Romario: Messi has a long way to go
Former Barcelona striker Romario says that World Player of the Year Lionel Messi has a long way to go before he can be considered the greatest of all-time.
Messi stirred the debate himself last week when he claimed that he had never seen Pele - considered by many to be best player in history - play, with the great Brazilian promising to send him a copy of his film so that he could study up.
However, 1994 World Cup winner and former Barcelona striker Romario has now added his voice, claiming that Messi must first overcome Diego Maradona, and himself, before thinking about Pele.
"If Messi sees the video, he'll probably learn some things," Romario said at a press conference. "You simply cannot compare him with Pele. You cannot say he is the same when he has never won a World Cup.
"Messi has all the conditions to be the best one day, but first he has to overcome Maradona, Romario and then eventually Pele."
Romario played for Barcelona for two years between 1993 and 1995 and won one La Liga title with the Catalans before a journeyman career ended in 2009 and he took up politics, becoming a member of the Brazilian Parliament.
