Brazil legend Pele today revealed he would love to be in the Barcelona team if he were still playing but bemoaned the lack of stars in the modern game.
The 74-year-old, regarded by many as the greatest footballer ever, said only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could be compared to the top players of years gone by.
In an exclusive interview with the Evening Standard, the three-time World Cup winner said: “When you have good players in your side it makes everything easier. The difference between now and years ago was that you used to have two or three excellent players for each team. Now you have one player — today it is Messi or Ronaldo.”
Asked who he would play for, he said: “I always look for the best team. If I had to choose, it would be Barcelona.”
Pele, above, was speaking ahead of the launch of an exhibition at London’s Halcyon Gallery featuring portraits of the footballer, including a 1979 silk print by Andy Warhol that has never been on public display before. The exhibition will open on September 26 to celebrate Pele’s 75th birthday.
