Diego Maradona ‘much better’ than Lionel Messi who ‘only has one skill’ — Pele

By Daily Sports on December 7, 2018

Former Brazil forward Pele has stated that Diego Maradona was a “much better player” than Lionel Messi – adding that Barcelona No. 10 “only shoots with one leg, only has one skill and doesn’t head the ball well.”

No one has won the Ballon d’Or on more occasions than Messi, who has five, but only finished fifth in the voting for the same honour in 2018 – and was voted as ESPN FC’s best forward. But Pele said he rates the 1986 World Cup winner – as well as two other former players – higher than Messi.

“As far as I’m concerned, Maradona was one of the best players ever,” Pele, a three-time World Cup winner with Brazil, said to Folha de Sao Paulo. “If you ask me: ‘Was he better than Messi?’ Yes, he was. Much better.” [Franz] Beckenbauer, [Johan] Cruyff are also better. They’re also excellent players.”

Pele, meanwhile, said no one should try to compare him with Messi, suggesting their skillset was completely different.

“How can you make a comparison between a guy who heads the ball well, shoots with the left, shoots with the right and another who only shoots with one leg, only has one skill and doesn’t head the ball well?” the 78-year-old said. “How can you compare?

“To compare with Pele, it has to be someone who shoots well with the left, shoots well with the right, and scores headers.”

Pele also said fellow Brazilian Neymar is a “better player” than France’s World Cup winner, Kylian Mbappe.

Mbappe, Neymar’s teammate at Paris Saint-Germain, finished fourth in the Ballon d’Or voting and took home the best young player award.

“Everyone talks more about Mbappe in Europe but I think Neymar is a better player,” he said. (ESPN)

•Photo shows Pele

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 7, 2018


 

You may also like...
Song comes out of coma

Burnley v Watford: Home Side Requests Postponement Because...

Victor Moses Set To Join Inter Milan On...

Halep ousts Venus Williams from Australian Open, set...

Abraham Pleads For Patience For Havertz And Werner...

Jeff Horn extends winning, defeats Corcoran

 

Latest News Itauma battles Whyte in Riyadh D’Tigers thrash defending champions Tunisia Nnadozie gets hero’s welcome at Brighton AFN releases contingent for CAA Senior Athletics Championships Abuja to host Basketball All-Star weekend Nezianya, NOC PRO Joins Prestigious Agbalanze Society Of Onitsha D’Tigress makes history as only African team in FIBA top 10 New NPFL season to end May 2026 Joshua eyes first African bout in Ghana Tinubu’s $100k reward for five AfroBasket titles, says Kida AfroBasket: D’Tigers face tricky Tunisia test … Eagles coach defends 4-0 defeat

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,662 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,835 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,833 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,415 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,410 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,402 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (44,217 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,771 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,873 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,485 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,914 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,348 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media