To many, Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time. Some of football's top names regard him as the best of the best. Gary Lineker and Wayne Rooney are just two stars who think he's the greatest footballer ever. Not everyone agrees with that notion, though. There are some who think Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Messi and there are some who think the likes of Diego Maradona and Pele belong above him in the GOAT list.
The latter is one example of a former footballer who doesn't think Messi is the greatest player of all time. The Brazilian legend is no stranger to outlandish opinions, so it shouldn't surprise many to see that Pele revealed he thought Zinedine Zidane was better than the Barcelona legend.
Diego Maradona, Pele, Lionel Messi Related
Pele Said 19-Year-Old Was ‘Better’ Than Lionel Messi - Diego Maradona Called Him ‘Stupid’
Pele gave the highest praise to this Brazilian talent once, only for fellow legend Diego Maradona to disagree.
Pele Said Zinedine Zidane Was Better Than Lionel Messi
He was a big fan of the Frenchman
If you ask the majority, Zinedine Zidane was one of the most technically gifted stars to ever play football. Not many would consider him to be greater than Messi, however. Pele certainly does, though, and he credited his success, despite being surrounded by lesser players than the Argentine had at Barcelona, as one of the reasons he considered him better.
In quotes shared via Football Espana in 2013, Pele said:
"As an individual, Zidane was even better than Messi. He was a spectacular in an era where his teammates were not big names like those alongside Messi. There, at Barcelona, he has players such as Xavi and Iniesta."
Zidane's career spanned 17 years, starting in 1989 and coming to a close in 2006. The former midfielder played for some of the best sides in the world during his time on the pitch, including Juventus, Real Madrid and the France national team. He won a plethora of trophies over the years, such as a World Cup and multiple Champions League titles. He was a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the park and made football look effortless.
Zinedine Zidane's Career Statistics
Games
Goals
Assists
Trophies
He was even more successful as a manager, guiding Los Blancos to three Champions League trophies and is certainly remembered as one of the best. Still, there won't be many who actually have him above Messi in terms of the all-time greats, but Pele did.
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and accurate as of 26/06/2025