Speaking in an interview with CONMEBOL, the legendary Italian manager—who has coached and competed against many of the sport’s finest—acknowledged the difficulty of comparing players across generations. ..Continue Reading
However, he ultimately pointed to Pelé as the standout, citing the Brazilian icon’s extraordinary achievements, including multiple World Cup victories and a lasting legacy in the game.
Ancelotti praised the brilliance of Messi, Maradona, and Ronaldo, but emphasized that Pelé’s impact and success place him at the top of the list in his eyes.
“I can’t say definitively because Pele belongs to a different generation. What Pele achieved in his career—on top of the World Cups he won—was something truly special,” Ancelotti explained.
“The others have been spectacular players. Starting with Ronaldo, whom I had the good fortune to coach, to Messi, whom I’ve seen, and all the others,” he continued.
“But it’s difficult to choose. Based on what he achieved in his career, I believe Pele deserves first place”.
Although Ancelotti didn’t lay out a formal ranking, his remarks made it clear that Pelé’s unmatched legacy—marked by three World Cup victories and a place among the sport’s all-time leading scorers—elevates him above the rest in the greatest-of-all-time debate.
Later in the conversation, Ancelotti was shown photos of his time coaching Brazilian stars at AC Milan, including Ronaldinho and Ronaldo Nazário.
While he acknowledged Ronaldinho’s extraordinary skill and creativity, Ancelotti didn’t hesitate to say that Ronaldo stood apart, calling him the greatest he ever coached.
“Ronaldinho was spectacular because of his talent. In terms of pure talent, ‘Rony’ was one of the greatest. But the greatest is this one—Ronaldo. In every sense, now,” Ancelotti said.
“We had a great time together, unfortunately not for very long because he got injured, but I have very fond memories of Ronaldo”.
This isn’t the first time Ancelotti has praised Ronaldo. Upon his arrival in Brazil, the former Real Madrid boss told Globo Esporte that Ronaldo was the most talented player he ever coached.
“Technically, he was spectacular and one of the funniest people in the world,” Ancelotti added.
He also mentioned some other Brazilian players who left an impression on him throughout his career. “The most professional would be Cafu. And the funniest… There are a lot. Eder Militao makes me laugh a lot, and Vinicius Junior as well,” he said.
