"I've seen Di Stéfano, Pelé, Maradona and Cruyff but Messi is the best"

Humberto 'Bocha' Maschio, one of the most famous names in Argentinian football and a Racing icon, has entered the debate over the greatest player of all-time. The 87-year-old is in no doubt that the title belongs to Lionel Messi.

"I've seen Di Stéfano, Pelé, Maradona, Cruyff - I've seen them all. But Messi is the best," he told 'Clarin'. "I've faced some of those myself but I repeat, again, Messi is the best." 

'El Bocha' acknowledges that Di Stefano, Pele, Maradona and Cruyff were all geniuses. "They were great players in their time but the pace of the modern game is so different. Just look at the goals Messi has scored." 

"Leo doesn't run around much on the pitch but when he needs to, it's as if the ball is stuck to his feet. I've seen players with unbelievable pace but when they have the ball, they slow down. Yet with Leo it's the opposite and he does it in such a fantastic way."