Diego Maradona reopened his feud with Pele by calling the Brazilian legend an "idiot" on Argentine radio.
It came just days after Pele's assertion that Brazil striker Neymar was a more complete footballer than Barcelona star Lionel Messi, Xinhua reported.
"They need to change the medicine they are giving to the idiot," Maradona told the Marca en Zona program talking about Pele Saturday.
Messi scored three goals in Argentina's 4-3 victory over Brazil in their international friendly in New Jersey Saturday. Neymar, who plays for Brazil's Santos, failed to get on the scoresheet.
Maradona had words of support for Boca Juniors playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, who he, as the head coach, left out of Argentina's 2010 World Cup team.
"Now he is playing the way I like him to play, further forward but not having to pass the ball to his defensive teammates," Maradona said.
"Given his age and the injuries that he has suffered, it's a real credit to him."