Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona continues to make waves even after being named as the 2015 Ballon d’Or world’s best male player.

The Argentine forward recently accomplished another milestone when he became the first player to score more than 300 La Liga goals. At the rate he is going, it would not be surprising to find him in the company of soccer legends like Pele and Diego Maradona.

Messi’s inclusion on the list of greatest footballers is viewed no less by a former Brazilian playmaker Zico.

"He is starting to surpass the level of Pele, Garrincha, [Johan] Cruyff, [Franz] Beckenbauer and [Diego] Maradona," said Zico.

With Arsenal and Barcelona set to tangle in the Champions League last Tuesday, the worries of Zico could be more than just the 28-year-old forward.

Aside from Messi, there is also Luis Suarez and Neymar to worry about. That vaunted frontline is the major obstacle that Zico and Arsenal have to deal with. But of that mix, Messi is someone who has dealt the ballclub heartbreaks in the past.

That includes scoring four goals at Camp Nou against Arsene Wenger back in 2010. This means that Zico will expected wary what a seasoned Messi is capable of right now with two more strikers that could also deliver killer blows.

"The trident is fantastic because they play as a team and suit each other perfectly," Zico adds.

There is no question that Messi will eventually be feted and will join that elite circle of greats, but Zico feels that his supporting cast could also make it someday. Of the Barcelona "trident," he has paid attention to fellow Brazilian Neymar, who finished second runner-up behind Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

In fact, he wouldn’t be surprised if the 24-year-old winger ends up being the world’s best next player.

"It would not be surprising at all if Neymar was named the best player in the world," he said.

Zico had his best years back in the 1970s, overshadowed by the great Pele and Maradona. He was considered one of the gifted players of his prime, so praising Messi and Neymar comes with credibility.

So where does Cristiano Ronaldo end up in all that?

Ronaldo is the closest rival that Messi (and Neymar) has when it comes to being the best in the world of soccer right now. While Zico’s revelations seem to be constrained to the "trident," it may not come as a surprise if he does one day share his insights on Ronaldo as well.

Ronaldo is a back-to-back Ballon d’Or awardee as well, winning it in 2013 and 2014.