Maradona vs Pele - who was better?
Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pele as he would later be known around the world) was often rated as the best player in the world. Only he and fellow legend Diego Armando Maradona, have received the honours by FIFA with the awards of officially being dubbed the greatest players in the history of the game. An ongoing debate among football fans to this day remains, who was better?
Pele is hailed in Brazil as a national hero and is an instrumental ambassador of the game. After scoring his 1,000th career goal he dedicated it to the poor children in the slums of Brazil. Maradona, despite his controversies, was one of the most skillful players to ever play the game and he won several trophies with Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli. For his country he won 91 caps and scored 34 goals. Most notably one of the best ever was against England in a dazzling solo run (voted as Goal of the Century in an online debate conducted by FIFA in 2002), plus one of the most controversial in the same game now famously named as the “Hand of God”.
Pele on the other hand is the record all-time top scorer for his country (77 goals in 92 caps – amazing!), and is the only player in history to be part of three World Cup winning teams. He began smashing records at an early age though making his debut for Santos Futebol Clube at just 15, then making his debut for Brazil at 16 and winning his first World Cup at 17. Despite all the many offers he was given during his club career to join rich European clubs he remained loyal to Santos, playing for them for two decades. He did finally leave however in 1975 when he joined the all star squad of the New York Cosmos. He made 64 appearances for them and scored 37 times. In case you’re wondering he played 1,345 games for Santos and scored 1,265 goals (again amazing – the guy’s a machine!).
Maradona played in four World Cups for Argentina steering them to success in 1986 where he also collected the Golden Ball award as the tournaments best player. Despite his praises though he has faced some troubles during his life. He was banned from the game for 15 months in 1991 after he failed a drugs test for cocaine abuse in Italy. He was banned again during the 1994 World Cup, where he was sent home, this time for ephedrine. After he retired from the game in 1997 his weight ballooned and he suffered ill health. Again he was back on the cocaine. Since giving up drugs though he has become a television host in Argentina. Both men fathered children with women who have been left to raise them single-handedly, with little support from the leading figures of football.
Maradona did however achieve similar goal-scoring feats to Pele: 28 goals in 40 games (during his first spell at Boca Juniors, his second spell he scored 7 goals in 31 matches); 38 goals in 58 games (Barcelona); 115 goals in 259 games (Napoli). Despite his small size (1.65 m, 5 ft 5 in) Maradona had strength, could run with the ball and could withstand challenges, unlike some of today’s players who can’t even withstand challenges where there’s not even any contact! These main attributes of his are highlighted by his unbelievable goal in the 1986 World Cup. If you haven’t seen it, shame on you, but anyway think Lionel Messi but the original. Not only could he score goals with his unstoppable runs where he could take out a whole defence on his own but he was a team player too. With his strength and control he could often hold up the ball against a defender whilst a team-mate made the run through where he would thread it through to them.
Pele had an incredible eye for goal with deadly strike force and always glowed with confidence, even at such an early age. He was good in the air and was also a good team player, often laying on assists for his team-mates. Pele’s original technique and athleticism were highly praised whilst his dribbling ability and acute passing molded him into an all-round forward and natural goalscorer.
Who do you think was better between the two? Let me know by adding your comments below.
Also See: My friend who played with Pele.
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Discussion - 17 Responses
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First, it is hard to define the differences from both players , since they pretty much played different positions. Pele was a striker and Maradona, an attacking playmaking midfielder. However, I think Maradona is a better overall footballer than Pele. However, not by much. Pele only played in Santos and in a starful, yet talentless NASL. Maradona played in the best teams against the best. Pele was only loyal to Santos, as the article suggests, because he was always in debt due to fiancial blunders and Santos would pay his debt as long as he played. I think he even came out of retirement twice to pay his debt. Playing in Brazil, is not the same as playing in Europe, even then. Having said that, Brazil always has competitive teams even when playing against European teams. Brazilian teams have won the last two FIFA CLub World Cups, so that speaks volumes there. Another thing that makes it difficult is the eras they played in. When Pele first played they played with 2-3-5 scheme, that means 5 forwards. People need to look at these things before making rash assumptions. Also, Maradona was a one man show. He made everyone around him better. He took an Argentina team in 1986 with very few stars and won everything. Also, with Napoli, in 1986, nobody on his team and won a league title. Pele played in 1970, with probably the greatest Brazilian team ever assembled.
Anyway, they are both outstanding players and rightly so deserve everything they have both been given. Any argument will win as long as they are 1 and 2, interchangeably.
James:
Interesting article, and a debate for the ages.
Pele’ remained loyal to Santos FC because the Brazilian government declared him a non-exportable national treasure. Until, of course, the Cosmos (Warner Communications) came calling for his services to grow the sport in North America.
Having seen both of them play, I can’t objectively state who was better. Pele’ was a naturally left-footed player, but could use both legs equally well. Maradona was heavily dependent on his left, but what magic he performed with it. Maradona might have had a slightly better touch on the ball than Pele’. But that was more like comparing Beethoven to Mozart. They had technical gifts that few have had before or since.
In my opinion, Pele’ was a more powerful presence on the pitch. Even though like Maradona, he was not a tall or physically imposing man. He had an incredible vertical jump. For me, Maradona passed the ball more precisely. They both had incredible football-sense and vision on the pitch.
I would like to add a few videos for comparative purposes:
Pele’:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFgkzOSBA2s
Maradona:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hHhaHSaTlQ
pele is the best striker the game will ever see….maradona is the best midfielder the game will ever see. two very different positions — two incredible players
I’am not going to comment on their personal life but in my opinion Pele was better than Maradona in every aspect in and off the pitch,and i think he was better by far.It’s just something that i fell every time i watch them at work.I player is as good as the trophies he won and by his performances.Stats are very important to determine who was best.Look at the tehnique absolutlly amaizing they both introduced us to real football and how it should be played.Non belivers say pele had an army of the gratest players ever to play the game ,but i ask you who was the star of those teams.And as you probablly know pele’s brazilaian team is the best ever to play the game.Sure Pele played most of his career in brazil at Santos and i must disagree with those who say europian football is better than thg south american one.We invest more money but trought the time the best players came from there even in these days if you put every team in europe against a south american team you might be suprised.The passion of the players,their native talent and also the way football is regarded by suporters makes them the best. The best player ever to play the game cannot by argentinian,italian,french,spanish,german,dutch,english or from any other country it has to be from the country of modern time football,he has to be brazilian.Pele is the best and it would be hard to find someone match his grandeour,not even Maradona.
Ahhh… the great Maradona vs Pele debate. I don’t think this matter can ever be solved by using any form of evidence or debate. This is a matter of the heart. And for me, in my heart, I’m a Maradona man.
I totally agree with you Kenny, this age-old debate will keep on going and going…
But, im a Pele kid; I love the way he was so loyal to Santos and he truely was a better player, maybe a little less dazzly than Maradona and less solo-runs be he had the class and was a true gentleman of the game.
Also, Does anyone see that Maradona looks a little bit like Carlos Tevez?
Especially in this post’s pic at the top, he looks a lot like him!
I cannot comment because I have not seen either of these players play. However, reading about them Pele was a humble player who stood head and shoulders above everyone else in a team which had more start than the sky, while Maradona - the biggest dickhead footbal has ever seen - made crappy player dance to his tune to turn a shitty team into Calcio champions (again, this is what I hear. I have never seen any of these play live). My vote goes to the Humble One.
There is another reason these two cannot be compared: they played in different eras. In Pele’s time football was pretty clean; in Maradona’s era it had already become corrupted by bucketloads of money.
NB why not throw Cruyff into the picture? I have seen some games with him retrospectiveley and he was a pure genius. How he made everybody play with him for Holland… it was amazing.
NB2 did you know that Tevez’ first two names are Carlos and Alberto? He, Carlos Alberto, is also considered to be one of the greatest all time players… Looks like Maradona and has the name of one nearly as good as Pele: looks like Man Utd really have a legend in the making on their hands.
I think they both suck and that Kaka is the best of all time.
I believe you cannot compare the 2 because they are different players, playing in different positions.
I have never seen Pele play, only Maradonna, therefore I cannot truly judge the better player. But, on an emotional level I’m also a Maradonna boy and will therefore say Mardonna.
I think that it is very hard to say who the best player in the history of soccer is but as for the most successfull player in history it would have to be Pele, with maradona just trailing my friend will explain later
DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA
PLAYED PROFESSIONALY 1976-1997=21 X2= +420
WORLD CUP PLAY: Played in 4 wc +200
YOUTH WC: the under 20 wc in Japan (79) +100
Played 22 wc matches with 8 goals(1 with his hand,and 7 with left foot) and 4 assits(1 against Germany, 1 against Brazil {86, 90})
8×2=16+4= 20 x 10 = +200
Position: Midfielder +100
Prime time: the 80’s x 2=+160
Awards 1 world cup champion medal (86)+200
Player of the Century by FIFA respectively +200
Argentine league champions x2 +100
Italian Serie A championship x 2 +200
Copa Libertadores +100
Copa America 3rd place goals 0 +50
Goal of the century +100
South American Player of the year(79,86,89,90,92) +250
Goals in
competitive 311 goals(career tally 311 goals) +622
senior Midfielder +1000
competiion
History:
In world cup play Maradona had Professionaly skilled players around him. with a very good defense that held off much of the attack of the top attacking nations in the world, not to mention an outstanding coach in Bilardo. Argentina barely wins world cup
Argentina without Maradona . Without Maradona Argentiana would problaly would have made it to the second round, maybe even the quarterfinal but with Maradona not there, England would have
won 1-0. Vecause Diego was the KEY Player
In 1990, Maradona was not key player(He did not score a single goal due to a nagging injury not serious enough to keep him from playing) Argentina, with is physical rough play would have reached the final anyway.
Argentina without maradona Rating: about 7.9/10
with maradona 9/10
Maradona Made an average (players like:Valdona, Burruchaga, Brown, Enrique,not a bad bunch) Argentine team in to world cup championship squad good job Diego +1500
Maradona was drug addict (he also struggled with weight problems)who who also used doping to enhance his performance in 1994 usa. plus he used his hands twice in world cup play (both worthy of red card) against England and . USSR in WC 86, 90. No good Diego!
Maradona got red carded in a match against brazil for kick this guy with his cleats the entire world sighed with relief. Maradona had a church built after him ( La Iglesia de Maradona) with a capacity of 387 People.
TOTAL: 5502 PTS
I think you have ended this debate, dude
different era’s, different soccer, but pele played in Cosmos… come on… come on.. when maradone played in only Barcelona, mmm … no more talking about this.
Maradona does all the work and Pele all he does is wait for the ball to score (cherry picker)So clearly to everyone Maradona is the best in the world next messi dont be jealous of Argentina woot
Yeah what Stefano said.Totally…. =D