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Messi vs Pele: Who is the GOAT of football and why?
Claudia Kogi
updated at June 13, 2023 at 9:52 AM
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The greatest soccer debates are mainly about the best clubs, countries, and legendary players who have gone down in history books as all-time legends. Some famous and legendary footballers who have been the talk of every fan in the 21st century are Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pele, and Diego Maradona, among others. However, the Messi vs Pele debate has repeatedly gone over the roof whenever the two legends are mentioned, thanks to their career stats.
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The duo is undoubtedly the greatest football legends to ever grace the field with stunning records, history, achievements, and unmatched awards. Find more details about Pele vs Messi and determine who is the GOAT of football and why right here.
Messi vs Pele's profile and bio summaries
Messi | Pele | |
Full name | Lionel Andres Messi | Edson Arantes do Nascimento |
Date of birth | 24 June 1987 | 23 October 1940 |
Age | 35 years of age (as of June 2023) | Passed at 82 |
Place of birth | Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina | Tres Coracoes, Brazil |
Nationality | Argentine | Brazilian |
Club(s) | Barcelona, Paris Saint Germain, Inter Miami, Argentina | Santos, New York Cosmos, Brazil |
Position(s) | Attacking midfielder, forward | Attacking midfielder, forward |
Career goals | 806 in 1027 appearances | 767 in 832 appearances |
International goals | 102 in 174 appearances | 77 in 92 appearances |
Trophies and awards | 1-time World Cup winner 2022, Copa America winner 2021, CONMEBAL-UEFA Cup of Champions 2022 | 3-time World Cup winner 1958, 1962, 1970 |
Lionel Messi vs Pele's career goals and assists
The Argentine has scored 806 goals in his career with 338 assists in 1,027 appearances, while the Brazilian scored 767 goals and 352 assists in 832 appearances.
Although their tallies in terms of appearances and goals are almost at par, Messi overtook Pele to become the leading goal scorer for the South American continent when he scored a hat-trick against Bolivia in the 2021 World Cup qualifiers.
Messi vs Pele international goals
Internationally, the Argentine has scored 102 goals in 174 appearances, while the Brazilian managed 77 goals in 92 appearances in his career. The goal ratio for international goals and appearances for Messi is 0.59, while that for Pele is 0.84.
Messi vs Pele all-time stats
The two legends have left a footprint in the heart of the soccer world with incredible records that have gone down in history books.
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That said, the Argentine's all-time stats stand at 806 goals with 357 assists in 1,027 appearances, while the Brazilian's all-time stats stand at 756 goals with 367 assists in 819 appearances.
Source: Getty Images
Pele vs Messi accomplishments and awards
The Brazilian took home three World Cup trophies alongside other accomplishments, such as the CONMEBOL Libertadores Cup in 1962, 1963, the South American Super Cup in 1968, and 21 other awards from various leagues in his competition.
On the other hand, the Argentine won the 2022 World Cup that was held in Qatar. Additionally, he won the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions, 4-time UEFA Champions League winner, 8-time La Liga, and 2-time Ligue 1 title, among other achievements.
Who is the best, Messi or Pele?
According to statistics from various online sources, the Argentine proved that he was one of the best footballers in the world when he secured his seventh Ballon d'Or. On the other hand, the Brazilian King of soccer is regarded as the greatest of all time.
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The debate has always been top-notch, with players' skills and career stats arguing for them. Deciding who is the best between the two is no ordinary task since each legend has proven to be the best in their particular area of expertise.
Does Messi have more goals than Pele?
In his career, the Argentine has scored 806 goals with 357 assists in 1,027 appearances, while the Brazilian has scored 756 goals with 367 assists in 819 appearances. That said, it is safe to say that Messi has more goals than Pele.
Source: Getty Images
Who is the best footballer in history?
Various online sources are still collecting data to determine who is the best football player in history. Due to his performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Lionel is the most popular candidate recognised as the greatest player of all time. His counterpart and rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, is considered the best player in history to ever play the game by many critics and his statistical data analysis and comparison.
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Did Pele win the Ballon d’Or?
The Brazilian took home some of the world's biggest trophies and awards the world could offer, but unfortunately, he never got to take home the Ballon d'Or. Although he passed away, the renowned athlete forever sealed his name in the history books.
Who did Pele think was the GOAT?
Source: Getty Images
In his own words, Pele said that he would start Messi if he had to decide. However, alongside the Argentine, the Brazilian also mentioned some of the renowned legends he believed were great in their ways.
The legendary players included Diego Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo, Alfredo Di Stefano, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane, Johan Cruyff, and Zico.
With keen insight, the comparison of Messi vs Pele can be put to rest once and for all. As discussed, it may seem more challenging to compare two great legends who have done the impossible in the soccer world. Although there are other legends, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Maradona, these two have left marks yet to be filled by upcoming stars.
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