Football news - 'Lionel Messi only has one skill!' - Pele rates himself above Barcelona star

Updated 06/12/2018 at 09:41 GMT

Brazil legend Pele has claimed Lionel Messi "only has one skill" and compared him unfavourably with himself and Diego Maradona.

Pele and Lionel Messi

Image credit: Reuters

While many believe the Blaugrana superstar has already established himself as the greatest player of all time, Pele is not convinced and believes there are limitations to his game.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner does not have the all-round game that he and Maradona once possessed, according to the Brazilian.

"How can you compare?" he told Folha de Sao Paulo. "To compare with Pele, it has to be someone who shoots well with the left, shoots well with the right, and scores headers.

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How can you make a comparison between a guy who heads the ball well, shoots with the left, shoots with the right and another who only shoots with one leg, only has one skill and doesn’t head the ball well?

Pele, who won three World Cups, has also suggested that a number of other players sit above the 31-year-old in terms of all-time standing.

"As far as I’m concerned, Maradona was one of the best players ever.