Romario picks Pele over Messi in GOAT debate
Lionel Messi’s emotional farewell to the Argentine national team has reignited football’s age-old debate over who deserves to be called the greatest of all time, with Brazilian legend Romario insisting that Pele still stands above the Argentine superstar.
Romario, a key figure in Brazil’s 1994 World Cup triumph, shared his views in a column published in Brazilian newspaper O Dia, praising Messi’s extraordinary career while making it clear that, in his eyes, Pele remains unmatched in football history.
Was he greater than Pele? Messi is a monster, but he doesn't compare to Pele. There will never be another with that combination of technique, speed, and precision. I have a lot of respect for Messi; he was one of the greatest of all time, but 50 years ago Pele was already playing ahead of his time!.
“Was he greater than Pele? Messi is a monster, but he doesn't compare to Pele. There will never be another with that combination of technique, speed, and precision. I have a lot of respect for Messi; he was one of the greatest of all time, but 50 years ago Pele was already playing ahead of his time!” the former striker wrote.
The Brazilian’s verdict carries considerable weight, given his own remarkable achievements on the international stage. Romario scored 55 goals in more than 70 appearances for Brazil and was named the best player at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, where his five goals helped the Selecao lift the coveted trophy.
At club level, he enjoyed successful spells at PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona under Johan Cruyff. He also won two Copa America titles and a Confederations Cup, cementing his reputation as one of the finest forwards of his generation.
Beyond the debate over football’s greatest player, Romario also reflected on an emotional moment from his own international career -- his final appearance for Brazil in 2005 against Guatemala.
Romario scored in Brazil’s 3-0 victory that day, but the goal carried a deeply personal significance. He celebrated by revealing a message on a shirt worn beneath his official jersey, dedicated to his daughter Ivy, who had been diagnosed with Down syndrome.
“It was a very emotional day, and when I scored my last goal for the national team, I showed the shirt I was wearing under my official uniform, which said: 'I have a little girl with Down syndrome who is a little princess.' It was Ivy's introduction to football, as she was one month old,” he recalled.
The memory of that farewell offered a poignant parallel with Messi’s own emotional goodbye to Argentina’s national colours.
The Argentine captain bid farewell in front of more than 90,000 supporters at the Monumental Stadium, bringing down the curtain on an extraordinary chapter with a 3-0 victory over Benin. Messi marked the occasion by scoring his 126th international goal from the penalty spot.
Addressing the crowd after the match, the Rosario-born forward struggled to hide his emotions as he reflected on his journey with the national team and remembered his father, Jorge Messi, who passed away on August 7.
“The first thing I think about is my dad,” Messi said, before admitting how difficult it would be to walk away from international football.
“Not coming back is going to be really hard for me. I swear I would love to. Playing for the Argentine National Team is the best thing that can happen to you. I feel like it’s the right time,” he added.
A day later, Messi turned to Instagram to express his gratitude to the country that had stood behind him throughout his career.
“Everything has been said. And now, everything is done. And the only words that come from my heart are: thank you, Argentina,” he wrote alongside a photograph of himself holding a shirt bearing the message.
The image also evoked one of the most iconic celebrations of his career — the moment he held up his jersey to Real Madrid supporters at the Santiago Bernabeu after scoring in a dramatic El Clasico victory in 2017. His farewell post reportedly attracted more than nine million likes within five hours.
Messi’s international legacy is difficult to rival. He led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar, won the Copa America in 2021 and 2024, lifted the Finalissima trophy and claimed Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games. He had also won the Under-20 World Cup in 2005.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. With 126 goals in 208 appearances for Argentina, Messi has established himself as the national team’s leading scorer and one of the most influential players the game has ever produced.
Yet Romario’s comments underline why the GOAT debate continues to divide generations of football fans. While Messi’s achievements have strengthened his claim to the throne, the Brazilian believes Pele’s extraordinary talent and pioneering influence remain beyond comparison.
Comments