Pele: I’d choose MESSI over RONALDO

Pele insists he would rather have Lionel Messi than Cristiano Ronaldo in his team as the two prepare to go head-to-head in Sunday’s Clasico. The two modern-day greats are set to face off in the crucial clash, with Barcelona currently a point ahead of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. And Pele, who won three World Cups during his playing days and is widely regarded as the finest footballer of all time, says that he would pick Messi over Ballon d’Or holder Ronaldo if he were a coach. “They play a different kind of football, but I think Messi is more for the team, and gives more assists, whereas Ronaldo is more about scoring,” he told Goal in an exclusive interview. “I think Ronaldo is a lot like Ronaldo Nazario from Brazil, he is the same style as him. “If I had a team and had to choose, I’d choose Messi. But both players are fantastic.” Asked whether the two would be able to replicate their current goalscoring exploits in his era, Pele insisted the pair have timeless talent. “No, I think they are good players who could play at any time. Even in my time, I managed to score more than 1000 goals,” he added. Messi will line up alongside Pele’s compatriot Neymar on Sunday, with the Brazilian star having netted 26 goals in 35 games so far this term. But the 74-year-old, speaking at a Subway restaurant in London after preparing a footlong sandwich alongside former Liverpool stars Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman, insists the Barca attacker can get even better with experience. “Listen, we always expect Neymar to play well..even myself, for example, because he is from Santos and I helped him when he was a youth,” he said. “My son, Edinho, was a goalkeeper at Santos and was his coach there. Then everybody crossed their fingers hoping that Neymar would keep it going. “He is a good player, no doubt. I think he needs a little bit more experience, but he has a great future.”