By Matthew Sanders
When I am asked to name the best footballer of all time there is only one name that comes to mind. Not Johan Cruyff, not Diego Maradona, not George Best, not Franz Beckenbauer and not the best player of my generation Zinedine Zidane. The only I answer that I could possibly give would have to be Pelé.
This is despite the Brazilian, who’s full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, having played all his football and retired almost 15 years before I was even born.
This only goes to illustrate his legendary status that has transcended through the game since his rise to prominence in the 1960‘s and the massive impact that his play still has in modern football. In actuality, the term legend is almost not a worthy enough adjective to describe such a player, having been made redundant by British youth up and down the country deeming their mates ‘a legend’ for downing a drink in a pub or what have you. Pelé holds true legendary status.
His tales of heroics at World Cups have been passed down from generations, from father to son, almost like myths of great knights slaying dragons. In 1970 he won his third World Cup winners medal, the only player ever to achieve such a feat, the year he became immortalised in football history forever, and that is why he is still remembered as the best.
Pelé had all the attributes needed to be a top striker. He was physically strong, had rapid pace and acceleration. He could dribble like Lionel Messi and could play passes that other players couldn’t even see. Most importantly of all though he could score goals. Left foot, right foot or head. He could score goals.
One of Pelé’s main rivals to the crown of the top football player of all time is Diego Maradona. The Brazilian puts his case forward as such:
“For 20 years they have asked me the same question, who is the greatest? Pelé or Maradona? I replay that all you have to do is look at the facts – how many goals did he score with his right foot or with his head?”
In terms of goals, Pelé annihilated his Argentinian rival. Maradona scored just over 300 goals in his career, whereas Pelé scored in excess of 1200, for Santos, New York Cosmos and Brazil respectively.
In terms of club honours, he didn’t do too badly either. In the 60’s with Santos he won two Intercontinental Cups, two Copa Libertadores and was champion of the Brazilian top division six times. He became a champion is the US with the NY Cosmos in 1977.
I haven’t even begun to mention the individual awards he won. One article is just not enough to cover the tremendous impact Pelé had and still has on modern day football, which is a shame because I will never run out of superlatives to describe him.
