Pele has dubbed AC Milan midfielder Kaka 'the best player in the world', ahead of Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo.
Real Madrid target Kaka, 25, was in sparkling form in Europe this season and
won Pele's admiration after leading AC Milan to a seventh Champions
League/European Cup crown.
The Brazil international finished as top scorer in the competition with 10
goals, including three in the Rossoneri's 5-3 aggregate semi-final win against
United.
'Kaka is the best player in the world, without a doubt,' said Pele in
Italian sports daily
La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Kaka and Portugal international Ronaldo have arguably been the stars of
European football this past season, with the media and pundits alike clamouring
to have their say on who is the more talented of the two.
Ronaldo, 22, recently won the English PFA Players' Player and Young Player of
the Year awards, and walked off with the 2007 Portuguese Footballer of the Year
gong in the wake of his starring role in United's successful Premiership
campaign.
But for Pele, compatriot Kaka has the edge over the talented winger.
'Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in England,' he added. 'But from that
to being the best player in the world there is still some way.
'Kaka is a player with great quality and that makes him stronger than
Cristiano Ronaldo and that will help him become one of the best players ever.'
