Pele says Maradona better than Messi

Brazilian great Pele has delivered his verdict on one of soccer's enduring debates - and it's fair to say the 78-year-old hasn't sat on the fence.

On the question of who was the better player, Argentine legend Diego Maradona or the country's modern-day idol Lionel Messi, Pele was unequivocal in his answer.

"As far as I'm concerned, Maradona was one of the best players ever," Pele said in an interview with Folha de S.Paulo newspaper published on Wednesday.