The Benfica icon believes today's superstars would find life much harder in the game of decades past.
"I would love to see Cristiano Ronaldo play in the same circumstances that Eusebio did," Simoes told Football Presse.
He is not talking about talent.
He is talking about conditions.
"The pitches, the grass, the boots, the ball. Everything was different."
Football in the 1960s and 1970s was tougher, heavier and far less forgiving.
Simoes questions whether modern legends would cope.
"I have a lot of questions about that. I have a lot of doubts."
At the heart of his argument remains one man.
"Pele did everything the other players did. But the other players never did what Pele did."
It is a powerful statement from someone who saw it up close.
For Simoes, the old masters set a standard that still has not been matched.
And until someone proves otherwise under those same conditions, the crown remains with Pele.