Pele: Messi is not as good as Neymar

Football legend Pele says Lionel Messi is only the second-best player in the world - behind Brazilian striker Neymar.

The triple World Cup winner, speaking at an event to celebrate his old club Santos' centenary, said: "There's always this Maradona comparison, saying that he's better than Pele.

"Now some are saying that Messi is better than Pele. Well, he has to be better than Neymar first, which he isn't yet. He has more experience."

Alas Pele's thoughts on football aren't always to be taken seriously. In the past he has predicted world stardom for both Nicky Barmby and Nicky Butt, claimed former Coventry player Nil Lamptey would be "the next Pele" and said an African nation would win the World Cup before 2000.

In 2002 he famously tipped Brazil to not get out of their World Cup group and to be spectators at a final contested by France and Argentina. In the event, those sides both exited at the first hurdle and the Brazilians won the tournament.