Ignoring the fact that Messi was one of the best players at the 2010 World Cup despite Argentina’s early exit, Pele told The Sun: “I think a ‘great’ player is defined by their performances at the World Cup.
“For example, watch Lionel Messi play for Barcelona. He is very good. Exceptional. But for Argentina, he’s completely different.
“Compare him to Zinedine Zidane. He won the World Cup and was at the top for 15 years. He was a more complete player than Messi.
“Before Zidane there was Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini and Bobby Moore.
“Great players who won World Cups or, in Cruyff and Platini’s case, starred in them.”
