The legend of world football, three-time world champion with the Brazilian national team, Pele congratulated Barcelona striker Lionel Messi on a historic goal-scoring record for one club and added that he admired the Argentine. On Saturday, December 19, he wrote about this on his Instagram.
Earlier on Saturday, Messi scored a goal in the 14th round of the Spanish league against Valencia (2-2), and this goal was his 643rd in his career for Barcelona. Thus, he repeated the record of Pele, who scored the same number of goals, speaking for the Brazilian “Santos”.
“When your heart is overflowing with love, it is difficult to turn from your path. How do you know what it means to love to wear the same club shirt every day. I know that there is nothing like a place where you feel at home. Congratulations on your historic record, Lionel, ”said the Brazilian.
Pele also congratulated the Argentine on a “great career” at Barcelona.
“Stories like ours, about love for one club for a long time, unfortunately, are less and less common in football. I admire you, Lionel, ”he admitted.
Messi, 33, is a graduate of Barcelona, where he made his first team debut in 2004. Pele played for Santos from 1956 to 1974, after which he spent two seasons with the American New York Cosmos.
On December 17, the forward of the German football club Bayern Munich, Pole Robert Lewandowski, won the FIFA Player of the Year award. Lionel Messi was named the best player both by FIFA and France Football last year.