Football legend Pele has said Lionel Messi ‘can’t compare’ to him – and slammed the Barcelona megastar for having just one attribute to his game: being one footed.

The 78-year-old Brazil icon said the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s inability to head the ball means he was a better player.

“How can you make a comparison between a guy who heads the ball well, shoots with the left, shoots with the right and another who only shoots with one leg, only has one skill and doesn’t head the ball well?” he told Folha de Sao Paulo.

The interview has gone viral.

“How can you compare? To compare with Pele, it has to be someone who shoots well with the left, shoots well with the right, and scores headers.”

Pele even went as far as bringing Maradona into the conversation.

“You will ask me: ‘Was Maradona better than Messi?'” he added.

“Yes, by a lot. Much better.”

Earlier this year, the Brazil hero said he believes Neymar is a better player than both Messi and long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo. (NAN)