Ronaldo or Messi? Brazil star Pele gives his verdict on who is no1, laments there is a lack of legends playing today

Cristiano Ronaldo is the No 1 player in the world ahead of Messi, that is according to Brazilian football legend, Pele. The legend is saddened that the debate these days is only between the Portuguese and the Argentine, and has been for some years.

Pele recounted on his fingers the competition he had to beat in his prime. He went: 'George Best, Bobby Moore, Jairzinho, Bobby Charlton, Pele, Zico, Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Zidane, Maradona. Now you say Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi — Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi. It's not too good for football.'

He then proclaimed: 'At the moment the best player in the world is Ronaldo. I admire him, if I had to set up a national team he would be my first pick. But in the meantime I feel sorry because today and the last five years, you just mention two big stars. Some years ago, you had a lot of players.'

He chuckles at the memory of presenting Ronaldo with his Ballon d'Or three years ago, recalling the occasion as if it was an honour.
Ronaldo reminds Pele of Ronaldo — the Brazilian one. Just his younger namesake, Ronaldo terrified defenders with his pace and aggression and relentless pursuit of goals. Now everyone is obsessed with comparison - between Ronaldo and Messi? The older generation or the younger generation? Pele though cannot compare himself or Diego Maradona with Cristiano Ronaldo not just due to the difference in era, but more importantly their different roles.

'Maradona, myself, it's a little bit different than him,' he explains. 'Cristiano is higher up the pitch, more central, more direct, more for scoring. But what is important is he is a player who decides the game. He is a player who scores goals. That's the same.

'But we cannot compare Pele and Maradona with Cristiano because we were players who came from behind. We played deeper. He plays in front. He's more like (the Brazilian) Ronaldo. This you can compare.

'It's the same with Messi. They are two players with completely different styles. Messi is playing more from midfield, he is an excellent player and passer. But Ronaldo is more forward, the No 9, the striker. He has a different style to Messi.

While he acknowlegded Gareth Bale and Neymar, he admitted that they are still not good enough.

'You have Bale and Neymar, but they are not enough. You used to have two or three players in one team who were stars. Now there are that many in the world. It's a shame. The game deserves more great players.'