Score one for Cristiano Ronaldo in the ever simmering debate of who reigns supreme between him and Lionel Messi as the game's best.

None other than the legendary Pele tabs Ronaldo as the best today's game has to offer.

"At the moment the best player in the world is Ronaldo," he said of the Real Madrid star. "I admire him, if I had to set up a national team he would be my first pick. But in the meantime I feel sorry because today and the last five years, you just mention two big stars. Some years ago, you had a lot of players."

Pele Insists Ronaldo Reminds Him of...Ronaldo

Pele insists Ronaldo reminds him of the former Brazilian star by the same name. The one who routinely took over games and regularly terrified his competition.

"They are two players with completely different styles" he said of the Portuguese star and Messi. "Messi is playing more from midfield, he is an excellent player and passer. But Ronaldo is more forward, the No 9, the striker. He has a different style to Messi."

Pele insists he comes to identify a superstar based on a sustained period of excellence. Before Ronaldo and Messi, he points to Zinedine Zidane as having reached that level.

It's been a tough recent stretch for Messi in terms of impressing some of the game's biggest legends.

Maradona Contends Messi not a Leader

"He is a great person, but he has no personality," Argentine star Diego Maradona recently said of him. "He doesn't have the personality to be a leader."

Like Pele, Maradona went on to readily sing the praises of Ronaldo.

"Cristiano without a doubt, is the star," he said. "He's one of those players who can single-handedly put his team in the final. He is football culture. Anyone who likes football, likes Cristiano."

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