Pele: Neymar better than Messi

[Zeppo]

Pele: If Messi wants to be the best ever first he must become better than Neymar

Brazilian football idol Pele has restated his belief that Neymar is a better player than Barcelona star Lionel Messi, and argued that the Argentine must first overcome the young Santos star before he can challenge 'O Rei' as the greatest to ever play the game.

The three-time World Cup winner was speaking on Tuesday at a press conference marking Santos' centenary celebrations in April 2012. Never shy about publicizing the ability of Neymar to the press, the 71-year-old pushed the youngster ahead of Messi in his list of the world's current stars.

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[Baddaz]

pele is afterall 71 yo... he can be excused... he has earned the elder respect... we just dont have to believe him...

[Muadib]

Wi need to start getting worried about Pele mental health.. not a good sign...

[Peter R]

Does this even warrant a comment?

[GazX]

Even me starting to get fed-up of hearing/reading Pele's mutterings. Time for him to chill and stop this who is best, better, the greatest. Blah blah argument. He's had his time and it done. Now let others do the talkin both on and off the pitch.

[Paul Marin]

Pele: If Messi wants to be the best ever first he must become better than Neymar

Brazilian football idol Pele has restated his belief that Neymar is a better player than Barcelona star Lionel Messi, and argued that the Argentine must first overcome the young Santos star before he can challenge 'O Rei' as the greatest to ever play the game.

The three-time World Cup winner was speaking on Tuesday at a press conference marking Santos' centenary celebrations in April 2012. Never shy about publicizing the ability of Neymar to the press, the 71-year-old pushed the youngster ahead of Messi in his list of the world's current stars.

(continue)

You all forget that Pele is first and foremost a Brazilian and secondly a Santos legend - as is Neymar. They both exist in a very highly charged environment made moreso with the World Cup coming to their homeland. Brazil is expected to win and the biggest rival they have in their mind (real or imagined) is Argentina. Pele would be a fool to say anything that would be remotely construed as favoring the enemy. Secondly, he is putting Santos on the front stage - a comment like that at the club's centenary does exactly what it is supposed to do - bring attention to Santos. No need to sign him up at the mental ward at Shady Pines just yet. He knows exactly what he is doing.

[Muadib]

um.. ok... so you make a statement that is outlandish in the effort to hype your club ?

What happen to self-respect ?

[Paul Marin]

um.. ok... so you make a statement that is outlandish in the effort to hype your club ?

What happen to self-respect ?

You miss the point. It is meant to do nothing more than to draw attention to the club. As crazy as it might sound to you (and me), there are millions in Brazil that will never acknowledge Maradona's skill or Messi's being that they are Argentinian. His constituency is all he cares about, and that is Brazil and Santos fans. To them, this is their red meat, thank Pele for feeding us. Very simple.

[USAF]

You have to know the History.

For you to understand Pele's statements, as it pertains to Argentina and Argentine soccer/football stars, you have to know the history these two countries have, especially when it involves soccer.

The feud is not as intense with today's players, because they play together at the club level, and their outlook as it relates to race seems different.

Argentina was a racist country, although it wasn't overt, and they referred to Brazil as their mongrel neighbors to the north. If you could see games, from back in the day, especially when Pele was playing, you would see some very vicious tackles, aimed at injuring him. There was even one game, I remember seeing, where Pele was spat on.

[Mosiah]

USAF, is/was Uruguay a racist country?

Just asking.

[USAF]

Why???

[Paul Marin]

Why???

USAF, let's see if dem know dem history (no tiefin', so shut down di google):

1. Where was the first ever black international footballer born?:

A. Argentina
B. Uruguay
C. Brazil
D. Guyana
E. Haiti
F. None of the above

2. Which was the first country in South America to feature black players in their national team?

A. Brazil
B. Argentina
C. Uruguay
E. None of the above

3. Which of these countries was the first to have black players in their Copa America squads?

A. Brazil
B. Ecuador
C. Argentina
D. Uruguay
E. None of the above

4. Which one of these countries COMPLETELY BANNED black players from playing football at one point in their history (post slavery)?

A. Brazil
B. Argentina
C. Uruguay
D. Colombia
E. None of the above

[Mosiah]

5. What is the nationality of Luis Suarez?

A. Argentina
B. Brazil
C. Chile
D. Rhodesia
E. Uruguay

[Zeppo]

You miss the point. It is meant to do nothing more than to draw attention to the club.

Could it also be meant as damage control for the 4-0 whoopin' that Messi's Barcelona gave to Neymar's Santos in the Club World Cup final last December?

[Jawge]

I'm not sure but in the Rattin days of Argentina there was a balck player on thier squad. I think Arg. was first to have black players. They did do mild form of ethnic cleansing on blacks in that country though.