Pele was better than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo according to a football legend

Pele was a superior football player to both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, according to one of the greatest players to have ever graced the game.

While the Argentinian icon and the Portuguese sensation dominated their era, in the eyes of an all-time great, neither did enough to eclipse the legacy of Brazil’s finest.

Alfredo Di Stéfano said Pele was better than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

At the peak of his powers, Pele was nothing short of mesmerising, effortlessly dribbling past his opponents like a hot knife through butter, before firing the ball into the back of the net.

Back in 1958, at just 17 years of age, Pele set the world alight, dazzling fans as he guided his country to World Cup glory.

The global superstar later achieved this feat two more times, an accomplishment which still hasn’t been matched to this day.

However, it wasn’t just on the international stage that the talented sportsman thrived, with the natural-born goal scorer dominating the game back in his homeland with Santos, earning the hearts of the supporters.

His performances on the field earned the respect of the great Alfredo Di Stéfano, who went as far as to say that Pele was a greater player than both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

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As per Telegrafi, the legend said: “The best player in history? Pele. Messi and Ronaldo are great players with exceptional quality, but Pele was better.

“Messi is the most technical player in history. He is good in the area, the way he handles the ball and dribbles. He enjoys playing.

“Ronaldo has a better body and is physically stronger. He has speed, stamina and is a tough player. He can score with both feet. Pele had all of these.”

When Pele played against Alfredo Di Stéfano

While Pele and Di Stefano’s paths rarely crossed, they once gave the football world a real treat when they went head-to-head in an eagerly anticipated fixture on July 16, 1959.

On that special day, Real Madrid hosted Santos during their European tour, with fans cramming into the stadium desperate to catch a glimpse of the Brazilian.

The spectators watched in awe as two of the best to have ever laced up the boots battled it out, with the Spanish side eventually winning an enthralling game 5-3.

While both players have now sadly passed away, they carved out remarkable legacies that football enthusiasts will remember forever.

Featured Image Credit: Getty