The 3rd World War: Pele of Brazil vs Maradona of Argentina

Diego Maradona, who shared the Fifa Player of the Century Award with Pele and has traded barbs with his South American rival on numerous occasions, Pele and Maradona war of words is second from the world greatest fight dubbed "Thrilla in Mania" when the late Joe "Smoking Joe" Frazier beat Muhammad Ali. Let’s get ready to rumble with Maradona and Pele.

Round 1: Pele and Maradona

Right now, Barcelona is definitely the better team," affirmed Pele."But Santos were considered the best in the world for a decade and Barcelona do not have the titles that Santos have” Maradona went on to stir the pot further, remarking that the Brazilian needed to make sure he was taking the right medication before making any statements.

Round 2: Pele and Maradona

"Pele has said he's the Beethoven of football,” he continued. “I've never heard any Beethoven music in a match, so as I've told you before, anytime he takes the wrong pill he comes up with a crazy statement. Pele may have taken the morning pills at night time, so he should make sure he takes the right pills.” He added: “In fact it would be better if he changed his doctor."

Round 3: Pele and Maradona

Maradona said can't blame Pele; he hasn't been doing anything for the past 20 years. I haven't even seen him in a supermarket. I don't know what he does. "Usually, when you see him these days, it's only at award ceremonies next to the president of Fifa and looking like a doll that's being moved by remote control," he continued.

Round 4: Pele and Maradona

Maradona has slammed Brazilian legend Pele and told him to “go back to the museum”.

Round 5: Pele on Messi

When Messi's scored 1,283 goals like me, when he's won three World Cups, we'll talk about it,” said the former Santos forward. “People always ask me: 'When is the new Pele going to be born?'. Never – my father and mother have closed the factory.”

Round 6: Pele on Spain Winning EURO 2012

Pele declared that Spain's current squad (which won the Euro 2012 tournament) is less than Brazil's squad that won the 1970 World Cup. The Santos and Brazilian star went further and suggested that Spain has "two or three great players" compared with Brazil in 1970. Pele later admitted that he enjoyed watching the Spanish Euro 2012 squad play football.

Round 8: Neymar from Brazil on Messi

Barcelona striker Lionel Messi is world's best player says Santos striker Neymar ahead of Club World Cup Brazilian star Neymar has admitted he could never reach Pele's level and weighed into a row between the footballing legend and Diego Maradona, saying Lionel Messi was the best in the world. He's the one and only, he's the king of football," said Neymar, sporting his trademark blond mohawk. "To reach his level is something I don't think I can do." Neymar has been described as technically better than Messi by Pele, earning a mocking response from Argentine great Maradona, who said the Brazilian must have mixed up his medication.

Round 9: Pele got a knockout punch from his country man Neymar

Honourable Judge Owen Mundalamo Verdict

While Pele continues to be one of the greatest players in football history, he risks tarnishing his legacy with unnecessary comparisons and judgments. Whether he will stop making them remains to be seen.

By Owen Mundalamo

Football Food for Thought