Brazil legend Pele has launched a scathing attack on Lionel Messi, claiming the Barcelona star is too one-footed to be regarded as the best footballer of all-time.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has enjoyed a trophy-laden career at the Camp Nou, winning 30 trophies with the Catalan club, and has scored an astonishing 563 goals in 657 appearances.
Messi, 31, also set the world record for most goals in a calendar year when he scored 90 in 2012.
But Pele, who scored over a 1,000 goals in his illustrious career, isn't convinced the Argentinian magician can be called the best footballer of all-time when other players are more skilled.
"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?" Pele told Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo.
"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."
"As far as I’m concerned, [Diego] Maradona was one of the best players ever. If you ask me, 'Was he better than Messi?' Yes, he was. Much better.
“[Franz] Beckenbauer, [Johan] Cruyff were also excellent players."
Messi was left out of the Ballon d'Or top three for the first time since 2006 earlier this week when he came fifth, with Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric taking home the prize.
