Does Pelé have a better World Cup legacy than Lionel Messi?

Lionel Messi has achieved so much at the World Cup, but does his legacy in the competition still pale in comparison to Pelé?

After winning the competition in 2022 with Argentina, the Inter Miami star almost repeated the feet this year, with his side falling short 1-0 in the final after producing one of the most dramatic runs of all time to make it to the monster showdown at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA.

What did Pelé achieve at the World Cup?

To this day, Pelé is the only player in football history to have won three World Cups, lifting the trophy in 1958, 1962 and 1970. The legend burst on the scene at just 17, lighting up the competition with his incredible skills and innate eye for goal.

Pelé became a global superstar, with his status in the sport still as prominent as ever despite several decades having passed since he wrote his story.

While the football genius scored a total of 12 goals in the tournament, the Brazilian was much more than an individual player, with the phenom elevating everybody around him, creating what is still considered by many to be the best international side of all time.

WOW: Pelé was better than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo according to a football legend

What has Lionel Messi done at the World Cup?

Like Pelé, Lionel Messi made an enormous splash at a very young age, dazzling fans at Barcelona with his unrivalled talent. However, while brilliant on the club scene, he initially struggled in the international game.

Messi’s first four World Cups in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 all ended in heartbreak, leaving many left to ponder whether the most naturally gifted player to have ever graced a football pitch would retire from ‘the beautiful game’ without having claimed the biggest prize in the sport.

In 2022, at 35, Messi finally crossed the finish line, with Argentina defeating France on penalties. But while this did wonders for his resume, he couldn’t repeat the feat in 2026.

Despite putting on sensational displays throughout the tournament, with Messi producing a marvellous assist to dump out England and scoring an array of impressive goals, his presence in the final was almost non-existent.

We’re giving the edge to Pelé over Lionel Messi at the World Cup

There’s no doubt that today’s game is more advanced than when Pelé dominated the sport. However, when it comes to garnering global fame from one competition, there’s nobody quite like the Santos icon. While Messi hasn’t always performed on the grandest stage of them all, Pelé made the tournament his own, carving out a legacy that still stands today.

Featured Image Credit: Getty