The Great Debate
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from December 2000.
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Ask a typical football fan about his country, faith or family and you are likely to suffer a bland response of little passion or creativity. Ask that same soul to name the greatest man to ever lace up a pair boots, however, and you are just as likely to suddenly find yourself in the presence of a frantic philosopher debating as if his life depended on it.
For most it comes down to two men: Diego Maradona of Argentina and Pele of Brazil. Both were supreme talents but Maradona's welldocumented troubles with drugs have damaged his overall image. Some counter that this is about the greatest player, not the greatest human. Other fans skip the Maradona-Pele feud all. together and make their case for someone else. The only thing certain about this is that nothing is certain. Even FIFA wimped out and had Maradona and Pele share the honour, a move that pleased no one. Pele indicated that Maradona is not his equal or even worthy of second place, and Maradona grabbed his trophy and went home, snubbing the rest of the awards presentation.
The following are comments sent in by Compass readers. Weigh their words and see if you agree. Pele, without a shadow of a doubt. People who voted for Maradona are too young to remember the brilliant skills of the legend; too young to remember him winning three World Cups, too young to know that he is all time highest scorer in football, too young to remember that he finished his career in the US, where he made Cosmos into a champion team and put soccer on the US sporting scene!
He also has been a great ambassador for the sport, not turning to drugs or scoring with his hands! Simply the Best! -Osbourne Bodden There is no comparison between the two. My choice is definitely DIEGO MARADONA. Here are just a few of my reasons why:
* As Maradona correctly said, Pele never played in Europe which does have the most testing leagues in the world. * Pele always had the support of a star-studded Brazilian team. You can name five players ably supporting him at any time. Most of el Diego's world cup success was achieved with a mediocre team of Argentines.
* After his success in 1986 Maradona went to Italy and played for a team that had never won the Italian title before, Napoli. During his first four years there, Napoli finished first, second, second, first.
* How many plays made by Pele get replayed on sports shows and stand out in ones mind? Compare this to the many brilliant plays by Diego shown over and over and over.
* And finally, ask yourself this question: If you were the manager of a team and had the option of buying either of these players in their prime, who would you pick? Pele may have been a less controversial figure than Diego but that should not lead one to nominate him the better player. Viva el Diego. -Vijay Parabdeen Definitely Pele, who didn't need to use his hands.-Paul Canham While there are some several other great players, Pele is the greatest of this passing century. his play forced other teams to change their defensive strategy, thus eliminating most of their offense in the process.
He would have been able to play a little longer if teams did not resort to 'brutal tackles' to stop him. -Noel Chisholm I pick Pele because his control, distribution and power off of a dead ball were phenomenal. He was unmatched by any other player. -Brian Uzzell Pele must win this award for being the best player over the longest time, 12 years, 2 World Cup winners medals, part of the greatest team ever, playing the game in the proper spirit, etc.
Maradona, skillful as he was, could never be considered the greatest player by dint of blatantly cheating in handling the ball to score against England in the 86 World Cup. The "beautiful game" does not need his type of "greatness". -Ian Goodall Whilst Maradona and Pele, coming from South America, were quite revolutionary, full of tricks and skill in the world's greatest game, and were arguably two of the best in the business, I wouldn't give either of them the position of greatest ever.
Sir Stanley Matthews: played professionally for his local team, played for his country on their first ever World Cup appearance (18 years after he began playing), he was the first active football player to be knighted by the Queen and had a 33 year career in which he was never cautioned or sent off. Sir Stanley Matthews, of Hanley, England, who played professionally until he was 50, was indeed the greatest player ever. He played football as it was meant to be played: with passion, skill, and respect.
Though he died this year, he will live in our hearts forever. Thomas Herbert I would have to say Diego Maradona, he was a more complete player. - Laurine D. Rivers No doubt about it in my mind, the greatest footballer was Pele. He had it all, knowledge, skill, control, temperament, and two feet.
"The other one" (I believe, Maradona, or one foot) should not even be spoken of in the same class. Maradona had one very good foot, but no head (Pele at least used his head).
Pele was the greatest. -Chris Wight Best by name, best in fact. The greatest talent ever to grace a football pitch - George Best. Pele was a footballing genius and a great ambassador for the game.
Maradona, despite his own opinion of himself, was not in the same class. But ahead of them both was Best. Not only was he a genius with the ball at his feet or tormenting and going past defenders, Best's all round game was ahead of the other two. He knew how to tackle and win the ball for himself when he had to - something neither Pele or Maradona would be seen doing. And Bestie did it in all weather conditions and on all surfaces, including the heaviest of pitches. Could the other two say the same?
His misfortune was that he played in a Northern Ireland team that was never going to get anywhere in the World Cup or even get noticed on the international stage.
-John Higginson With out a doubt - DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA - is the greatest player ever.
Pele only played in Brazil & the USA, most players would look brilliant playing in those leagues. Maradona on the other hand played in the top leagues in the world Argentina, Spain and Italy where he was dominant week in & week out playing against the top players in the world. -Barry Martinez I nominate Dixie Dean (1907-80). He was a goal scoring genius. From Merseyside, he became a professional at the age of 16 with Tranmere Rovers and in the next season scored 27 goals in 27 games. He joined Everton in 1925 and scored 349 goals and in 399 games. He still holds the remarkable record of 60 league goals in one season.
John Redman In my mind Pele was the greatest footballer ever to grace any football field throughout the world. There may have been a few able to dribble or shift like him, or con
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trol like him, or head like him, or shoot like him, or pass like him, or be a team player like him, or be as football intelligent as him, but there was no one who could do all these together as great as he did. That is why he was, is, and always will be the greatest footballer ever.
By the way, he was as great with his left foot as he was with his right, which cannot be said for a few other contenders to the title of greatest. - David Wight In all honesty, as much as I applaud Maradona's heroics during his bid for World Cup glory, there is no way he should have ever been considered for player of the century.
After all Pele has been a true ambassador for football worldwide.
On the other hand, or from a global point of view, Maradona will be remembered for his involvement with drugs. It just goes to show how far we will go to forgive and forget.
Yes he was OK but he was no Pele. -Mel McCoy As I am Brazilian, I am sure that it would be no surprise that my vote goes to Pele. But allow me to explain why: In terms of ability and accomplishments in football, one could argue both ways: Maradona was great while in the field, and so was Pelé. The difference lies in what they did with their lives outside the playing fields: While Pele was and still is a role model for generations of young athletes, Maradona wasted his time with drugs, scandals and decadence. To be named the greatest, one has to be great both inside and outside the playing field.
Has to be more that a great athlete, has to be a great human being. And, in that aspect, I am afraid Maradona has failed terribly. I rest my case.-Eduardo D'Angelo P. Silva There's no doubt in my mind that PELE is the greatest player. Even if Maradona was physically, I would not give it to him because of his off-field antics. Twenty years later whenever I watch videos of Pele...it still gives me chills. ps. Best was good, but not the best (sorry bloke) -Brent Mclean
