The issue isn't Pele. The issue is who is the greatest player. Understandably, younger people tend to go with players they've known and seen. Us older Bears have seen lots of great players over the years. Goalscorers like Eusebio, Law and Muller, defenders like Beckenbauer, wingers like Best, midfielders like Zidane, Cruyff, Charlton, Pele, Maradona and, yes, Messi.
The reality is that Messi and Ronaldo are great players but to say they are the best of all time is a stretch. I'm not knocking Messi because I put him in that company. But he doesn't dominate games the way you would expect a truly great player to do so. He flits around on the fringes of the match and, yes, scores a magic goal.
That other Argentinian, Maradona, used to dominate games with his driving runs. Johann Cruyff is credited with changing the way football was played in his time. Pele won three world cups. Gerd Muller was probably the deadliest striker ever. Messi and Ronaldo are in good company, but some folk need to broaden their footballing horizons a bit.