New Delhi - Brazilian ex-footballer Edson Arantes do Nascimento ''Pelé'' said here that the Argentinean striker Lionel Messi is ''the best player'' of the last decade.

However, the only triple football world champion would not go too much into the controversy, and also praised the Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo.

Many people compare Messi with Ronaldo, but they are different players. Both are fantastic, Pelé added during a press conference in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta.

Being asked about his intentions to aspire to the position of President of the International Football Federation (FIFA), he was very clear about the negative answer to this question.

'O Rey' (The King) also declined to make comparisons between 'past players and those who are playing right now'.

I have no doubt that football today is harder than before, but when God gives you play football is the same in all generations, he said.