Ronaldo not the best yet, says Pele

[Lazie]

Pele believes Cristiano Ronaldo will have to wait "one or two years more" before he deserves to be called the best player in the world.


The 22-year-old Portuguese international is one of the leading contenders for the PFA Player of the Year award on Sunday after his dazzling form helped Manchester United stay on track for the treble.
But Pele, widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, told Sky Sports: "Cristiano Ronaldo today is one of the good players, he plays very good in England but to mention him as the best player in the world is very soon."
Pele nominated a fellow Brazilian as his choice for the best player in the world.
He added: "You have Kaka, who plays very well and I think he is the same level.
"Some years ago - four or five years ago - we had Ronaldinho in good shape.
"I think to compare Cristiano with the great players is too soon.
"We have to wait a little bit. Let's see in one or two years more if he can keep the same level."

[Lazie]

Jawge, wha dis? No mention of your great Robinho? hehehehe.

[Scaly Spurs]

And I agree with Pele 100%

Way too soon to crown him. Kaka is my pick right now.

Robinho is far down the list and Ronaldinho can come back once he finds that old form he had a couple yrs ago.

Oh by the Lazie Berbatov is god.

[Mosiah]

KAKA! Finally, people are recognising his quality.

(Maybe there's hope for Jermaine Hue?)

[Mosiah]

Everybody bigging up Lionel Messi's goal yesterday. Dem soon start say him is the best in the world!

Messi goal brings more comparisons with Maradona

MADRID, Spain (AP): FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has drawn further comparisons with Diego Maradona by scoring a a near replica of one of the former Argentina captain's most famous goals.
On Wednesday, Messi emulated Maradona's winner against England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals in scoring Barcelona's second goal in a 5-2 win over Getafe in the Copa del Rey semifinals.
Maradona's feat _ four minutes after he had scored the notorious "Hand of God'' goal _ featured a long, dribbling run which left numerous England defenders and goalkeeper Peter Shilton in his wake.
Nearly 21 years later, the 19-year-old Messi dashed from his own half past four Getafe players before rounding goalkeeper Luis Garcia and scoring from a narrow angle in the 29th minute at Camp Nou.
Messi agreed his goal was "similar to Diego's'' but added he could "never be compared'' with the former Argentina star.
"I saw the space, I had a gap and I went forward,'' Messi told Barcelona's TV station. "I did well. I took the goalkeeper on and scored. My aim was the goal and to finish the move off. I saw that Samu (teammate Samuel Eto'o) was there, but there were two defenders heading back. I saw the gap and went for it.''
Messi, who made his international debut for Argentina at 18 and appeared at last year's World Cup, added another first-leg goal in the 45th to boost Barcelona's hopes of winning Spain's knockout competition for the first time since 1998.
He is enjoying his best season since joining Barcelona as a junior. In March, he scored a hat trick in the 3-3 draw with Real Madrid.
Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard, who gave Messi his league debut on Oct. 16, 2004 when the forward was 17, described Messi's goal as "a work of art.''
"Messi is a great talent. He has scored a brilliant goal. It's true that it is very like Diego Armando Maradona's, but I think Messi accelerated even faster,'' Rijkaard said.
Messi's teammate, Portugal midfielder Deco, said it was "the greatest goal I have seen in my life.''
However, Getafe coach Bernd Schuster blamed his team for not halting Messi as he began his run.
"We should have fouled him, he can't be allowed to reach the area like that,'' Schuster said.
Former Argentina international Jorge Valdano, who played with Maradona against England in 1986, highlighted differences in the two goals.
"Diego played with pauses and acceleration.
Messi's was down to breakneck speed and acceleration,'' Valdano was quoted as saying by El Pais. "It's impossible not to compare Messi's goal with Maradona's, but the comparison doesn't turn Messi into Maradona.''
Spanish newspapers on Thursday, however, said Messi was now the new Maradona.
Sports daily Marca referred to the Barcelona player as "Messidona,'' while national El Pais said Messi was "the modern version of Maradona.''
"Messi's soccer takes up where Maradona's left off,'' the newspaper added. Maradona, 46, is currently hospitalized with a bout of hepatitis blamed on alcohol abuse. It the eighth time he has been in hospital since he retired in 1997.

[Scaly Spurs]

Kaka is the most effiecient footballer I have ever seen

KAKA! Finally, people are recognising his quality.

(Maybe there's hope for Jermaine Hue?)

If scientist did a test on how much energy he expells during a game and then do a ratio of his on the ball distribution accuracy rate and his off the ball defensive positioning it would be the highest of all footballers playing the game.

Where is HL when I need him

[Lazie]

I don't dispute Kaka's greatness, suh Pele not saying nothing new. As a matter of fact, I made a post...

Let it be known. The 3 best
footballers in my book is

Kaka, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo (of Portugal). Not in any specific order.

[Mosiah]

So true! Very efficient player! Makes it look too easy.