The 68-year-old has voiced his admiration for the Barcelona star and considers him on a par with the Brazilian legend.
Former Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes feels Barcelona star Lionel Messi is at the same level as Diego Maradona and Pele following his impressive performances over the past few seasons.
The 26-year-old missed out on a fifth Ballon d’Or trophy earlier this year but Heynckes is adamant that the prolific attacker should be regarded as a legend of the game.
“Messi has swept the board at the Ballon d’Or in the last few years. He’s a genius and is certainly on a par with Maradona and Pelé,” Heynckes told the official FIFA website.
