Who deserves the title of the greatest of all time: Messi, Maradona, or Pelé?

Image caption: At thirty-nine, Messi remains a key pillar for the Argentine national team during the 2026 World Cup.

Article Information

Author: Julia Granchi, Role: BBC News Brazil

Published: One hour ago

Read time: 6 minutes

As Lionel Messi prepares to play in the third World Cup final of his career, a familiar question resurfaces: Is the Argentine star the greatest footballer of all time? And has he surpassed his compatriot Diego Maradona and the Brazilian Pelé?

At thirty-nine, Messi remains a key pillar for the Argentine national team during the 2026 World Cup.

Analysts say that although he is no longer the explosive player he was in his younger years, he continues to influence matches through his vision, positioning, and decision-making, often acting as a coach on the pitch.

But has he truly surpassed his rivals?

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The argument for Messi

Those who place Messi at the top of football's all-time rankings usually point to two advantages: longevity and consistency.

Unlike many great players whose peak years were relatively short, Messi has remained among the world's elite for nearly two decades.

During that period, he won a record eight Ballon d'Or awards, league titles in Spain and France, Champions League titles, the Copa América, and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, alongside recording remarkable statistics in goals and assists.

His supporters also point to his ability to succeed in different environments, from Barcelona's dominance in Europe to Argentina's return to the forefront on the international stage.

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For Messi's supporters, the combination of talent, consistency, and athletic longevity makes him unique compared to any other player in history.

French striker Thierry Henry also points to an exceptional level of competitiveness in his former Barcelona teammate.

In an interview with the Spanish newspaper Marca, Henry recalled training sessions at the Catalan club, saying that all it took was for Messi to feel he had been treated unfairly for his entire approach to change.

The Frenchman summed it up by saying, "Do not wake the beast," recalling situations where the Argentine scored several goals in a short time after believing a foul had been committed against him that was not called.

Maradona's shadow

Image caption: Maradona and Messi are two of Argentina's greatest sporting icons.

In Argentina, the debate over Messi's place among football's greats has remained linked primarily to comparisons with Diego Maradona, the captain who led the team to the 1986 World Cup title, more so than with Pelé or other global football stars.

Maradona's influence extended far beyond football, as he became a symbol of national identity for many Argentinians.

Spanish journalist Guillem Balagué, one of the most prominent biographers of Messi, told BBC News Brazil: "Maradona was the King of Argentina. And the King is not elected, he simply represents the country."

For years, some Argentinians admired Messi's talent, but they still saw Maradona as a more authentic national figure.

Maradona, who passed away in 2020, grew up in poverty, openly defied authority, engaged in politics, and crafted an image based on rebellion and charisma that resonated with many.

As for Messi, he took a completely different path. He is reserved off the pitch, does not tend to discuss political issues, is focused almost entirely on football, and has spent much of his career avoiding attention outside the game's boundaries.

Maradona: The football legend who enchanted millions

How Messi changed perceptions of him

The way Argentinians view Messi began to change after the national team won the 2021 Copa América, ending a 28-year wait for a major international title.

This shift accelerated during the 2022 World Cup, when Messi led Argentina to its third world title.

During the tournament, Messi showed a more emotional and impulsive side, taking on a leadership role that many fans had long associated with Maradona.

"Messi revealed new sides of his personality, and people began to view him as the team's leader," says Balagué.

For many Argentinians, these moments helped close the emotional gap that had long separated Messi from Maradona.

However, Balagué believes the debate has not been entirely settled.

He says: "Today, Messi has surpassed Maradona as a footballer, but there will always be Argentinians who feel that Maradona represents them better."

The argument for Pelé

Image caption: Brazilian Pelé and Argentine Diego Maradona are among the greatest footballers in history.

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Some analysts believe that Messi has not only surpassed his Argentine compatriot but has also exceeded Pelé, the Brazilian legend known as the "King of Football" who passed away in 2022.

Pelé remains the only player to have won the World Cup three times, contributing to Brazil's title wins in 1958, 1962, and 1970.

In a 2018 interview with the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, Pelé said that Maradona was "much better" than Messi, considering that the Argentine star relies too heavily on his left foot and does not possess the versatility that characterized other greats of the game.

"(Franz) Beckenbauer and (Johan) Cruyff were also better," added Pelé, referring to the German and Dutch stars who reached their peak during the 1970s.

Tostão, a former Brazil star, had a different opinion. In 2021, he said that Messi had surpassed Maradona, but he still ranked behind Pelé.

"After Pelé, Messi is the best player in history," Tostão said. "He is more complete than Maradona, and his career was longer. The difference between Pelé and Messi is physical; Pelé was stronger and more superior athletically."

Pelé himself believed that his skills were incomparable to Messi's.

He told Folha de S.Paulo: "How can you compare someone who can head the ball and shoot with both feet to another who relies on one foot and cannot head the ball?"

He added: "For any player to be compared to Pelé, they must be able to shoot with both feet and score with their head."

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More than just statistics

This disagreement reveals a broader problem. If statistics alone were the criterion for greatness, perhaps this debate would have been settled a long time ago.