Pele ambles into the room with the assistance of a walking
stick, but while his body lacks the sharpness of his peak, the great
Brazilian's mind is as keen as ever. The operation he had in December to repair
his replacement hip has slowed him to a steady walk and those famous overhead
kicks and dazzling tricks are a thing of the past, but Pele still gets
excitement from talking about football's greats.
He is quick to assert that Cristiano Ronaldo is the No 1
player in the world, yet he can also reel off 10 names in as many seconds who
competed for that title in the past and is saddened that the debate these days
is only between the Portuguese and Lionel Messi, and has been for some years.
Pele counts on his fingers as he goes. 'George Best, Bobby
Moore, Jairzinho, Bobby Charlton, Pele, Zico, Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Zidane,
Maradona. Now you say Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi — Cristiano Ronaldo and
Messi. It's not too good for football.
'At the moment the best player in the world is Ronaldo. I admire him, if I had to set up a national team he would be my first pick. But in the meantime I feel sorry because today and the last five years, you just mention two big stars. Some years ago, you had a lot of players.'
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