, in fact he has said quite recently that Guardiola is more important to Barcelona than he is. Also, you claim that Pele was indisputably the best of that Brazilian era (1958-1970) but I have heard many good judges say that Garrincha was the real star, and of course we know that Jairzinho scored in every game of the 1970 World Cup. And as I said already, that 1962 team didn't need him, they won the World Cup without him - who's to say that the 1958 team or the 1970 team couldn't have done the same? For all the granite defending and marvellous organisation, I don't think anyone would say the 1986 Argentina squad would have won the World Cup without their main man - certainly not against the West Germany team (Brehme, Matthaus, Magath, Rummenigge) they played in the final.

I'm not knocking Pele the footballer, but he does seem a bit chippy about the little chap encroaching on his divine right to be acclaimed the best ever. Why would that be?

Personally, I disagree with you. And Messi doesn't cheat, or take drugs, be they Viagra or Billy.

btw pele u were a 'good' player but didnt produce a quarter of messi's workrate, you just used to stand around for 85 mins and moan to refs at the slightest little foul

It's shame that Messi keeps getting burdened with these ridiculous statements, "best ever" and so on. He doesn't ask for it, I am sure all he wants to do is play his football without the sideshow. I am not anti Messi I enjoy watching him play, I also enjoy watching Iniesta and Xavi play, I think they are the best midfielders in the world. But Messi really does have to do a lot more before he can be classed as best ever.

the dza, do you care to explain that? I really don't know what you mean. I have never denied Messi was a great player, but I think he has a lot to prove before he can be mentioned in the same breath as Pele and Maradona. And I think that's a fair assessment.

Did you just compare Gary Neville with Pele?

Gasgoine was a great player no doubt. And I agree that it's not all about goals and winning stuff, my opinions are only ever based on ability. I judge Pele on his performances at the highest level, same as I do with Cruyff, Maradona et al. Messi has a lot to prove to be considered in that company. He has to do it for his country in the World Cup. He's been in two World Cups now and has done very little to impress.

I don't know about running half the length of the pitch, but it wouldn't have been unusual for Pele to take on and beat 3 or 4 players then score a goal, that was fairly typical of him.

We could go round in circles with this one, but for me Messi just hasn't proved himself, he has to do something in the World Cup and not only because I think it is the ultimate platform for football. I want to see him do it when he is not playing for his virtually unbeatable club side.

the only thing Messi's proven us is that he's the best player with Xavi and Iniesta by his side. If you want to be the best you have to make good things in your national team.