“It’s not my fault, but I think I was better than all of them,” Pele added.
“There will only be one Pele. There won’t be anyone else like me.”
Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
The three-time World Cup winner believes the Portuguese has greater consistency than the Argentine
Brazil legend Pele has proclaimed Cristiano Ronaldo as superior to Lionel Messi in a move to settle one of football’s great debates.
The pair have shared 11 of the past 12 Ballon d’Or awards, with the Argentine winning six and the Portuguese one back on five.
But Pele, who won three World Cups in his illustrious career, gives the Juventus superstar the edge over the Barcelona icon.
“Right now I think Cristiano Ronaldo is the most consistent player out there, but you can’t forget about Messi,” he told YouTube channel Pilhado.
“That’s a tough question to answer. I’ve been asked many times.
“We mustn’t forget Zico and Ronaldinho. People always talk about European players like [Franz] Beckenbauer and [Johan] Cruyff.”
The former Santos forward would not leave the debate there though, instead claiming the throne for himself.
“It’s not my fault, but I think I was better than all of them,” Pele added.
“There will only be one Pele. There won’t be anyone else like me.”
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Or if you would prefer:
Want an ad-free experience?
View offersHi {{indy.fullName}}
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies