Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is "close" to matching fellow Argentinian Diego Maradona, but he can't be compared to Brazilian legend Pele, according to Zico.
Zico, who played 71 times for Brazil in the 1970s and 80s, said Pele had the whole package and nobody can compare to him, per Omnisport (h/t Ryan Benson of Goal):
"Messi is close to Maradona. That means, in my opinion, he can't be compared to Pele. I still consider Maradona in front of Messi. With Pele, no. Pele has all the qualities and characteristics that a football player has to have.