Italy legend Roberto Baggio considers Lionel Messi superior to Pelé and Diego Armando Maradona “for what he’s been doing for 20 years,” while Marco Materazzi names “the real” Ronaldo as his top choice.

Baggio and Materazzi joined a group of football legends to debate the sport, including the title of the greatest player of all time.

Baggio picks Messi over Maradona and Pelé

The former Azzurri stars participated in the discussion alongside other icons, including Gabriel Omar Batistuta, Ronaldo, and Romario.

When the conversation turned to the debate over the greatest of all time, with Messi, Pelé, and Maradona as the primary contenders, Baggio said: “It’s very hard; it’s even ugly to rank, as we are talking about the absolute essence of football. These three have been above the others.

“As of today, I’d say Messi for what he’s been doing for 20 years, in terms of quality and quantity. If I have to pick one, I’ll say his name, but we are talking about three incredible players.”

Materazzi, meanwhile, selected another player present at the table: “I always say this, for me, it’s him [Ronaldo]. Because what he did without two knees, going 150 km/h, nobody has done it. I’m a boomer, but when I watch YouTube, and I see what he used to do, at a time when defenders hit hard, you feel he was Martian, and he really was a Martian.

“Sorry, Diego, Pelé and Messi. To me, it was him, the Phenomenon. The Real Ronaldo, but respect to Cristiano.”

Materazzi won the 2006 World Cup with the Italy national team, scoring two goals during that tournament, including the equaliser in the Final against France. That was the only World Cup Materazzi played.

Baggio, on the other hand, took part in three editions of the World Cup in 1990, 1994 and 1998 and famously missed a penalty in the 1994 Final against Brazil.