Pope Francis says Lionel Messi is the best player in history

Pope Francis says Lionel Messi is the best player in history

Pope Francis says that he thinks Lionel Messi is the best footballer of all time.

During lunch in Krakow, Poland - on a trip for the World Youth Day gathering - he was joined by 12 youths and one of them asked him: "Who is better, Maradona or Pele?" and the pope responded: "For me, Messi," without giving further explanation.

A response that the participants at the lunch enjoyed - and none of them were Argentine.

Reports say nearly three million pilgrims made it to the mass he was celebrating on the final day of a five-day to Poland, as the 1,050th anniversary of Poland's adoption of Christianity was celebrated.