Former Manchester United midfielder Kieran Richardson outlined why he believes Lionel Messi is better than his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

Richardson has reflected on his time working with Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford, where former England international began his career by spending five years on United’s books.

Richardson, who announced his retirement from football in 2017 at the age of 33, has acknowledged that, if forced to choose a winner in the age-old argument, he would choose Ronaldo’s rival Messi as the better player.

On the Steven Sulley Podcast, Richardson was quizzed on the duo and gave his thoughts, claiming: “They’re both the GOATs.”

However, he added, clarifying who comes out on top: “But if I had to pick one, then I have to pick Messi, even though I know Ronaldo, I’ve played with Ronaldo, I love Ronaldo.

“When they pass away, they’ll still be talked about forever, but just because Messi got that World Cup. It’s a massive thing having that World Cup, because even before Messi had the World Cup, everyone was saying, ‘yeah, but he hasn’t won it yet.'”

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Richardson added that winning the 2022 World Cup meant that there was “no question” over Messi’s status as the greatest of all time, placing him above the likes of fellow Argentina icon Diego Maradona and Brazil great Pele.

From 2003 and 2007, during Ronaldo’s formative years, he and Richardson shared the pitch at the Theatre of Dreams.

The adaptable Englishman made his debut around the same time Ronaldo moved to Sporting CP, but after a promising start, he slipped out of the starting lineup in 2006 and left in 2007, while his teammate quickly rose to superstardom.

While Ronaldo’s second stint at United came to a dramatic conclusion when his contract was cancelled by mutual consent in November 2022, more recent events have not been kind to him. He is now playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has hit a tough patch at Al-Nassr after a strong start, and he has to get over his recent outburst against Abha to help them get back on track in their quest for the Saudi Pro League title.

Nevertheless, Messi is currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain and will be back in action on Sunday against Rennes in Ligue 1.

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Following Pele’s death, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said that the football’s governing body will ask every country in the globe to name one of its football stadiums after Pele.

The three-time World Cup winner and national hero from Brazil passed away on December 29 at the age of 82 following a battle with cancer.

At Santos’ Vila Belmiro stadium, where Pele spent the majority of his legendary career, a 24-hour memorial wake is being conducted for him on Monday and Tuesday.

Infantino is currently in Brazil to pay his respects to Pele and told journalists that FIFA wants all its member nations to name – or, indeed, rename – one of their stadiums after the footballing legend.

‘Pele leaves an incredibly legacy for football, a unique legacy,’ he told reporters as he made his way inside the Vila Belmiro stadium.

‘Pele had, I think, the gift of god – a gift that very few people on earth have – and it’s a gift to touch the hearts and emotions of people.

‘The fact that so many people around the world, millions, billions even, like me who have never seen Pele play, remember him. I have, of course, the honour and the luck to meet him personally as well.

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‘But I did not see him play, my father saw him play and he would speak to me about him. I think the legacy that he leaves for what he did on the pitch [is huge].

‘He was the first in doing so many things that 99% of players can only dream about and the other 1% can only do one of the things that he was doing. And he was the first doing all these things.

‘So this will remain in our hearts forever. And we need to make sure that we and the world of football remembers Pele forever as well.

‘And for this reason of course we pay tribute to him by being here. We pay tribute to him by asking all the federations now to pay a minute of silence and tribute to Pele.

‘But we are also going to ask every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums with the name of Pele.

‘In 50 years or 100 years from now, when children are asking, “Who is Pele?” they need to remember him all over the world in a place where you score goals, where you feel emotions, in a stadium, in a football field, where children – boys and girls – can play. We need to make sure of this.’

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A confirmation has been made by the Premier League that, before this weekend’s games, there will be a minute of applause in Pele’s honor.

The Brazilian football icon died at the age of 82 on Thursday after a long battle with cancer, prompting an outpouring of tributes in remembrance of the three-time World Cup winner.

Ahead of Friday night’s games, the Premier League announced that all participants—players as well as officials—would don black armbands in Pele’s honor.

Prior to kick-off at games starting with tonight’s game between West Ham and Brentford, a minute’s applause will also be held.

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A statement from the Premier League added to the mourning for Pele’s death.

It read: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Pele, an extraordinarily gifted footballer who transcended our sport and inspired millions throughout his remarkable career.

“Our thoughts and sincere condolences go to Pele’s family and friends.”

A three-day period of mourning has been announced in Brazil.

A public wake will be held on Monday at Santos’ Estadio Urbano Caldeira before a parade through the Sao Paulo city’s streets on Tuesday.

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AS Roma manager, Jose Mourinho has expressed how he feels about the death of Brazilian football legend, Pele.

Recall that Pele, 82, died on Thursday evening after battling cancer in recent months.

Reacting, Mourinho, in a tweet via his Instagram account, said he was sad over Pele’s death.

The Portuguese also said he was happy to meet with Pele in Manchester when the football icon was alive.

The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager wrote, “‘In 2005 I received the BBC award directly from the king’s hands, and to this day it’s one of my proudest moments. I was so so happy to have him in Manchester where we had such a nice chat and a nice time.

“Rest in peace King Pelé and thinking of his loved ones. I am very sad.”

 

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Cristiano Ronaldo honours “eternal King Pele,” as Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe also pay their respects.

The Portuguese football superstar has characterized Pele as a “reference” point for the rest of football, both in the past and present, as well as still for the future.

Sadly, the Brazilian superstar died on Thursday at the age of 82. He is the only player to have won three World Cups and was regarded as the greatest of all time for decades.

Just a few others have ever come near him in that sense…Diego Maradona, who passed away himself in 2020, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

“My deep condolences to all of Brazil, and in particular to the family of Edson Arantes do Nascimento,” the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star posted on social media.

“A mere ‘goodbye’ to the eternal King Pele will never be enough to express the pain that the entire football world is currently embracing.

“An inspiration to so many millions, a reference yesterday, today and forever. The love you always showed me was reciprocated in every moment we shared even from distance.

“He will never be forgotten and his memory will live forever in each and every one of us football lovers. Rest in peace King Pele.”

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Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe were among the other leading stars of today to share tributes.

Messi posted a much shorter message alongside an image of the pair that read, “Rest in peace.”

 

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Mbappe, the player many now expect to go on and become the best in the world over the coming years and who like Pele won the World Cup as a teenager, said, “The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten. RIP KING.”

 

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The body of Pele, the greatest football player of all time, will be laid to rest at the home of Santos, where he enchanted the world.

Pele, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 82, will be transported directly from the Albert Einstein Hospital to Estádio Urbano Caldeira in Vila Belmiro on Monday morning, where the casket will be positioned in the middle of the field. The public wake is scheduled to start at 10am.

Anyone who wants to say goodbye to the ‘King of Football’ will enter through two gates and separate from politicians and the authorities.

The ceremony will continue until 10am on Tuesday, January 3, when the parade will take place through the streets of Santos.

The press will have access through gate 20 and prior registration will be required, by email, with the rules informed on the club’s official website.

Pele died at the age of 82 following a long battle with colon cancer. He had been in hospital since late last month.

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Daughter Kely Nascimento confirmed his passing with a social media post that said: ‘Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.’

There was a message to the three million followers on Pele’s official Twitter account, too: ‘Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele, who peacefully passed away today. Love, love and love, forever.’

Glowing tributes flowed for the only man to win the World Cup three times, first as a 17-year-old in 1958, again in Chile four years later and then the iconic third win in Mexico in 1970.

In his playing career, he scored 1,282 goals in 1,366 games, which included 77 in 92 appearances for his country.

The Brazilian FA posted a photo of their most famous No 10 celebrating one of those goals and his club Santos posted a sombre image of a golden crown, printing his real name Edson Arantes do Nascimento and the dates of his life.

Earlier this week, Santos added a small crown to their crest, between the stars representing the Intercontinental Cup titles he helped them win in 1962 and 1963.

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The passing of the great footballer, Pele, is one which was expected soon due to recent events surrounding his deteriorating health.

At 82, Pele sure lived a worthy life and enjoyed the luxury it possessed.

Having lived a  fulfilled and glorious life, Mp3bullet has put together five things you might not know about the Brazilian star, Pele.

They are:

1. Pele won his first world cup at the age of 17. 

In 1958, Pelé won his first World Cup in Sweden, where he had a significant impact on the competition. In his lone first-round appearance, he contributed an assist for a goal before scoring the game’s only goal against Wales in the quarterfinal. He scored a hat-trick in the semi-final victory against France, before netting a brace in the 5-2 final over the hosts.

2. Brazil’s president declared Pelé a national treasure

His role in the 1958 world cup, giving Brazil their first ever World Cup led to the government designating him a “national treasure.” The decree was intended to stop Pelé from being transferred to foreign clubs even though he had received multiple offers from European football clubs.

• RELATED: BREAKING: Football Legend, Pele Is Dead
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3. He appeared in several movies like Pele: Birth of a Legend, Once In A Life Time, A Minor Miracle, Victory, You Are What You Were Born For and many others.

4. As a great goal scorer, Pele scored 1,281 goals in his professional career (in 1,363 games). His 1,000th goal was scored at his 909th first-class game.

5. On December 3, 1997, Pele received a British honour from the late Queen Elizabeth for his service to football. As a matter of fact, he was one of just five foreign stars to have received the award and he was the only footballer to possess a KBE.

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Pele, hailed by many as the greatest football player ever, had been struggling with health problems lately. At the 2018 World Cup, he was photographed using a wheelchair. A month later, he was admitted to the hospital after passing out from tiredness.

He had undergone surgery to remove a tumor from his colon in September 2021 and had been receiving regular medical care ever since, but he had been readmitted to the hospital around the end of 2022. Pele’s health did not get any better, and, as his family acknowledged, he remained in the hospital in Sao Paulo throughout the 2022 World Cup and then for Christmas.

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Before his passing was officially announced on December 29, Pele’s daughter Kely Nascimento had been giving the world regular updates on her father throughout the month as news of his illness spread.

Pele retired football, having won three World Cups – and currently remains the only player to do so – and is still Brazil’s top scorer with 77 goals from his 92 caps. Pele reportedly scored over 1200 goals throughout his illustrious playing career, including friendlies and tours of the world, while inspiring the next generation of football with his undeniable talent and flair that was endlessly ahead of its time.

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Pele, a three-time World Cup champion, will remain in the hospital for the Christmas holiday since his cancer has advanced and he needs treatment for renal and cardiac abnormalities.

The legendary Brazilian striker was hospitalized late last month so that physicians could assess his condition and recommend a course of therapy for his colon cancer, which he has had since September 2021. Additionally, he received treatment for a respiratory illness.

His daughter, Kelly Nascimento, revealed on social media that the family will remain with Pele in the hospital while he receives care.

“Insta family, our Christmas at home has been suspended,” she wrote on Instagram. “We decided with the doctors that, for various reasons, it would be better for us to stay here with all the care that this new family at Einstein gives us!!

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“We, as always, thank you for all the love you show us here in Brazil as well as around the world! Your love for him and your stories and prayers are a HUGE comfort because we know we are not alone.

“We are going to turn this room into a Sambódromo (just kidding), we will even make caipirinhas (not kidding!!). We wish everyone who celebrates a Christmas that filled with family, full of children, some fighting ????????‍♀️ and TONS of Love and Health !!

“We love you, we will give you an update next week.”

The Brazil side showed their support at the World Cup with banners baring Pele’s image and name after their 4-1 victory over South Korea in Qatar. The Selecao’s campaign was cut short as they were eliminated on penalties by Croatia in the quarterfinals.

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As Pele continues to receive medical care in a hospital, Brazil’s World Cup players paid respect to the legend of Pele.

Pele was brought to the hospital earlier this week when it was claimed that his colon cancer chemotherapy treatment was no longer working.

The Selecao brought a flag with Pele’s name and likeness onto the field after Brazil’s magnificent 4-1 victory over South Korea secured their place in the quarterfinals. Similar flags had been carried in by other fans in the crowd.

Pele tweeted to the players before the game to let them know that he would be watching the round of 16 match from his hospital bed and lending his support as usual.

“In 1958, I walked the streets thinking about fulfilling the promise I made to my father,” Pele said.

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“I know that today many have made similar promises and are also going in search of their first World Cup.

“I will watch the game from the hospital and I will be rooting for each one of you. Good luck!”

Pele’s health has been the subject of conflicting rumours over the past several days; his family vehemently refuted original allegations that he was receiving end-of-life treatment.

“It’s pretty unfair people saying that he is in a terminal condition, that he is under palliative care. Believe us: that’s not it,” daughter Flavia Nascimento said in an interview with Globo TV.

Another of his daughters, Kely, says Pele is hospitalised due to a respiratory infection, adding: “When he gets better he will be back home. He is not saying goodbye in a hospital right now.”

Pele remains the only man to have won three World Cups, which he achieved in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

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