The question of whether Pelé was better than Cristiano Ronaldo is a subjective debate with no definitive answer, as the two players competed in vastly different eras of football. Experts and fans often weigh Pelé's unparalleled World Cup success against Ronaldo's longevity and consistency in the modern, highly competitive club game.
The "GOAT" (Greatest Of All Time) in football is a subjective debate, but Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are overwhelmingly considered the top contenders, with Messi often edging out due with recent major wins like the 2022 World Cup, though Ronaldo's longevity and dominance in multiple leagues also make a strong case, with many legends and publications naming Messi as #1. Other historical greats like Pelé and Maradona are also part of the conversation.
Pele scored 77 goals in 92 international matches for Brazil and 680 goals in official club matches. His overall career goals tally, however, is highly-debated in football. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known to the world as Pele, is arguably the greatest footballer to ever walk the planet.
🚨PELE RECORD BROKEN🚨 Cristiano Ronaldo (758) surpasses Pele (757).
Pele said, “Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of all time. His records, his titles, and his consistency speak for themselves. He has achieved so much in his career and continues to perform at the highest level. What sets him apart is not just his talent but his relentless drive and passion for the game.
A rumor suggested that Ronaldo performed 3,000 sit-ups daily to maintain his abs, but he dismissed this as exaggerated. As he prepared for CR7 Crunch Fitness, he clarified that he does sit-ups 4-5 times a week, with a minimum of 200-300 each session.
Yes, 99-rated players exist in FIFA (now EA Sports FC) but are very rare, typically appearing as special promotional cards (like Team of the Year or Futties) in Ultimate Team (UT) towards the end of the game cycle, with some fans even getting full squads of them through grinding. While base cards rarely reach this, special versions of players like Mbappe, Pele, and even defenders like Virgil van Dijk have achieved 99 overall ratings in past editions.
Neymar surpassed Pele as Brazil's leading male goalscorer after the Al-Hilal forward hit a brace in his side's 5-1 win over Bolivia. The 31-year-old was level with Pele on 77 goals going into the World Cup qualifier. However, two second-half goals in a 5-1 win took Neymar to 79 goals in 125 matches.
On 19 November 1969, Pelé scored his 1,000th goal in all competitions, in what was a highly anticipated moment in Brazil. The goal dubbed O Milésimo (The Thousandth), occurred in a match against Vasco da Gama, when Pelé scored from a penalty kick, at the Maracanã Stadium.
Why Ronaldo considers himself to the GOAT. Ronaldo has happily billed himself as the GOAT, telling La Sexta of why he sits above the likes of Messi, Diego Maradona and Pele: "I think I'm the most complete player there has ever been. That's my opinion. It could be a question of taste but I think it's me.
Messi will score 900th goal in 2026. Can he reach 1,000? Can he pass Ronaldo? Lionel Messi is never far from breaking his next record or hitting his next landmark, and he enters 2026 on the verge of yet another massive milestone in his incredible career: his 900th goal.
15 Best Dribblers in World Soccer—Ranked
While Lionel Messi hasn't made extensive public declarations specifically about LGBTQ+ rights, his actions and associations, like supporting inclusivity through his foundation and playing in leagues with anti-discrimination policies, suggest a general alignment with inclusive values, though some social media rumors about him refusing pro-LGBTQ+ ads are likely exaggerated or false, as he focuses on football, not being a symbol, according to a Facebook post.
They say Messi is better than Ronaldo because he has more Ballon D'OR but they will say Iniesta is better than Modric who has Ballon DOR. 4 They say Messi has more individual awards than Ronaldo because they don't have idea about football.
Ronaldo needs 47 to reach 1,000 career goals. With a recent average of around 45 goals a year and a role built for finishing, he is statistically well-placed to cross the mark if he stays on the pitch until 2027.
The phrase "1% chance, 99% faith" (or variations like "As long as there's a 1% chance, we'll have 99% faith") was popularized by Brazilian football star Neymar Jr., especially after FC Barcelona's historic Champions League comeback against PSG in 2017, where he famously used it to express belief despite long odds.
Brazil All-time Top Scorers: Pele – 77 goals Neymar Jr – 74 Ronaldo – 62 Romario – 55 Zico – 48 Roberto – 39 Rivaldo – 35 Jairzinho – 33 Ronaldinho – 33 Ademir – 32 Neymar is only three goals behind Pele's all-time record for Brazil.
The 1999 Ballon d'Or, given to the best football player in Europe as judged by a panel of sports journalists from UEFA member countries, was awarded to Rivaldo on 21 December 1999.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the first billionaire footballer. The valuation takes into account his career earnings, investments and endorsements - BBC.
Can Everyone Get Sculpted 6-Pack Abs? The short answer: unfortunately, no. “Visible abs are very difficult to achieve for those of us who aren't genetically blessed,” says Dickerson. “Everyone's muscles are built differently.
It took him 10 years, but a dad from Lake Bluff just accomplished the incredible: *1 Million* pushups. He gained life lessons along the way, along with just a few followers on social media. Check out my interview with Kevin Cullum (@1_millionpushups) Kevin Cullum, from the north suburbs, set out on a ...