World Cup hero and Brazilian footballing legend Pele has today declared that Cristiano Ronaldo is further ahead than Lionel Messi at this point in their respective careers, in an exclusive interview with ESPN.
In a year that saw the Real Madrid maestro beat Barca’s little Argentine to the Ballon D’or, Pele has added his lauded opinion to the ongoing debate: “I think, no doubt, two years ago the player that was in very, very good condition was Messi.”
“In five years he became the best player in Europe, but in the last two years , and this year, he had a problem: he got injured, he was out this year and played few games.”
“Ronaldo has come through for the past two or three years and is the best in Europe. I think at the moment no doubt Ronaldo is the best.”
Pressed on which of the two he would have rather played alongside in his heyday, Pele remarked: “I would have to compete with Messi because we have the same game and do the same (on the field). I think Ronaldo, for Santos (in Pee’s era), would be better.”
