Translated from a recent article in brazilian media:
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Before the World Cup in Qatar,
FourFourTwo magazine published a list of the
100 greatest football players in history. Lionel Messi was already leading, even without leading his country to the world title. He was followed by Diego Armando Maradona and Cristiano Ronaldo. Pelé only appears in fourth place. The time has passed. The meticulously recorded, transmitted and repeated feats of Messi and Cristiano were imposed on the faded images of the King of football. Maradona was even watched live by those who now create this type of ranking, and his amazing ball skills are fresh in their minds.
FourFourTwo 's list is debatable. Cristiano did not lead his team to a World Cup win. Pelé led Brazil in two and won three, Maradona and, now, Messi starred in just one World Cup each. In terms of the number of goals, the Brazilian is also yet to be surpassed – he scored more than a thousand, while the youngest Argentine is approaching 800, slightly less than the Portuguese’s more than 810. Maradona is far from the three, with 345 goals.
Counting only official games, Messi and Cristiano have already surpassed Pelé's 757 goals, but lose on average: the King reached the astonishing mark of 0.92 (almost one) per game, while rivals revolve around 0.70 and 0.80 per game — also very impressive. Maradona has half a goal per game under his belt. In view of the numbers, it is possible to argue that football today is much more competitive, requires more athletic preparation and tactical discipline, which would disadvantage the Brazilian.
Another issue at hand is plastic.
“Pelé scored more goals. Cristiano Ronaldo won more trophies. Both lived more stable lives than the overweight former cocaine addict who comes second on this list, whose relationship with football became increasingly strained as his career stretched on. If you've ever seen Diego Maradona with a soccer ball at his feet, you'll understand” his place on the list, argues
FourFourTwo .
That is, the ranking depends on the parameters adopted and, therefore, the list in question is not wrong.
Each one makes the list they want, with the criteria they choose. The mistake is in putting Pelé in this dispute. The Santos idol is a classic, it has survived time. He ended his career in 1977 and, 50 years later, he continues to serve as a benchmark for what excellence in football means. Pelé is Cervantes, Dante, Goethe, Pushkin, Camões, Molière. Whoever comes later, no matter how good he is, will always be in his debt.
Pelé is the founding myth of the ace. His deeds are the benchmark. For the goals he scored, the dribbles he drew through the opposing defenses, the unshakable power of the runs, for the longevity of his career and the firmness of his body in the face of relentless blows — the yellow and red cards appeared only in 1966, when he already he had been world champion twice. Comparing him to the stars that came later, even to the
“God” Maradona, makes no sense.
Maradona, Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zico, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Puskas, Garrincha, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Romário and Zidane are among the best players in history. And perhaps Messi will establish himself as the best of them. But
Pelé is the best player beyond history, outside time and space. Pele is football.
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