Former Liverpool and Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina has weighed in on the long-standing debate surrounding football’s greatest players, revealing his top two picks from the iconic names of Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Pelé, and Cristiano Ronaldo, Soccernet.football reports.
After a career spanning nearly two decades across Europe’s top leagues, Reina has faced many of the world’s best players and shared his insights in an interview on the Como website.
When asked who he considers the greatest player of all time, Reina didn’t hesitate to choose Argentina’s Lionel Messi.
“Best player of all time: Lionel Messi,” Reina stated. The debate between Messi and Ronaldo has raged for years, but for Reina, Messi edges it.
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Before the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry, the football world was divided between Brazil’s Pelé and Argentina’s Maradona.
When asked to choose between these two legends, Reina favoured the 1986 World Cup winner, saying, “Diego Maradona or Pelé? Maradona.”
Reina, who played with and against some of the greatest footballers, also reflected on his illustrious career.
His most memorable game was the 2007 Champions League final against AC Milan, although he admitted it was a regret as Liverpool lost. He also cherished Liverpool’s semi-final win against Chelsea, describing the atmosphere at Anfield as “incredible.”
Fondly remembered for his eight-year spell at Liverpool, where he won several honours and three consecutive Premier League Golden Gloves, Reina’s football journey took him to clubs like Napoli, Bayern Munich, and AC Milan.
He also made 36 appearances for Spain and was part of their World Cup-winning squad in 2010.
Asked to describe himself, Reina said: “Stubborn, normal, family-oriented,” adding that his advice to aspiring footballers is to “be humble and start from scratch every day.”
