MX23RW : Wednesday, December 18 22:58:05| >> :600:124594150:124594150:

Pele denies changing Instagram profile to overshadow Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi

The former Brazil and Santos striker officially registered 757 career goals.

Pele has denied updating his Instagram profile after being accused of attempting to overshadow the record-breaking achievements of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Three-time World Cup winner Pele declares himself the 'leading goal scorer of all time' on the social media platform, claiming to have registered a whopping 1,283 goals.

Official records state the former Brazil and Santos striker scored 757 times during his stellar playing career, which ran from 1956 and 1977.

Pele's Instagram account declares him the world's all-time leading goalscorer
Pele's Instagram account declares him the world's all-time leading goalscorer

Juventus and Portugal forward Ronaldo surpassed that number on Sunday by moving on to 758 courtesy of a brace in a Serie A match against Udinese, while Argentina international Messi broke Pele's record of goals for a single club by netting his 644th for Barcelona just before Christmas.

Despite disagreeing with the record books, 80-year-old Pele has defiantly responded to suggestions he amended his Instagram bio in the wake of Ronaldo's weekend double.

"I was accused by the press of having changed my Instagram bio to overshadow these big stars that are breaking my records," he posted on Twitter.

"The bio text has always been the same since I joined the platform.

Pele
Pele's post on Twitter

"None of this should distract us from your incredible achievements."

Czech player Josef Bican is officially recognised as football's greatest goalscorer with an astonishing tally of 805, scored between 1931 and 1955.

Following news of Messi's landmark 644th strike for Barca on December 22, Pele's former side Santos disputed the number of goals he scored for them between 1956 and 1974.

They released a statement claiming his tally for the club was 1,091 goals, far higher than the 643 officially recorded.

ID:429439: cacheID:429439:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4248:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Nuno Espirito Santo pictured in August 2020
Read Next:
Nuno fined £25,000 for comments on referee Lee Mason
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!