Trump Snubs Messi and Ronaldo, Declares Pelé the Greatest

DDM News

Former United States President Donald Trump has weighed in on football’s most debated topic, who is the greatest player of all time, and his choice has raised eyebrows.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Trump bypassed global football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, naming Brazilian legend Pelé as the best player to ever play the game.

Trump made the remarks during a media interaction at the Club World Cup final on Sunday in New Jersey, where Paris Saint-Germain faced Chelsea. Speaking to sports broadcaster DAZN, the former president fondly recalled Pelé’s influence during his playing days in the United States.

“Many years ago, when I was young, they brought a player named Pelé to play, and he played for a team called the Cosmos,” Trump recounted.

“He was the inspiration we had, and this place was packed.”

He referenced the Meadowlands, then a previous version of the current stadium, where Pelé featured prominently during his time with the New York Cosmos from 1975 until his retirement in 1977.

“I’d say, probably go old-fashioned. That’s like saying Babe Ruth, but I would say Pelé was so great,” Trump added, comparing the Brazilian icon to America’s baseball legend.

Pelé, who died in December 2022 at the age of 82, remains a towering figure in football history. He won three FIFA World Cups for Brazil in 1958, 1962, and 1970, a record that still stands.

His move to the United States in the mid-1970s helped ignite interest in soccer across North America and left an indelible legacy on the sport globally.

Trump’s remarks have since sparked conversations across social media, with fans expressing differing views.

While some applauded the nostalgic reference, others remained firm in their support of Messi and Ronaldo, whose modern-era achievements have dominated football headlines for the past two decades.

Lionel Messi, who led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022, and Cristiano Ronaldo, known for breaking numerous goal-scoring records, are widely considered generational greats.

However, Trump’s endorsement of Pelé reminds the world of a football era defined by raw talent, charisma, and global impact.

Trump has frequently expressed admiration for sports legends of past generations, often referencing iconic figures who shaped the cultural and athletic landscape of their time.

While the debate over football’s true greatest may never be settled, Trump’s comments have reignited the conversation, bringing Pelé’s name back into the spotlight amid a modern rivalry that continues to captivate fans worldwide.

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