Many soccer veterans hail Lionel Messi as the GOAT after he won the FIFA World Cup in 2022. However, that debate arguably pertains mostly to contemporary soccer. This means it has players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, and Ronaldo Nazario, among others in its epicenter. Yet Messi is often compared to superstars of a bygone era, which includes the likes of Diego Maradona, Pele, and Johan Cryuff. That is where La Pulga lacks the edge. Once again, another soccer veteran has rated Brazilian legend Pele above the 2022 World Champion.

What is more surprising? The verdict came from former Argentina player and 1978 World Cup-winning manager Cesar Luis Menotti. In a way more shocking turn, Menotti hinted even Maradona doesn’t stand a chance against Pele, despite coaching the late Argentine legend.

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Many a time, NBA analysts claim bygone legends would destroy opponents in today’s game. Seems like soccer is not an alien to this discourse either. “There is a footballer who cannot be compared. If he played today, he alone would win games 5-0. That player is Pelé,” Cesar Luis Menotti told Splendid AM 990. “Then we have Diego, Cruyff, Di Stefano, and now Messi. But Pele was an impossible thing. He was the greatest thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said. It is surprising to see an Argentine snub his WC-winning compatriots for a Brazilian. But that was for a reason.

Anyhow, Menotti has only coached Maradona and watched Messi play. But he shared the stage with Pele in Santos and even won the Brazilian league together. “I say that with the certainty of having lived with him for a year. Playing every day as his understudy,” (translated by DeepL) Menotti added, clarifying his verdict. But, is the 1978 World champion boss the only Argentine to favor Pele over Maradona and Messi? He is not, shockingly.

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Messi and Maradona lost to Pele in several other GOAT verdicts

In an old interview, River Plate legend, Reinaldo Merlo aka Mostaza spoke at length about Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona. The Argentine did not hold back from heavily praising Messi. However, when he was asked to choose between Maradona and Messi, Merlo took the conversation to a different tangent. “Maradona and Messi, two phenomena, but Pelé is from another planet,”  the River Plate icon said.

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Besides Mostaza Merlo, Ronaldinho stressed that Messi cannot be compared to Pele. Furthermore, former Scottish player Jocky Scott thinks Pele will far outdo both La Pulga and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Brazilian legend left the soccer fraternity in 2022, but his legacy lives on. Pele will be at the epicenter of many more GOAT debates to come.

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