The question of whether Maradona was better than Pelé is one of the most enduring and passionate debates in football history, with no universal consensus. The answer often depends on what criteria a fan or expert values most: Pelé is widely regarded as having a more successful and consistent career, while Maradona is often praised for his sheer individual brilliance and single-handed impact on teams.
In 2022, he was ranked as the third best football player of all time by football magazine FourFourTwo. In August 2024, the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) voted him as the second best footballer of the past 100 years after Pelé.
Stephen Walsh Pele have said it that he was the greatest, maradona have said it that he was the greatest, and CR7 have also said it that he is the greatest. Among the greatest players of all time,it is only Messi who have not called himself the greatest player, just because of his gentility and humility.
Pele scored 77 goals in 92 international matches for Brazil and 680 goals in official club matches. His overall career goals tally, however, is highly-debated in football. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known to the world as Pele, is arguably the greatest footballer to ever walk the planet.
The "GOAT" (Greatest Of All Time) in football is a subjective debate, but Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are overwhelmingly considered the top contenders, with Messi often edging out due with recent major wins like the 2022 World Cup, though Ronaldo's longevity and dominance in multiple leagues also make a strong case, with many legends and publications naming Messi as #1. Other historical greats like Pelé and Maradona are also part of the conversation.
On this day (November 19) in 1969, Brazilian football (soccer) player Pelé scored his 1,000th career goal. Including friendlies and touring games, Pele holds the Guinness World Record for Most Career Goals. He is credited with 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, including a frankly absurd 126 in the year 1959.
Neymar surpassed Pele as Brazil's leading male goalscorer after the Al-Hilal forward hit a brace in his side's 5-1 win over Bolivia. The 31-year-old was level with Pele on 77 goals going into the World Cup qualifier. However, two second-half goals in a 5-1 win took Neymar to 79 goals in 125 matches.
Yes, 99-rated players exist in FIFA (now EA Sports FC) but are very rare, typically appearing as special promotional cards (like Team of the Year or Futties) in Ultimate Team (UT) towards the end of the game cycle, with some fans even getting full squads of them through grinding. While base cards rarely reach this, special versions of players like Mbappe, Pele, and even defenders like Virgil van Dijk have achieved 99 overall ratings in past editions.
In fact, it wouldn't be wrong to say that when Pele was playing, he was the fame of the game, he was Football, personified. And continued to carry that legacy with him for as long as he lived. Pele is spelled G-O-D. This comment of Pat Crerand brought the concept of sporting divinity in football.
Ronaldo needs 47 to reach 1,000 career goals. With a recent average of around 45 goals a year and a role built for finishing, he is statistically well-placed to cross the mark if he stays on the pitch until 2027.
While Lionel Messi hasn't made extensive public declarations specifically about LGBTQ+ rights, his actions and associations, like supporting inclusivity through his foundation and playing in leagues with anti-discrimination policies, suggest a general alignment with inclusive values, though some social media rumors about him refusing pro-LGBTQ+ ads are likely exaggerated or false, as he focuses on football, not being a symbol, according to a Facebook post.
The top scorers in the entire history of world football: 🇵🇹Cristiano Ronaldo: 906⚽️ 🇦🇷Lionel Andrés Messi: 843⚽️ 🇧🇷Edson Arantes do Nascimento Pelé:756⚽️ 🕊️ 🇧🇷Romário de Souza Faria: 744⚽️ ®️ 🇭🇺Ferenc Puskás: 709⚽️ 🕊️ 🇦🇹🇨🇿Josef "Pepi" Bican: 696⚽️ 🕊️ 🇵🇱Robert Lewandowski: 644⚽️ #cr7 #Goat.
Diego is a Spanish masculine given name. The Portuguese equivalent is Diogo.
Yes, Diego Maradona kissed Ronaldinho's hand in a widely shared moment of deep respect, particularly after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, telling the Brazilian that Ronaldinho was the last player to give him hope for football and brought him joy after retirement, a gesture that moved a tearful Ronaldinho. This Latin American gesture signifies profound admiration, and while sometimes misremembered as occurring in 2001, it happened later when Ronaldinho won Olympic gold.
The 1999 Ballon d'Or, given to the best football player in Europe as judged by a panel of sports journalists from UEFA member countries, was awarded to Rivaldo on 21 December 1999.
The phrase "1% chance, 99% faith" (or variations like "As long as there's a 1% chance, we'll have 99% faith") was popularized by Brazilian football star Neymar Jr., especially after FC Barcelona's historic Champions League comeback against PSG in 2017, where he famously used it to express belief despite long odds.
'It has to be him' - the case for Haaland
In comparison, Haaland has five goals and his underlying numbers are equally as impressive. He has had 19 attempts, nine of which were big chances. and a non-penalty xG of 5.74 - more than 18 times higher than Salah's.
Right now, Messi's longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo is the only active player to have scored over 900 professional career goals, having achieved the feat in September 2024.
Pelé averaged almost a goal per game throughout his career and could strike the ball with either foot, as well as being able to anticipate his opponents' movements. While predominantly a striker, he could also be a playmaker, providing assists with his vision and passing ability.
But you don't need to introduce yourself, because everyone knows who Pele is.” That was in 1982, years after Pele hat been first noted as the “best footballer in history,” and about 15 years after his appearance in Nigeria with his club team, Santos, silenced Nigeria's battle fields for 48 hours.