Lionel Messi-Pele comparisons have no credibility, feels Brazil coach Tite

Brazil coach Adenor Leonardo Bacchi, popularly known as Tite, has responded to reporters on the comparisons between Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Brazilian legend Pele. The coach has reportedly rubbished the debate which labels Messi as the greatest player to embrace the game. He believes that the comparison between the two players has no credibility.

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'Pele-Messi comparisons have no credibility'

Tite claimed that Messi exchanged words with him in Friday's (November 15) game against Argentina, during which the Barcelona forward asked the Brazil coach to shut up. The match at Riyadh ended with a 1-0 defeat for Brazil. The coach stated that Pele is incomparable and if anybody compares Pele to any other athlete, he would not pay any heed to it because such comparison has no credibility for him.

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He said that it is as if the person doesn't know the history of Pele’s quality (he was phenomenal). On being quizzed over his earlier claims of describing Messi as extraordinary, he clarified that he is extraordinarily creative at present, but Pele is out of normal patterns (you can't find a defect). He further clarified that he is not saying this because he is a Brazilian.  

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November 19 marks the 50th anniversary of Pele scoring his 1,000th goal. Speaking ahead of his side's clash against South Korea in Abu Dhabi, Tite believes that the three-time World Cup winner Pele remains in front when it comes to comparisons between him and Messi. Brazil’s loss to Argentina means that the Copa America winners are now five matches without a win. Yet, Tite feels that he is not desperate to win. He said that he is happy to be where they are. He is aware of the pressure, but he is not desperate. 

Brazil will next take on South Korea in a friendly match on November 19.

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