Former Brazilian footballer Edilson believes he was better than Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 49-year old, who played for the likes of Palmeiras, Corinthians, and Flamengo, scored six goals in 21 appearances for his country and was part of the 2002 World Cup-winning team in Japan and South Korea.
Though the Brazilian didn’t have a chance to play in Europe, Edilson genuinely believes he’s on a different level to the two Einstein of the football world because of that World Cup winners medal.
At my best, I played better than Neymar. He needs to win the World Cup in order to be better than me,” Edilson told TV Bandeirantes, via Metro.
“I have personality and for Messi to be better than me, he also has to win the World Cup.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is just strength, he strikes the ball well with both feet but I’m more skillful than him.”
While his confidence is quite admirable and he’s right that Messi and Ronaldo have never won the World Cup, you can’t help but feel Edilson is just trolling.
Messi and Ronaldo have dominated at the highest level of football for over a decade, winning 11 Ballon d’Ors between them and breaking records left, right and center.
Their rivalry is also a healthy one, with both players prompting the other to raise their game. Messi has spoke about missing Ronaldo in La Liga, while the Portuguese superstar recently talked glowing about the Barcelona legend.
“I really admire the career he has had so far,” Ronaldo told RMC Sport.
“He has already said that he had trouble when I left the Spanish league because it is a rivalry that he appreciates.
“It is a good rivalry that exists in football, but this is no exception.
“Michael Jordan had rivals in basketball, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost were great rivals in Formula One.
“The only common point between all the big rivalries in the sport is that they are healthy.”