Pele had mixed but generally respectful views on Messi, calling him the best complete player of his generation but stating he wasn't the greatest ever, preferring himself and highlighting Messi's reliance on Barcelona for international success, though he later praised Messi for deserving a World Cup win. He noted Messi's exceptional playmaking and goal-scoring but felt Messi lacked skills like heading and strong right-foot shots compared to all-around players like himself.
"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.
The Real Madrid defender Pepe has apologised for his apparent stamp on Lionel Messi's hand in the 2-1 defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona, but insisted the act, which was missed at the time by the referee, was "unintentional".
“Today, football continues to tell its story, as always, in an enthralling way. Messi winning his first World Cup, as his trajectory deserved,” Pele, a three-time World Cup champion, wrote on Instagram.
Pele said " For the last 15 years Messi is the best because he is consistent better than Cristiano".
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.
Cristiano Ronaldo
"My deep condolences to all of Brazil, and in particular to the family of Edson Arantes do Nascimento. A mere "goodbye" to the eternal King Pelé will never be enough to express the pain that the entire football world is currently experiencing.
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.
Muhammad Ali said to Pele,⚽️ "Football is more beautiful than boxing, but I am more beautiful than you". Muhammad Ali 🥊 said this to Pele at a match that ended Pele's time playing for the New York Cosmos. Muhammad Ali was known for being outspoken about race and prejudice, and using his fame to fight injustice.
🗣️ "In fact, we contacted Messi at the end of his contract in Paris." "We presented him with an offer of 💲1.5 million euros, but the player rejected it because his family wanted to live in Miami." 🗣️ "It's surprising that a player could decline an offer for the sake of his family." He managed to convince his family, ...
❤️ The friendship, love, and bond between Pepe and Cristiano Ronaldo is truly special. More than teammates — brotherhood built on respect, battles, and glory.
Cristiano Ronaldo liked a post and laughed in the comment section on a video criticizing Lionel Messi's eighth Ballon d'Or win.
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.
ZIDANE - "The difference between Messi and Ronaldo is that Messi doesn't know he's Messi while Ronaldo thinks he's Messi."
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.
Lambie is remembered for his reaction when Partick player Colin McGlashan suffered a concussion; he ordered his assistant Gerry Collins to "Tell him he's Pelé and get him back on".
On this day (November 19) in 1969, Brazilian football (soccer) player Pelé scored his 1,000th career goal. Including friendlies and touring games, Pele holds the Guinness World Record for Most Career Goals. He is credited with 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, including a frankly absurd 126 in the year 1959.
Muhammad Ali said Earnie Shavers hit the hardest, famously quiping, "Earnie hit me so hard, it shook my kinfolk back in Africa," comparing Shavers' power favorably to George Foreman and Joe Frazier, despite Shavers being a long-shot contender.
Societal acceptance is also very high. In a 2020 Pew Research Center poll, Argentina was ranked the South American country with the most positive societal attitudes towards homosexuality, with about three-quarters (76%) of those surveyed saying it should be accepted.
It's unlikely but possible for Lionel Messi to score 1000 career goals, requiring him to maintain a high scoring rate (around 36-37 goals/season) for his remaining years at Inter Miami, potentially until 2028, despite slowing down and focusing more on playmaking; factors like injury and focus shift towards life after football make it a challenging milestone to reach. He needs about 110-116 more goals, and while he's in good form, maintaining it past age 40 is a big ask, with some projections placing him in the 960-980 goal range by retirement.
Fabian Delph
Former England midfielder Fabian Delph ditched meat and dairy from his diet in favour of plant-based food to help him recover from the injuries he sustained during his footballing career.
He received the nickname "Pelé" during his school days, it is claimed, after mispronouncing the name of his favourite player, Vasco da Gama goalkeeper Bilé. In his autobiography released in 2006, Pelé stated he had no idea what the name means, nor did his old friends, and the word has no meaning in Portuguese.
The beautiful game (Portuguese: o jogo bonito, pronounced [u ˈʒoɡu boˈnitu]) is a nickname for association football. It was popularised by Brazilian footballer Pelé, who played from 1957 to 1977. It was a term widely used in Brazil, though the exact origin of the phrase is disputed.
Pele said " For the last 15 years Messi is the best because he is consistent better than Cristiano".