Donald Trump snubs Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in best player of all time
Donald Trump hailed Pele as the greatest footballer of all time amid the stir he made at the Club World Cup final. Chelsea 's 3-0 victory over PSG was somewhat overshadowed by Trump's cameo for the post-match ceremony.
After helping FIFA chief Gianni Infantino hand out medals and the tournament's awards, the US president gatecrashed the trophy lift in awkward scenes that left two-goal hero Cole Palmer looking particularly perplexed.
Palmer, who also assisted Joao Pedro's third goal before half-time, admitted his confusion after suggesting Trump shouldn't have been there. The billionaire had already become the focus during half-time when he was interviewed live on air by DAZN.
One of the questions he was asked was who he thinks the GOAT of football is. Rather than opting for modern-day greats like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, Trump backed Brazilian icon Pele.
He recalled fond memories of watching him in action for the New York Cosmos, where Pele concluded his career after three seasons from 1975 to 1977. Trump said: "Many years ago, when I was young, they brought a player named Pele to play, and he played for a team called the Cosmos.
"And Steve Ross, a friend of mine, [former CEO of] Warner Communications, he was the inspiration behind [it] This place (MetLife Stadium) was packed.
"It was an earlier version of this stadium, but right here in the Meadowlands, and it was Pele. I don't want to date myself, but that was a long time ago.
"I was a young guy, and I came to watch Pele, and he was fantastic. And I would, I'd say, probably I'll go old-fashioned. That's like saying Babe Ruth, but I would say Pele was so great."
Pele is widely acknowledged as one of football's greatest ever players. His career goal tally stands at 1,279, including friendlies, as per Guinness World Records.
Yet, there's widespread contention over the official count. Ronaldo surpassed what's believed to be Pele's competitive record of 757 goals in 2021, with his current total at 938 for club and country.
Messi trails behind his contemporary, with a score sheet of 872. Nevertheless, his triumph in the 2022 World Cup has led many to proclaim him the greatest of all time, while fellow Argentine icon Diego Maradona is also in the discussion.
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