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Former France winger Florent Malouda has disclosed that Lionel Messi’s statistical numbers put him in a league of his own, noting that even legends like Pelé and Diego Maradona cannot match his longevity and output.
Speaking to BoyleSports, Malouda highlighted the unmatched consistency and sheer volume of records Messi has accumulated over his illustrious career.
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While recognizing the immense impact of players like Pelé and Maradona, Malouda admitted that Messi’s overall achievements make him nearly impossible to compare to anyone else.
“Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo? I don’t think Messi can end the debate this summer, I think this debate will be going forever. Whatever they do, they will still be compared.
“But we have to really acknowledge what Messi is doing now at nearly 39, in his first two games, he scored five goals. And the type of aura that he has in the stadium and in his own team, I mean, this is greatness.
“So about the debate, of course, they will look at the result of Portugal against the result of Argentina. Every fan will support their own player. But when we see what he’s doing, I don’t think even Maradona can be compared in terms of longevity.
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“Pelé, I think he won three World Cups. So, he can be compared to Pelé as the greatest, but in terms of numbers and statistics, no one is near him.”
Messi, who has scored 12 World Cup goals since turning 35, has now scored in six consecutive World Cup fixtures and at 39 years old he continues to inspire generations of players.
