This is how I remember Maradona! Can't really remember Pele as I was probably still a bit too young then, I can remember Cryuff even though I think he would grace any team but IMO Maradonna just shades him simply because he took Napoli from nothing to winning the serie A to when he left back to nothing. I know his handball is the most remembered goal in England but that second goal was just fantastic. But in fairness Shiny is at the age to only have seen those others on old footage highlights. So I can understand why he rates Messi so high. Like others have said he is a fantastic player but he is also surrounded by some great players. And Kilkenny I wish he would go onto prove his quality somewhere else
Messi is disabled. That has helped him. Truly a magic player. Pele - why hasn't there been a film? I read a book about him and I had to hide my tears - such poverty at first - his father was a pro too but got invalided out of the game early and the family struggled. Pele's mother wanted him to be a lawyer (or similar professional) but he continued to play. His mum wouldn't watch him play as the game ruined his fathers ability to provide for the family - until the World Cup in Sweden where her son scored. She was finally proud. You couldn't make it up.
Maradonna is not fit to lick Pele's boots. Cheating scumbag - hand of god my arse - if I was playing in that game he would have felt the boot of god.
But is that any worse than what Henry did against the Irish, or Gareth Bale, or Ronaldo, or Michael Owen against Columbia (I think). Yes, Maradona takes coke, is friends with the mafia, and cheated once, but he didn't fall over like a pussy every five minutes
Without doubt Pele was the greatest, scored his first goal for Brazil at 16, scored a hat-trick against France in the semi-final of the 1958 world cup at the age of 17, scored whats reputedly the greatest goal in world cup history aginst Sweden in the 58 final. All time top goalscorer in a calender year 127. World recored scorer of hat-tricks 92. In my opinion great players would be great in any era, what would Pele be worth today, priceless.
Best Di Stefano Puskas Pele Cruyf Zidane Charlton Maradona He is in good company there, and not necesarily better than any of them
Hell yeah Batty and Palmer together = Xavi & Inniesta - 7 (thats goals) Why dont we ship in Taylor for manager and be done with it - actually thats not a bad idea We could long-ball our way out of the Championship like Stoke
