Ex Brazil Star names Lionel Messi alongside 2 legends as the greatest players in football history

Former Brazil international, Felipe Melo has added Lionel Messi to his list of football's greatest legends.

Melo, a key figure in Fluminense's victorious Copa Libertadores campaign, has placed the Argentine on par with iconic figures like Pele and Diego Maradona.

Despite being 36, Messi continues to shine for both club and country.

His recent achievements, leading Argentina to their third World Cup title and claiming an unprecedented eighth Ballon d'Or in 2023, have solidified his status among the pantheons of the game's greatest.

In a recent 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Brazil, although Messi had a relatively subdued performance at the Maracana, Argentina secured a 1-0 victory, marking the Selecao's first home loss in a World Cup qualifier, per Sky Sports.

Before the game, Melo had expressed his sentiments, indicating his admiration for the Argentine's continuous evolution and exceptional recent performances, lauding the veteran forward as 'the best in the world'.

"Brazil play against the world champion, and they have Messi, who for me is the best player in history with Pele and Maradona," he told Ole, as quoted by Sportskeeda.

The 40-year-old ceded that Messi did not have the speed of his younger years but appeared to have compensated with a greater vision on the pitch.

"It's crazy, it's awesome. If he doesn't have speed, he has other things that are much better than two, three, four or five years ago. That's why he won the Ballon d'Or so many times . With the ball at his foot, it's fantastic, but without the ball, positioning yourself to see where the ball lands."

Argentina and Lionel Messi became World Cup champions 11 months ago. ????????pic.twitter.com/7RK36iXrXO

— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) November 18, 2023