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Rio de Janeiro - Pele says Lionel Messi still needs to improve at international level before he can be considered the greatest football player of all time, and needs to score more goals to come close to matching the Brazilian great.
The 24-year-old Messi has already won the Ballon d'Or as the world's best player for three straight years. But in an interview with French newspaper Le Monde published Friday, the 71-year-old Pele says "when Messi's scored 1 283 goals like me, when he's won three World Cups, we'll talk about it."
Although many observers consider Pele or Diego Maradona to be the greatest ever, Messi's form for Barcelona has him being mentioned in the same group. But Messi has not shone for Argentina in big tournaments.
The 24-year-old Messi has already won the Ballon d'Or as the world's best player for three straight years. But in an interview with French newspaper Le Monde published Friday, the 71-year-old Pele says "when Messi's scored 1 283 goals like me, when he's won three World Cups, we'll talk about it."
Although many observers consider Pele or Diego Maradona to be the greatest ever, Messi's form for Barcelona has him being mentioned in the same group. But Messi has not shone for Argentina in big tournaments.
