Pele: Neymar will never be as great as me
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Published 26/03/2015 at 11:04 GMT
Pele says it is “impossible” for Neymar to replace him as Brazil’s greatest ever player.
Barcelona's Brazilian forward Neymar da Silva Santos Junior arrives to a training session at the Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper in Sant Joan Despi
Image credit: AFP
At the age of just 23, Neymar already has 42 goals in 60 games for the Selecao and will be looking to increase his tally in Thursday night’s friendly against France.
Pele, widely regarded as the greatest player to come from Brazil, having won the World Cup three times, has 77 international goals and finds his record total under threat.
But the former Santos star says Neymar will not be able to usurp him as Brazil’s favourite ever player.
"I think not,” he said. "I think to be the new king, the new Pele, is impossible, because my mother and my father closed the machine.
“I think he's a good player, an excellent young player and he's going to be a big star, no doubt."
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Pele, Subway
Image credit: From Official Website
Pele also dismissed suggestions that modern players are far superior to those which preceded them.
"If you ask, would Beethoven be important now? Of course," he said.
"If I was in this moment and prepared to play in this moment. The thing people forget is I was given a gift to play football, this is something no-one can judge."
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