World Cup: Day Of Reckoning For Lionel Messi

Pele believes Lionel Messi will deserve a place among football's all-time greats if he helps Argentina to victory in the World Cup final against Germany, a game that is currently in extra-time.

The three-time world champion, rated as the greatest player of all time, said he rated Messi alongside Diego Maradona, Alfredo Di Stefano and himself in the pantheon.

"I was a little better in the air, better at heading than him, but he is a great player," Pele told Sky News.

"I admire him like I admire Maradona, like I admire Di Stefano. He is good for football. He has to play the final first but if he wins he is great."

The final pitches the best team of the tournament so far against the greatest individual talent of his generation.

Germany versus Argentina brings together two grand football nations.

It pits the magnificent sum of the Nationalmannschaft's parts against Messi, a virtuoso in the best traditions of South American football.

The Europeans crave a major trophy to reward a decade of astonishing consistency. This is the fifth consecutive tournament in which they have reached at least the semi-final.

Messi meanwhile has the chance to win the prize that would end any doubt about his place in the game's pantheon. A World Cup winner's medal would elevate him alongside Pele and Maradona on football's Mount Rushmore.

The game is far more than one man versus 11, but that is the primary sub-plot of the drama that will unfold at the Maracana.

Joachim Low's German side have been the most coherent and impressive side over the last four weeks. But they are much, much more than a stereotype of efficiency.

As they demonstrated when sweeping aside Brazil with embarrassing ease in the semi-final, they are the epitome of modern technical and tactical ability.

In Thomas Muller, Tony Kroos, Matts Hummels and Manuel Neuer, Low can call on perhaps four of the players of the tournament. But every one of his squad can play and think for himself.

From the dismissal of Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo in the opening game to the rout of the hosts, they have excelled. And they have smiled while doing it.

Argentina have had a less imperious ride to the final. They have not won a game by more than a single goal, and in their three group games they relied on Messi to provide the margin of victory.

The Barcelona star also made the difference in the second-round game against Switzerland, laying on the 119th minute winner for Di Maria. Holland successfully smothered him in the semi-final but rarely does he let consecutive games pass without influence.

He is far from a one-man team. Messi's teammates Javier Mascherano and Angel di Maria - are far more than supporting cast.

Mascherano has been the holding midfielder of the last month and di Maria offers relentless positive intent and goals.

One asset they have brought to the Maracana, and the rest of Rio, is their fans.

There are an estimated 70,000 here, with 25,000 police and troops deployed just in case the mood turns.

For now it has not, and nothing that has passed in the last month suggests it will.