During the early hours of Monday, April 21, 2025, it was confirmed The death of Pope Francis At 88 years of age at his residence of the Santa Marte Casa, in the city of the Vatican.
Throughout his papacy, Francisco never hid to be a faithful follower of sport, especially football, being a declared fan of San Lorenzo and also admirer of figures such as his compatriot Lionel Messi, whom he came to catalog as a gentleman.
However, although he was Argentine, Francisco always had clear his opinion on some issues and did not hesitate to put a figure above Lionel Messi and Diego Armando Maradona.
It is about Brazilian Peléwhich came to generate some debate among many other Argentines.
Pelé, the footballer that Pope Francis put on Messi and Maradona
Francisco began his pontificate in 2013 and since then left several memorable moments, including one where he cataloged Pelé as the best of all time and also his criticism of the “Maradona Man.”
“Messi or Maradona? Pelé“
In an interview for the RAI (Public broadcasting of Italy), Pope Francis consulted about his preference among his compatriots Lionel Messi and Maradona, to which he surprised to say “I put a third”
“Pelé. They are the three that followed the most,” he added.
“Maradona is a great, but as a man failed“Francisco continued.” The poor slipped with those who praised him but they didn’t help him. He came to see me in the first year of pontificate. And then he had its end. It’s curious, so many athletes end badly … “, snapped.
About Messi commented: “It is very correct. A man. But for me of these 3 The Great Lord is Pelé. A man with a heart … I talked to him. Once I found him on a plane when he went to Buenos Aires. We had spoken. A man of such a great humanity … but the three are the great. “
Both Messi and Maradona Pope Francis attended them in the Vatican.
In 2013 he shared with the then Barcelona player, a year before the 2014 World Cup final.
While Maradona gave Pope Francis a shirt with the number 10 and then said: “I would very much like to thank Francisco all the love I give me I think we all recognize that it is a phenomenon, that we have a fantastic Pope,” Maradona said.