Ronaldo is the world”s best footballer right now: Pele

TIL Desk Sports/ Brazilian football great Pele has described Cristiano Ronaldo as the world”s best contemporary footballer, rating the Juventus forward ahead of Barcelona”s Lionel Messi.

But the 79-year-old believes neither Ronaldo nor Messi are as good as he was during a celebrated career with Santos, the New York Cosmos and Brazil.

“Right now, Cristiano Ronaldo is the best, because he is the most consistent over the past 10 years, although Messi should not be forgotten,” Pele said in an interview on the Pilhado YouTube channel.

The former Brazil No. 10 also cited Zico, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo Nazario, Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff in his list of all-time favourite players. He did not mention former Argentina forward Diego Maradona, widely regarded as Pele”s only rival for the title of the greatest player in history.