SAO PAULO — Soccer legend Pele said Wednesday that he believed the Brazilian side which won the 1970 World Cup was "better" than the Spanish squad that won Sunday's Euro 2012 final.

"Each generation has its preferences but without doubt, if we are comparing, the 1970 generation was better," Pele said.

"The 1970 Brazil team had many more (great) individual players than Spain, which has two or three excellent players," said Pele who was part of the squad that trounced Italy 4-1 in the 1970 World Cup final.

Pele however had high praise for the free-flowing, attacking style that enabled Spain to trounce Italy 4-0 in Kiev and to be rated currently as the best team in the world.