Who was or is the all-time best soccer player to play the game?
349465
Edson Arantes "Pelé" Nascimento \nOctober 23, 1940 - Present\nBirthplace: Tres Coracos, Brazil \n\n\n"It seems that God brought me to Earth with a mission to play soccer," Edson Arantes Do Nascimento (Pelé).\n Related Info.\n \nSoccer jersey worn by Pelé sells for $224,000 in auction.\n\nSoccer stadium in Mexيco named after Pelé.\n \n \n\n\nBorn Edson Arantes Do Nascimento (better known as Pelé) is known as a legend and the best soccer player to ever play the game. He was raised in a very poor family in Tres Coracos, Brazil and his parents, Dondinho and Celeste Nascimento called Edson "Dico," growing up. \n\nHe first learned the game of soccer from his father, Dondinho, who was a decent center forward until his career was halted by a fractured leg. \n\nPelé began playing soccer for a local minor-league club when he was a teenager. When he wasn't playing soccer he shined shoes for pennies. He was discovered at the age of 11 by one of the country's premier players, Waldemar de Brito. When Brito brought Pelé to Sao Paulo he declared to the disbelieving directors of the professional team in Santos, "This boy will be the greatest soccer player in the world." \n\nHe was right! Pelé's impact was immediate! On his first appearance for the team, against Corinthians F.C., he scored a goal right away. He was only 16.\n\nPelé went on to play in four World Cups with Brazil's National Team. At the 1958 World Cup in Sweden -- one he nearly missed because of a knee injury -- Pelé stunned the world scoring six goals, including two in the championship game to help Brazil win its first World Cup 5-2 over Sweden. He was only 17 years-old, but a legend was born.\n\nAn average-sized man, he was blessed with speed, great balance, tremendous vision, the ability to control the ball superbly, and the ability to shoot powerfully and accurately with either foot and with his head.\n\nFour years later he played on Brazil's World Cup team at in the finals in Chile, but an injury suffered in the first game of the tournament prevented him from helping Brazil win its second title. \n\nWealthy European clubs offered massive fees to sign the young player, but the government of Brazil declared Pelé an official national treasure to prevent him from being transferred out of the country. \n\nAt the 1966 World Cup in England, Pelé was the victim of some brutal tackles from Bulgarian and Portuguese defenders and left the finals injured and in tears. But the best of Pelé was still to come. \n\n At the 1970 finals in Mexico, the 29-year-old Pelé, led one of the greatest teams ever assembled to win Brazil's third World Cup. In the 4-1 title triumph over Italy, Pelé, scored a glorious goal. It was Brazil's 100th World Cup goal, and the one he remembers the most.\n\n"I have a special feeling for that goal because I scored it with my head," he said. "My father was a soccer player and once scored five goals in a game, all with his head. That was one record I was never able to break." \n\nPelé's statistics are staggering. During his career he scored 1,280 goals in 1,360 games, second only to another Brazilian, Arthur Friedenreich, who recorded 1,329 goals. He scored an average of a goal in every international game he played--the equivalent of a baseball player's hitting a home run in every World Series game over 15 years. \n\nAt the club level he shattered records in Brazil. He scored 127 goals for Santos F.C. in 1959, 110 in 1961 and 101 goals in 1965, and led the club to two World Club championships. \n\nPelé also holds the world record for hat tricks (92) and the number of goals scored on the international level (97). His statistics are all the more amazing when compared to today's top players who can barely score more that 30 goals in a season. \n\nHe retired from the game in 1974, but came out of retirement the following year to play in the North American
797544
Puskas was the greatest.\nRemember that he was outstanding in two different decades in football (1950s and 1960s) and even in the mid 1960s in the Spanish league there was a game when he scored five goals!\nDon't forget that Puskas was playing in an era where there was a lot more physical contact e.g. two-footed tackles from behind were still legal. There is no doubt that he would still be outstanding in today's game. His technique and accuracy was something else.\nAnd it wasn't just the goals, but the way he brought others into the game that made him the greatest player ever. A great leader.\n(By the way, a lot of Pele's 1,000 goals were in exhibition matches)
333175
DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA\n\nbest player in the world. ever. period. and yes, it was a hand, as we all know. but hey what can you do, that´s footie, ain´it?
1062785
Ronaldihino from Brazil....best player...belongs to best team for ever ....thumps up!!!
412549
the better of them is ronaldinho\nthe best player ever
400006
Pele is the best and is recognized as the best\nPele the one and only\nSee\nhttp://www.ifhof.com/hof/halloffame.asp
1057728
The best player at World Cup 2006
356821
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
323441
The best US player is without a doubt Landon Donovan.\nThe best foreign player is Ruiz IMO.
804763
Do you mean current, or all-time?\n\nCurrent would have to be either Ronaldinho or Robinho.\n\nAll-time would be as follows:\n\n5) Sócrates\n4) Roberto Carlos\n3) Zico\n2) Romário\n\nand of course the No 1 has to be ...\n\nPELÉ!
325526
the best player of the moment is definitely ronaldinho of brazil / fc barcelona. but if we're talking about the best active player today then it has to be zinedine zidane of france / real madrid. zidane, however, is in the twilight of his incomparable career while ronaldinho is in his prime.
570066
he was a great player..one of the best in the world
28376
currently Ronaldinho. All time I would say Ronaldo, Pele, Maradonna, Beckenbauer
1133913
I will have to go with Ronaldinho.  He got the skill and the enthusiasm for the game.
1000883
Ronaldinho\nBarcelona(Brazil)\nBring excitment to the game every time he touches the ball,just amazing
318011
Whns did the new era began? Right now, Ronaldino is the best player. Probably the best player of the past 15 years... Maradona´s prime came to an end in 1990. Messi is regarded, as many pthers, as the next big one... but Ronaldino is the best there is now!
421772
arguebly george best .alas! this greatest of all time grearts is no more . tears come down we could not see this man is not in action at present . i wish he should have born now . when we see some of his older film , i feel what a player he was ,possing abandant of skill and brilliances . we remember only maradona, pele, boby charlton, boby moor, but nobody seems bother about this creature of god who once ruled the english and european circuit only but never played any world cup .