Lionel Messi or Diego Maradona? Pope Francis says Inter Miami superstar 'is a gentleman' but adds a third name into the GOAT debate

The Argentine legends are often regarded as the most elite players to have ever graced the game. However, which gets the title of the greatest player of all time continues to be debated.

Messi, having now guided Argentina to World Cup success for the first time since the days of Maradona and won a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or, has gained some more support in the debate, while others add Cristiano Ronaldo as a candidate.

And while Pope Francis is an admirer of the Inter Miami star Messi and ex-Napoli sensation Maradona, he says late Brazilian icon Pele deserves more respect.

"I would add a third, Pele," he said to Rai1. "They are the three I have followed. All three are great, each with his own speciality. At the moment Messi is very good."

Pope Francis went on to reference Maradona's battles with addiction, saying: "Maradona as a man failed, poor thing, he slipped, the people around him didn't help him. He came to see me the first year [I was pontiff]. [His life] ended badly. It's funny, many sportsmen end badly, even in boxing. It's curious."

Regarding Messi and Pele, he added: "Messi is very correct, he is a gentleman. Among these three, the greatest gentleman is Pele. He is a man with a very big heart. I spoke to him, I met him on a plane in Buenos Aires, and he is a man of great humanity."

Messi will likely be in action later this month when Argentina meet Uruguay and Brazil in the World Cup qualifiers.