Brazilian footballing royalty Pele has downplayed the ability of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi by declaring that the Barcelona man has to “score 1000 goals” like he did until we can really start talking about his pedigree.
Reigning Ballon d’Or winner and World Footballer of the Year Messi has been in scintillating form this season, scoring 40 goals in 44 club games, and his four-goal haul against Arsenal in the Champions League last week has led some to compare the attacker with the likes of Diego Maradona and Pele.
But, the Brazilian has doubts over Messi’s ability and potential, and believes any comparisons should be put on hold until he scores 1000 goals in his career as he did during the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
"They are always trying to compare someone to Pele," he said to The Daily Mail.
"I always joke with my Argentine friends that they must first choose who is the best player from Argentina.
"Then, when one of them scores a thousand goals, then we can start talking.
“Messi’s a great player. He plays very well for Barcelona, but has failed to show his talent with the Argentina team.
“Maybe he can at the World Cup. Let's wait and see.''
Pele’s quotes are certain to cause some more debate in the whole Argentina vs Brazil rivalry leading up to the World Cup
Juventino wrote:Pele is a wanker. Goals at training and pre-season friendlies do not count.
Actually I think that was Romario who counted goals at training and pre-season friendlies, nonetheless Pele is still a wanker, an insecure one at that, who thinks his place in the history of world football will be usurped by the current crop of players.
Unfortunately hawkesy, the younger brigade werent privvy to see the best there has ever been, so arent fit to judge. Even DiStefano is up there, but again, the young ones wouldnt know. Having said that, Messi is the current best without doubt and if he has a good World Cup, the Argies may even win it.
Bomber wrote:Unfortunately hawkesy, the younger brigade werent privvy to see the best there has ever been, so arent fit to judge. Even DiStefano is up there, but again, the young ones wouldnt know. Having said that, Messi is the current best without doubt and if he has a good World Cup, the Argies may even win it.
not quite the case. the young ones u talk about can always research the past and weigh up the differences. dont blow it out of proportion.
BrickTop wrote:Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, Torres all take a dump on Pele.
none of them are fit to lace pele's boots. Maybe one day messi will be but at the moment he's not even close to the greatest player to play the game.
here we go...
another long rant about why the players of today and the future will never be as good as the past.
not at all, messi's been on the scene for 5 minutes. Pele played in 4 world cups and won 3 of them in 58, 62 & 70. Messi has only been around for one. Pele also played in an era where defenders were actually allowed to make tackles.
Messi is a great footballer and has the ability to be up there with the best, but the world's greatest - NOT YET!!
Things I am owed because they're too tight to pay up:
Colossus: One House
Costa: One Lunch
Oh and add in
Colossus: one photo and one letter from his "attorney".
not at all, messi's been on the scene for 5 minutes. Pele played in 4 world cups and won 3 of them in 58, 62 & 70. Messi has only been around for one. Pele also played in an era where defenders were actually allowed to make tackles.
Messi is a great footballer and has the ability to be up there with the best, but the world's greatest - NOT YET!!
Have to agree Hawksey, is the worlds best but you cant say messi so early in his career is the best ever, I dont think weve seen the best of him yet so make these calls near the end of a career not begining.
As for comparing its two totally diferent games, the game now is much quicker, players wear lighter boots, better balls, better playing surfaces, better training and conditioning, this list goes on so IMO you'll never be able to compare a player of today to a player of 50 years ago.
Stallone bog imo, pele sat out most of it whilst the rest got them back in the game then stepped up to be the hero, over rated performance by Pele, one goal and everyone thinks he won them the game.
Bomber wrote:Unfortunately hawkesy, the younger brigade werent privvy to see the best there has ever been, so arent fit to judge. Even DiStefano is up there, but again, the young ones wouldnt know. Having said that, Messi is the current best without doubt and if he has a good World Cup, the Argies may even win it.
Stallone bog imo, pele sat out most of it whilst the rest got them back in the game then stepped up to be the hero, over rated performance by Pele, one goal and everyone thinks he won them the game.
I've told you before, Kevin O' Callaghan was the Man Of The Match for this one. Not only was a left winger playing in goal but he allowed them to break his arm so they could escape. We breed them tough at Millwall.
Things I am owed because they're too tight to pay up:
Colossus: One House
Costa: One Lunch
Oh and add in
Colossus: one photo and one letter from his "attorney".
none of them are fit to lace pele's boots. Maybe one day messi will be but at the moment he's not even close to the greatest player to play the game.[/quote]
here we go...
another long rant about why the players of today and the future will never be as good as the past.[/quote]
not at all, messi's been on the scene for 5 minutes. Pele played in 4 world cups and won 3 of them in 58, 62 & 70. Messi has only been around for one. Pele also played in an era where defenders were actually allowed to make tackles.
Messi is a great footballer and has the ability to be up there with the best, but the world's greatest - NOT YET!![/quote]
Oh my god, I have to check my pulse I actually agree with Hawkesy
Pele counts trial game goals and exhibition game goals when players weren't giving there all.
He was great but he needs to get over himself after comments like that. His time came and went and its time for others, who is he to raise doubt about Messi.
Half of peles goals came when he was playing a bunch of amatuers for the Cosmos....they hardly count, i'm sure if Messi came and played Super League he'd score a few aswell..
SpursOnTheRise wrote:Half of peles goals came when he was playing a bunch of amatuers for the Cosmos....they hardly count, i'm sure if Messi came and played Super League he'd score a few aswell..
an amateur league that contained all of the brazilian team that won the world cup 3 times in 13 years. :?
Things I am owed because they're too tight to pay up:
Colossus: One House
Costa: One Lunch
Oh and add in
Colossus: one photo and one letter from his "attorney".
SpursOnTheRise wrote:Half of peles goals came when he was playing a bunch of amatuers for the Cosmos....they hardly count, i'm sure if Messi came and played Super League he'd score a few aswell..
an amateur league that contained all of the brazilian team that won the world cup 3 times in 13 years. :?
I didnt know the Cosmos had the whole Brazilian team?
SpursOnTheRise wrote:Half of peles goals came when he was playing a bunch of amatuers for the Cosmos....they hardly count, i'm sure if Messi came and played Super League he'd score a few aswell..
an amateur league that contained all of the brazilian team that won the world cup 3 times in 13 years. :?
I didnt know the Cosmos had the whole Brazilian team?
Things I am owed because they're too tight to pay up:
Colossus: One House
Costa: One Lunch
Oh and add in
Colossus: one photo and one letter from his "attorney".
SpursOnTheRise wrote:Half of peles goals came when he was playing a bunch of amatuers for the Cosmos....they hardly count, i'm sure if Messi came and played Super League he'd score a few aswell..
an amateur league that contained all of the brazilian team that won the world cup 3 times in 13 years. :?
Like I said earlier, he counts goals in trial and exabition games, guys would really play hard when the result was irrelavant.
Come on the 1000 figure was a marketing ploy to boughst his marketability.
He was great in his day, yes, but there were equals to him that suffered due to a lack of media, Eusabio, di Stefano and Puskas to mention afew.
what a banana 
