Pele, again underestimating Messi

Indonesia
January 20, 2012 9:32pm CST
I just read Pele opinion in yahoosports, basically he challenge Messi to improve performance especially in international level before join him or maradona as greatest player in the world. I am personally thinking that Pele era could be different and not as hard as current modern football era which many excellent players out there and competition tougher even only in club level. Understand Messi needs to improve his performance with National team even ha has not scored yet in world cup final, but remember Messi still young and he has everything to be greatest player ever and even beat Pele… …What do you think about his comments? Here’s what Pele says about Messi taken from yahoosports.. Messi not greatest yet, says Pele Brazilian legend Pele insisted on Friday that Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, a Champions League winner with Barcelona and three-time Ballon D'Or king, cannot yet be considered as one of the world's greatest players. Pele called on his own record of three World Cup triumphs as well as a career tally of 1,283 goals to reserve judgement on the little Argentine wizard. "Some people will say that Beethoven didn't know how to play the piano, that Michelangelo couldn't paint and that Pele didn't know how to play football," Pele told Le Monde newspaper. "When Messi scores 1,283 goals like me, when he wins three World Cups, then we can talk about it again. "Football changes and records are there to be beaten, but it'll be very hard to beat mine. People ask me all the time: 'When is the new Pele going to be born?' "Never. My father and mother have closed the factory." This one from previous news: Pele thinks Lionel Messi still needs to improve at international level before he can be considered the greatest soccer player ever and needs to score more goals to come close to matching the Brazilian great. The 24-year-old Messi already has won three straight FIFA Player of the Year awards. “When Messi’s scored 1,283 goals like me, when he’s won three World Cups, we’ll talk about it,” Pele told Le Monde. “Football changes. Records are there to be broken, but it will be hard to break mine. “People always ask me: ‘When is the new Pele going to be born?’ Never. My father and mother have closed the factory.” Although many observers consider Pele or Diego Maradona to be the greatest ever, Messi’s form for Barcelona has him being mentioned in the same group. Messi scored 55 goals in 2011 for Barcelona and already has 213 in 300 games for the club, 22 shy of Cesar Rodriguez’s team record for goals. Messi is the club’s leading scorer in the Champions League, scoring in victories over Manchester United in the 2009 and 2011 finals. “I like Messi a lot, he’s a great player,” Pele replied when asked who his favorite current player is. “Technically, we’re practically at the same level.” But Pele was also quick to point out that Messi has not scored at the same rate for Argentina in big tournaments. Messi failed to score in both the 2010 World Cup and Copa America last year, and has a modest tally of 19 goals in 67 international matches. “He’s a great player for Barcelona, but when he plays for Argentina he doesn’t have the same success,” Pele said. Pele also feels he may have had more natural ability than Messi. “No one knew which foot I was going to shoot with, I was two-footed. I also scored a lot of goals with my head,” Pele said. However, Pele knows that the debate over who is the world’s greatest ever player will always divide opinion. “Some people will say Beethoven couldn’t play the piano. Others will say Michelangelo couldn’t paint and that Pele couldn’t play football,” he said. “But we all received a gift from God.”
2 people like this
3 responses
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
21 Jan 12
once again a jealous man always respond bad , critics and don`t want anybody break his record.. maybe he should know that football is not 1 player games or match..this is team game..and when in Argentina, Messi did not get the same support like when he still play in Barcelona.. maybe we must ask him?? how much he can score in his club??how much he can score in his national team?? how much he can win in several trophy when he play with Santos??
1 person likes this
• Indonesia
21 Jan 12
well, yes I agree with you.. I really hate to read Pele's statement..He should not said something like that and jealous with Messi who really great footballers in this competitive era. Even Maradona has given credit to Messi and confident he will be replacing him. .Maybe this just because Messi came from Brazil, remember when he compare Messi with Neymar..Neymar is actually still green and uncomparable with Messi..I believe Messi will be great in the future when Argentina national team has improved ...your questions are valid ones..Pele never played on the tough club level like in Europe, I remember he only played for Santos and American club..appreciate your response
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
21 Jan 12
so when we can change the question to Pele, why he is sure that Neymar is more good or better than Messi?? Neymar like messi too, never bring their country become a winner of world cup.. so why pele always said that Neymar follow his success??
• Philippines
21 Jan 12
Pele doesn't really hand out praise, so I would be shocked if he ever does commend a player. I remember watching an interview of his where he was asked who the best player in the world today was, and he simply replied, "Pele". The interviewer couldn't help but agree with him after listening to his reasoning.
1 person likes this
• Indonesia
21 Jan 12
well, you have good points..Pele is really too confident about him self..I think he needs to be objective that someday there will be player who able to overtake him and better than him.. Actually, Maradona is better than him on some points despite his bad attitude and temper..Maradona has been proved to big in the modern footbal era..Now, Messi should able to learn from his former coach in National team, Maradona but not his attitude..appreciate your response..
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
21 Jan 12
But I do agree with Pele's thought process. I think there is one thing to win everything at the club level which Messi has already done. But it is altogether a different thing to achieve everything for your country. Of course, at 21 Messi has time and at least 3 shots at the World Cup. For me too I think the epitome of success is the world cup. Cheers! Ram
• Indonesia
21 Jan 12
well, for process and development will come in time.. I agree with you. .But looking at Messi who still young, could be bright future with Argentina team in front..I just worried with his physical ability if he always be an object of the harrassment like Pepe did last game in El Classico..I think both Pele and Pepe tried to attack him physically and mentality ...He can prove him self in the future on the world cup..appreciate your response..