
<p>In 2013, during a visit with Pope Francis, legendary Italian goalkeeper <a href="https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/news-juventus-legend-gianluigi-buffon-compares-lionel-messi-cristiano-ronaldo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gianluigi Buffon</a> touched Lionel Messi’s face and stated “I wanted to make sure he was human like us. </p>



<p>For me,&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/lionel-messi-says-2022-will-be-his-last-world-cup-20221007-WST-403423.html">Lionel Messi</a> is an alien that dedicates himself to playing with humans.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>High praise from one of football’s greatest goalkeepers. And yes, Lionel Messi is human but in Qatar this year he has joined a very elite duo in the history of the sport to become immortal.</p>



<h5><strong>Pel</strong><strong>é</strong><strong></strong></h5>



<p>For as long as there will be soccer, all players will be measured against Pele to assess their greatness. He lifted his first <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">World Cup </a>trophy at the age of 17 and then went on to lift it twice more in his international career. </p>



<p>At club level, Pele spent 19 seasons with Santos where he won 6 Brasileiro championships; the Copa Libertadores twice; two Intercontinental Cups; and 10 Campeonato Paulista titles – a championship where he was top scorer 11 times. </p>



<p>His subsequent move to the United States to play with the New York Cosmos added yet another dimension to the legend that was Pele. </p>



<p>There were certainly other great players that wowed the public during the 50’s &amp; 60’s. There was Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas, Raymond Kopa, Eusebio, Bobby Charlton, Gianni Rivera and many others. </p>



<p>But as great as these individuals were, Pele was special. Something better than “great”. A level of skill that we would not see for another 20 or so years. Until a young Argentine came unto the scene.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🔝 All Time Goals &amp; Assists in FIFA World Cup History;<br><br>🥇 🇧🇷 20 Pele=12⚽️+ 8🅰️<br>🥈 🇦🇷 19 Lionel Messi=11⚽️ + 8🅰️<br>🥈 🇩🇪 19 Klose=16⚽️+3🅰️<br>🥈 🇧🇷 19 Ronaldo=15⚽️+4🅰️<br>🥈 🇩🇪 19 Gerd Muller=14⚽️+5🅰️<br>🥉 🇵🇱 17 Lato=10⚽️+7🅰️<br>🥉 🇩🇪 17 Uwe Seeler=9⚽️+8🅰️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a>|<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi%F0%93%83%B5?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Messi𓃵</a>|<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GOAT%F0%93%83%B5?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GOAT𓃵</a> <a href="https://t.co/le8vIinoyb">pic.twitter.com/le8vIinoyb</a></p>— FIFA World Cup Stats (@alimo_philip) <a href="https://twitter.com/alimo_philip/status/1602975704437919746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h5><strong>Maradona</strong><strong></strong></h5>



<p>Diego Armando Maradona was not born yet when Pele lifted his first World Cup trophy. He was 10 years old by the time Pele lifted his third. </p>



<p>At the tender age of 16, Maradona made his senior debut for his local Argentinos Juniors in 1976 before a short stint at Argentine giants Boca Juniors where he also finished his career. </p>



<p>A career that took him from Argentina to Europe with stints at Barcelona, Napoli &amp; Sevilla. Maradona made his World Cup debut in 1982 in Spain where Argentina were eliminated in the second round. </p>



<p>But in the following World Cup in1986 in Mexico was were the comparisons to Pele were justified for Maradona. In the following World Cup in 1990, Argentina made it all the way to the Final before being beaten by West Germany. </p>



<p>Maradona, unlike Pele, had the fortune of playing on the world scene during the same time as TV coverage became global. Literally billions across the world were fortunate enough to see the magic Maradona created on the field. </p>



<p>Like Pele, he was certainly compared to many others that graced the soccer fields across the world and could be considered “greats” of their time. Names like Michel Platini, Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten &amp; Lother Matheus come to mind. </p>



<p>But yet again like Pele, there was “something” that lifted Maradona above all the others. A level of skill that made all that it was compared to look “ordinary”. It would take another 20 years before we were graced with another “fenomeno”.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What an unbelievable game! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Argentina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Argentina</a> you are the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> champions. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Messi</a> vs <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mbappe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mbappe</a> was the highlight. Messi is undisputed GOAT of his generation. Like Pele, Maradona before him ♥️ <a href="https://t.co/GRqOSXcQHD">pic.twitter.com/GRqOSXcQHD</a></p>— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaviShastriOfc/status/1604538419870199808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h5><strong>Messi</strong><strong></strong></h5>



<p>It’s 2022 and we finally have a “holy trinity”. Just like Maradona was not born yet when his predecessor lifted his first World Cup trophy, Leo Messi was not born yet when Maradona lifted his World Cup trophy. </p>



<p>We are all well aware of Messi’s club level achievements. For Barcelona, where he debuted at the senior level at the age of 16 (like Maradona), he had 520 appearances in which he scored 474 goals. </p>



<p>He lifted 10 La Liga trophies; 4 UEFA Champions League titles; 3 UEFA Super Cup as well as 3 Club World Cup titles. Incredible numbers but in the cruel world that could be soccer, none of it would matter without the World Cup trophy. </p>



<p>It is a crowning achievement for any player but to be even considered with the likes of Pele and Maradona, it was necessary for Messi to go all the way in Qatar. </p>



<p>Much later in his playing career compared to Pele or Maradona, Messi has finally put aside any doubts the public may have had of his greatness. Messi’s name deserves to be spoken about in the same breathe with Pele and Maradona.</p>



<h5><strong>The Future</strong><strong></strong></h5>



<p>If history teaches us anything, it’s that it tends to repeat itself. History tells us that in the next few months/years, a child will be born that will be talked about in the same breathe as Pele, Maradona &amp; Messi.</p>



<p>History tells us that the child will likely be born in South America. But that, of course, is not a certainty. It could be born in Africa, Asia, Europe and even North America. </p>



<p>That child may already have been born and even already be kicking a soccer ball somewhere on the globe. I hope so. It’s hard to wait 20 or so years to be so blessed as to witness greatness on a soccer field. </p>



<p>In the meantime, there are certainly plenty of players that will entertain us as well as open debates on do they deserve to join the holy trinity. </p>



<p>Most importantly, knowing how rare such “alien” talent, as Gianluca Buffon puts it, is bestowed upon us, let’s appreciate the moment and be grateful that we were here to witness something beyond “great”. </p>



<p>Something that makes those who are great seem like mere mortals.</p>



<p>Photo credit: IMAGO / Bildbyran</p>



<div style="background:#f9e4ea;padding:10px;">
<h3>Guide to World Cup 2022</h3>
<div style="padding:10px;">
Here are some resources to help you get the most out of the biggest event in soccer!
</div>
<div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/"><strong>TV Schedule:</strong></a> All the info on <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">where and when to watch</a> every game
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/"><strong>The Groups:</strong></a> We <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/">breakdown each group</a> and all the teams
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-jerseys-for-qatar-2022/"><strong>The Kits:</strong></a> Check out <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-jerseys-for-qatar-2022/">what every team will be wearing</a> on the field this fall
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/predictor/"><strong>Predictor:</strong></a> Play out every scenario with our <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/predictor/">World Cup Predictor</a>
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/"><strong>World Cup Bracket:</strong></a> Map out the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/">entire tournament</a>, from the groups to the final
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/"><strong>World Cup Hub:</strong></a> Your one stop for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">everything Qatar 2022</a>
</div>
</div>


Winning the World Cup puts Lionel Messi in the same league as Pele and Maradona as an immortal of the game.

Messi joins Pelé and Maradona as immortals - World Soccer Talk

Messi joins Pelé and Maradona as immortals

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<p>The debate over who is the greatest soccer player of all time is seldom a cordial one. This opinion is baked into the minds of soccer fans over their ‘G.O.A.T.’ is.</p>
<p>Of course, there are plenty of factors that come into play over who someone considers truly great. Home country is a major factor. Brazilians lay claim that <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54543144">Pele</a> is the greatest ever because he is the best player to don the famous yellow kit.</p>
<p>Then there are trophies. One of Pele’s biggest claims to greatness is the fact that he is the only player to win three World Cups in his career. It speaks to the longevity of his career, and his impact to produce on the biggest stage. In Argentina, many fans consider <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2022/05/12/diego-maradonas-distinguished-controversial-world-cup-legacy/">Diego Maradona</a> the greatest player ever because he seemingly single-handedly brought Argentina the 1986 World Cup.</p>
<p>However, recency certainly plays a role. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2022/05/19/qatar-world-cup-marks-last-dance-for-messi-and-ronaldo/">Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo</a> light up the ‘GOAT’ debate in the modern era. Their dueling careers atop the world game make fans born in the 1990s and 2000s believe that these two are, by far, the greatest soccer players of all time.</p>
<p>Finally, people’s personal preference as to what makes a player great comes into question. Is it all about goals? Perhaps playmaking and assists take the cake? Or, some people are not all about the statistics. How impactful was a midfielder in each game they played? Did this club or country have so much success because of a rock at the back?</p>
<h3>Who is the greatest soccer player of all time?</h3>
<p>We want to know who you believe is the greatest player to grace the game.</p>
<p>Personally, as a 23-year-old that started truly watching soccer around Euro 2008 or the 2010 World Cup, Lionel Messi is the greatest of all time. Of course, my bias lies with my Barcelona fandom. Plus, I never watched players like Pelé, Maradona, Cruyff, Maldini or Zidane. Therefore, my ‘GOAT’ debate was always between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.</p>
<p>Undoubtedly, some of you will say Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest of all time. That, like any of the other aforementioned players, is a fair argument to make.</p>
<p>Be sure to mention what moment or game this player put together that really made him or her stand out for you when you think about the greatest soccer player of all time.</p>


The debate over who is the greatest soccer player of all time is not one that tends to happen over a nice chat. Who is your soccer 'GOAT'?

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Lionel Messi

Messi joins Pelé and Maradona as immortals

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Who is the greatest soccer player of all time?