They are, quite simply, the two greatest footballers of all time. Today the most famous footballer the game has ever produced, Pele turns 70th. Next Saturday Diego Maradona, who may be the best individual player, celebrates his 50th birthday
To show the influence of these players, they have taken part in eight World Cups and won four of them, Both came from rural families in South America, and both went on to captain their countries to wins (one each) in the biggest tournament on the planet. Together they have showed what’s possible, and while their legacies are very different, there is no arguing that they showed what can be done with a ball at your feet.
First Pele, incredible pace and while not many would describe him as an imposing player he played at the top level for over 20 years, scored over a thousand goals. Included in that total is 77 in 92 appearances for Brazil, an impressive strike rate.
His legend and influence in the game even to day is huge. If Pele speaks, the football world listens.
His only real rival for the title of “the greatest” is Maradona.
In 1986 he captained the Argentina side that knocked England out of the world cup. That one game showed both sides of him as a player and person. There was the infamous “hand of god” goal, followed by maybe the greatest individual goal ever scored where he took the ball through England and calmly slotted it away.
In the aftermath of his second goal British commentator Brian Moore said that was the goal of the tournament. At 17 and watching it with dad at home it was difficult for me to appreciate at the time, dad (a Scotsman) was in a better place than I was to appreciate the brilliance in the moment.
Controversy and genius followed Maradona around, he almost single handedly won the ’86 World cup for Argentina and a couple of Serie A championships for Napoli. His ball control, determination and balance have never been questioned
However some of the decisions have made have been. Failed drugs tests and controversy of all sorts followed him.
A late night discussion over some happy hour sushi after the Saprissa game on Tuesday night (why do so many great discussion happen late at night?) shows an interesting split. The black marks only make Maradona more mortal than Pele.
I met Pele at a Grand Prix in ’91 or 92. The only person I’ve ever met that had the same sort of presence that Pele has was Muhammad Ali. I briefly shook hands with Ali at a book signing in London in the late 80’s. It’s interesting to meet legends (a word that’s over used, but very fitting here) and find they are everything you expected.
So who do I think was the best. I never saw Pele play, but saw Maradona plenty. Pele changed the game 20 years before Maradona emerged, he showed what’s possible in a way no one else has. For me it’s Pele, but for more than what he did on the field.
At one time Maradona hosted a chat show on Argentinean TV and Pele was his first guest. When he was asked who the best is, he said “My mother says it was me and Pele’s mother says it was him.”