US President Donald Trump has weighed in on one of football's most contentious debates, declaring Brazilian legend Pelé as the greatest footballer of all time while notably overlooking modern icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Trump made these remarks while attending Sunday's Club World Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea in New Jersey, where Chelsea emerged victorious with a 3-0 scoreline.
Speaking with DAZN at the event, the American president reminisced about Pelé's impact during his time in the United States, specifically when the Brazilian star played for the New York Cosmos from 1975 until his retirement in 1977.
"Many years ago, when I was young, they brought a player named Pelé to play, and he played for a team called the Cosmos," Trump recalled. "He was the inspiration we had, and this place was packed. It was an earlier version of this stadium, but right here in the Meadowlands, and it was Pelé."
Trump continued, "And I would, I'd say, probably go old-fashioned. That's like saying Babe Ruth, but I would say Pelé was so great."
The president's comments come at a time when the debate over football's greatest player continues to divide fans worldwide, with many arguing between the merits of Argentina's Messi and Portugal's Ronaldo, both of whom have dominated the sport for nearly two decades.
Pelé, who passed away in December 2022, remains the only player to win three World Cups (1958, 1962, and 1970) and is credited with scoring over 1,000 professional goals during his illustrious career.
Trump's attendance at the Club World Cup final highlights the growing popularity of football in the United States, particularly as the country prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico.
After the match, Trump also praised the quality of play, describing it as "tremendous sport" following Chelsea's commanding victory over PSG.
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