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Maradona mocks Pele, defends Messi

Comment: 0 December 2nd, 2011 by: admin

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona publicly mocked old rival Pele in a press conference Thursday for suggesting that Santos striker Neymar is a better player than Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

The former Barcelona player said that Pele’s statements of 19-year old Neymar being more competitive than 24-year old Messi proved that the Brazilian icon was taking the ‘wrong medication’.

‘He took the wrong pill,’ said Maradona, who at 71 now manages Dubai-based Al Wasl in the United Arab Emirates Football League.

‘Instead of taking the pill before bedtime, he took his morning pill.

‘He got confused and he doesn’t know what he’s saying,’ he continued.  ‘I suggest that next time he takes the right medication before he starts to speak and that he changes his doctor.’

Maradona’ statements came shortly after Pele controversially declared that Neymar was overall a better player despite Messi’s growing acclaim for being not just the best footballer in the world, and in history.

‘Making an individual comparison, I think Neymar is much better, more complete,’ Pele had said, to everyone’s surprise.  ‘[He] hits well with both feet, can dribble off either side, and scores goals.

‘Messi is very good, but depends on where he plays,’ he continued, moving on to Messi’s inconsistencies when playing for Barcelona, and for Argentina.

‘He is doing very well in Barcelona, but [with] the Argentina team, which is not yet fully formed, he has difficulties.  Neymar plays well for both Santos and the national team.’

Pele’s glowing remarks about Neymar were further highlighted by his statements hinting that the Santos striker could in the future prove to be better than him.

‘Better than me?’ asked Pele.  ‘Maybe.  There will never be another Pele, but I have said this before and will repeat: I will pass my crown on to the best.  And he is the best.’

According to Maradona, although Neymar is an excellent player, there is no question that he will never match the skills of Messi, who is in the running for what could be his third FIFA Player of the Year award in a row.

Maradona’s swipe at Pele is merely part of a long but continuous rivalry between the two players, who are the subjects of an ongoing debate regarding the number one player of all time.

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