The Selecao legend feels a lack of success on the international stage counts against the Barcelona captain when it comes to selecting the best ever
Barcelona star Lionel Messi is almost at the level of Diego Maradona but Pele is the greatest of all time, according to Brazil legend Zico.
Messi is enjoying another wonderful season, having scored 15 times in as many games for the Catalan club in La Liga.
He is well on course to surpassing 30 goals in a single league season for an eighth time, while Barca are favourites to win the title and likely to be among the Champions League frontrunners.
The Argentina forward has won everything with Barca and has a record-tying five Ballons d'Or to his name.
Yet Zico – who starred for Brazil in the 1970s and 80s – thinks Messi is still not at the standard Maradona was in his heyday, while he ranks Pele above both because he had "everything".
"Messi is close to Maradona," Zico, who works as a director at Kashima Antlers, told Omnisport.
"That means, in my opinion, he can't be compared to Pele. I still consider Maradona in front of Messi. With Pele, no. Pele has all the qualities and characteristic that a football player has to have.
"When God created him [Pele], he put every quality a footballer needs; speed, strength, impulse, technique, kicking ability, heading, dribbling – all of it, everything that a player might have.
"Few people could jump like him for a header. He is 170 centimetres tall. His foundations are perfect, [he had] mastery of the ball, [and mastery of] headers. He improved in every way. Everything you can imagine from a player, Pele has done it."
Zico accepts Messi does possess most of the qualities needed by the very best, though he feels a lack of success on the international stage is a big part of what sets Pele and Maradona apart from him.
"[Messi has] almost everything, but he doesn't have the World Cup titles that Pele has. This [means] a lot," the Flamengo icon said.
"Because, I think Maradona played, like in our period, with a player in his back all the time. Maradona has done a lot for his clubs, as Messi does, and for the Argentina national team. Maradona was a world champion.
"Maradona has always stood out in the big competitions, and in a moment where Argentina was not a favourite with so many stars, like today, [when they have] high-level players in the big European teams.
"I think he didn't play in a team like Messi plays in for Barcelona today. He didn't have a [Gerard] Pique, an [Andres] Iniesta, a [Luis] Suarez, a Xavi or a Neymar beside him like Messi has today."
Messi and Barcelona return to action on Sunday following the winter break in Spain as they take on Getafe.
Rohingya94
602
I agree Messi not at the same level as Maradona or Pele!,Messi is better than Maradona and Pele.
Cherrycsk
372
This is what happens when you share weed with Maradona.
ishaan1301
228
Actions speak louder than words.....
Divyansh26
213
No problem he is gonna join Pele soon behind this curtain .. ..Can't wait for Zico to join Pele 😝😝
sabyaasem
171
Again zico will face a hard time after his words like pele face after his words
Yvngsavage
163
Why are people so jealous of Messi?
Calxuna
146
Brazilian for a Brazilian. Say nuttn like when y'all were playing. Be like Messi. Shut up. U ain't speakers. We the watchers say Messi is he best.
Shadownet
143
Zico just touched the Tigers tail 😂😂😂😂 One Hattrick coming up from Messi 😂😂😂😂
Henryrukis
106
record speak for more. zico should go check Messi record. it is true that he hasn't won a trophy at the international stage .that is what I call bad luck. especially playing 3 finals and getting so very close in the world cup. he has played a better football than majority of people who have won the world cup. some people are just fortunate in life that's why the likes of Olivier Giroud, ousmane dembele, Antonio griezman, Paul pogba and the rest of them win one. but it's never too late. I hope he get 1 like cr7 very soon.
Beedmrt
82
Zico is only being patriotic ...No Brazilian will ever accept that one from another country is the greatest player...they want to maintain that Brazilian Pride n status, I am surprised people talk of foitball most times ad if it were an individual sport, Has anyone considered the rules Pele played under and the quality of the balls...modern balls are much smoother and faster kkkkk not sure of the offside rule...Maradona only won a single world cup and cheated on his way to doing so...had VRA been there he may not be having a WC winners medal.....They may call it art ,Hand of ... but cheating is cheating...Let Messi hang his boots first then .....
kayomoo
69
useless ZICO,d 3 world cup Pele won did he take them to his house?d one maradona one did did he take it to his house?no is d answer, we are talking about an individual player here not collective,d five world best messi and Rinaldo won belong to them not for there club or country, that is wat we call individual accolade,to me and majority,messi is way better Dan Pele,and maradona is even ahead of Pele because he only score goals mostly offside goals,because then football then is different to football of now where var always interrupt ur play because of little offside, messi no 1,maradona no 2,christiano no 3,Pele no 4
numdlpr
61
Messi keeps his Lane real good and so does Penaldo. Pele however was a world traveler who expressed his gifts to generations of future footballers, most were grateful, but many were not his disciples, they had in the bushes and snipped at him only when the time suited them. now is that time so let us examine the modern example of colonialism that European leagues are and why people was justified in not plying his trade there. Europe is a major vampire on world resources, that means it steals the best and the brightest to feed their lust for power, but man is it cold there, the people and the climate. this list for power creates great edifices idolatry that make it seem like they are the greatest standard for what is good and great in the world, and false advertising to promote that dubious fact, one great example is Barca. they stole i repeat stole little Messi from his Homeland pumped him with growth hormone which they are doing to this day in terms of his publicity, and set him as an icon of football greatness. countless many have taken the effort slave ship back to the old world to perpetrate the biggest fraud in history. i could go on and on no doubt, but i will cut it short this not the time or place, too many ignoramuses who can't take the time to organise a thought without resorting to explitibe laden diatribes of why the past generation is jealous. HELPS OF WHAT EXACTLY?! HMM? FAKE NEWS FAKE HEROES TAX CHEATS RAPISTS well we all have skeletons that is not the point. the point for me and for a fact a main reason that i respect PELE above then all he rejected the European inflation experience, for a real football life with real football struggles, and still beat Europe's finest on many levels. AND SADLY ON MANY NOT "FIFA/UEFA" RECOGNIZED EUROPEAN SHALAKINGS OF EPIC PROPORTIONS his numbers seem inflated, but she was either beaten very badly, by either BRAZIL OR SANTOS some very-#big European champions. IT'S ALL A MATTER OF THE INTANGIBLES AND WHAT EUROPEANS RECOGNIZE AS VALUABLE OR "#LAWFUL" IN THEIR EYES THAT COUNT DOESN'T IT.? no sir not for me KING PELE FOR EVER!! 😂😂😂😁😁😁🤣😎
MrPerfect
49
It's Really Has Become a trend right now... The World Has Forgotten you... Want to come back to the Limelight... Just Comment "Messi is not as good as bla bla bla,," The very next hour you'll become Hot topic.... Moral Of the story ::"You Need Messi Everywhere" 😂 😂 😂
Ghana4787528
47
People are still blaming Pele for this, this is unfair. He deserves respect because he's the greatest player in the history of the game. He is way better than Messi. You guys say because Messi has won 57 individual trophies, he's the best. But Pele has this trophy that is better than all his 57 trophies combined(The player of the 20th century trophy). Pele knows greatness when he sees is so if he says he and Maradona are far better than him, then it's true, besides another legend just said it(Zico). Messi himself knows that he's nowhere near them so whatever you guys say will not change the fact that Pele is the greatest footballer ever
tehbnsyz
44
hmmmmmm......keep criticising Messi...... he's still going on
Louacepsy
40
Mr zico plz go to sleep now your sleep time lol zico
smartsid_64
37
who cares what you think
AKAMJJJJJJJ
37
Zico doesnt know anything about footall cuz MESSI is the best of all time
shariffeyyulegunshot
35
I will rather believe in Messi than Magic 🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐
zuucdeiouz
33
this hate from Brazilians is pissing me off.. I don't know if they are trying to put Messi down or not.. but if effort doesn't count then life is unfair, the dude as been in 3 finals you can see that he has tried he is just so unfortunate.. he has broken so many records.. Messi and Ronaldo are are the greatest of all time.. those two guys Maradona and pele were great at their time.. things have changed now football is so difficult now and there's so many rules these days more than before.. defenders are mentally and physically trained now.. it is amazing to see these two Messi and Ronaldo still at the top.. people should appreciate them and stop all this hate
Saackmstu
32
I think Messi is above them all cuz both of them played at the time where they don't have much technology.. plan/strategy /technic and all ..its hard for them..