“His teammates did not have the names that Messi has today” – When Pele named ex-Real Madrid midfielder as ‘better’ than Lionel Messi

Brazilian legend Pele and Lionel Messi

Brazilian football legend Pele once rated former Real Madrid midfielder Zinedine Zidane higher than Lionel Messi. In 2013, when the Argentine superstar was dominating the football world with Barcelona, Pele opined that former French midfielder Zidane was better than Messi in individual ability.

The Brazilian icon had reasoned that Zidane didn't have the type of teammates Messi had during his time. Pele named Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta as Messi's top teammates. He said (via Real Total):

"Zidane was better than Messi as an individual player. He was spectacular and his teammates did not have the names that Messi has today. There in Barcelona he had players like Iniesta, Xavi and co. at his side."