i know pele won a few trophies and stuff but i mean what was he good at in soccer/football? i have no idea who maradona is either.
132952
For starters, Pele won THREE Jules Rimet Championships with Brazil (1958, 1962, and 1970), Maradona won only 1 (1986) as well as a runner up in 1990. Pele scored more than 1,000 goals career, Maradona never reached that milestone, nor was he close.\n\n     But to Maradona´s credit, he played in higher profile clubs (Naples, Barcelona, Boca Juniors), while Pele´s club career was largely centered around the Brazilian club Santos. Pele played in a different era of soccer (ball was heavier, formations were lax, defense was slower and less prone to tackle, etc) while Maradona played in what we correctly refer to as Modern Soccer (tighter formations, tactics over technique, aggressive defenders, lighter ball, etc). Pele was a forward, Maradona was a play-maker, a dynamic and explosive mid fielder (a huge difference). Pele was acrobatic and had a showman´s flare on the field, Maradona was a freak of nature with the ball.\n\n     It would be fair to say that both were the best in the sport DURING their time and era of soccer, because soccer in 1966 is not the same as in 1986, or now in 2006.
146547
I beg to differ.  Ronaldino has a long way to go before reaching Maradona's skill and status in futbol.
625629
The second goal by Maradona - Argentina v's England 1986.  Forget the Hand of God......that was purely a cheaters goal, but his second was the best in the world to date.
506418
Pele and Maradona arenot the only ones who led Brazil and Argentina to the trophy..On the other hand it was ZIZOU who led France to 1998 worldcup followed by 2000 Euro...and in 2006.. to the finals..they never dreamt of second place\n\n\n(No one can blame him for 2002 since he was injured the only three matches he played in round 32)
619047
Ronaldinho was awsome, as always, but i was disapointed by the living legend Ronaldo. I'm really pulling for him to get that one goal and own the record, but he didnt play relatively well at all. I was also expecting a little more from Roberto Carlos, but overall he did pretty well.
206537
Diego Armando Maradona, Argentina, 1994
214127
Pele is the best, he is an amazing performer, and helped lead Brazil to 3 of its 5(soon to be 6) world cup victories. He is also one of the most influencial players to play the game. And the comment about Maradona not being considered an athlete is disrespectful to the game. Maradona was a great player, and drugs had nothing to do with that, if you wanna bet, why dont you go take some steroids or something and see if you become the next Maradona
124944
Pelé\n(Brazil)\n\nEdson Arantes do Nascimento, or better known as Pelè was born October 23rd 1940. He went on to become perhaps the best player of all time. He made his senior debut for Santos in 1956, a month before his 16th birthday and ten months later he played for Brazil against Argentina. Pelè missed the first two matches of the 1958 World Cup, before making his debut against Russia. His first World Cup goal came in the 1-0 quarter -final win over Wales and he scored a hat-trick in the semifinal against France and two more in the final over host nation Sweden. At 17, Pelé became the youngest ever winner of the World Cup.\nSource-Sam
154274
Pele actually retired in 1977. That was a little longer than 25 years ago. Best player since then A) Maradona or B) Zidane...followed up by C)Romario
330020
i totally respect him for that, money isnt everything and if anyone knows the essence of football its the south americans. most of these guys came from the streets ... so respect and the joy of the sport come before money, he makes a lot of it anyway.
64261
As i am from scotland it has to be maradona, his hand of god was the second best goal of the world cup, his other goal in that game was what every scotish child dreams of doing to england, on his day maradona had more to his footballing abilaty than pele, sorry you brazilians out there.
657799
He was related to Falco of Spurs fame I think - not the Brazilian Falcao. Anyway - I read something about him giving up as the pressure was too much and he took up a uni degree in sports psycology or something similar. Hope that helps?
563898
Ha ha ha. Nice story. You have a talent for story-writing, do you know that? Anyway, Ronaldo will always be Ronaldo. Nobody can stripped him of his honor of being called "one of the greatest." His record will speak for himself. He may be down now, perhaps because of age (?), but in due time he'll deliver again. The Brazilian team has a deep bench. With Ronaldinhio, they might have a repeat this year. Ronaldo's talent and energy is one of a kind, thus, i believe he will make a great comeback. :D
564767
I would go with Pele, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Each a star of his own era. \n\nAll 3 are legends. \n\nI'm a fan of Brasil Team.\n\nThey won today's game agains Croatia 1-0. It was a tough game.
293942
Who's won the world cup 5 times and runners-up twice?\nWho's considered the best player of all time for 99% of the population, and scored more than a thousand goals, world champion when 17 years old and led his country to 3 world cup finals?\nWho's players are at this years final (on both teams)?\nWho's individual player has been named best footballer of the year twice in a roll and has been hailed as the best this time and age?\nWho's scored more at the world cup finals, and is 4 goals shy of the all time record for the competition, been nominated twice for best footballer of the year, been a world cup champion at the age of 17 and led his country to 3 world cup finals?\nIf you give Argentina a 200 year advantage, they would only come close, to what Brazil, and his players do, and have accomplished
287502
Pele has won world footballer of the year the most times Pelé scored six goals at the 1958 world cup in Sweden in his first world cup at the age of seventeen.he scored 1281 goals, Pelé started his football career in Santos in 1956, at the age of 15, and played in his first international match only ten months later. In 1958, Pelé became the youngest ever World Cup winner in Sweden at 17. He played in two more Brazilian World Cup-winning teams, in 1962 and 1970. He missed most of the 1962 and 1966 World Cups due to injuries sustained in the early stages of the tournament.\n\nPelé retired in 1974, but came out of retirement the following year to play in the North American Soccer League and joined the New York Cosmos, where he played his last game on Oct. 1, 1977, in front of a capacity crowd at Giants Stadium.Pele's official record with Brazil stands at 77 goals from 92 appearances. There is some confusion as to the actual total, with Brazil awarding international status to matches not otherwise recognised as such, and some matches have had their status revised recently. However, the figures above are those currently recognised by FIFA.
582980
the hand of god is a name given only to the maradona goal. while i am sure there have been questionable goals, none have been given as much prominence (nor as obvious maybe?) and as important.\n\nthere has only one god, and that is maradona