Barcelona vs Real Madrid - El Clasico: Pele says Lionel Messi is better than Cristiano Ronaldo

The pair do battle in tonight's El Clasico at the Nou Camp

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo (Getty Images)

Ahead of tonight's El Clasico, footballing legend Pele has answered the question on everyone's lips. He believes Barcelona's Lionel Messi is better than Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

"At the moment people always try to compare Ronaldo with Messi [but] it's a different style," the Brazilian three-time World Cup winner said.

"They are two great players. But in the past 10 years the best in the world was Messi."

The Argentine Messi has won four Ballon d'Or's, while Ronaldo has won three.

Messi will face Ronaldo at the Nou Camp later on tonight, with Barcelona leading Real Madrid at the top of La Liga by one point.

Pele was at Anfield for Liverpool vs Manchester United (GETTY IMAGES)

Pele, 74, continued: "Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, George Best - they were the same level as Messi. We had in Brazil Zico, Rivaldo."

Pele won the World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and was regarded by many as the greatest player of his generation.