Maradona: Pele always second best

Argentina legend Diego Maradona has renewed his long-running feud with great rival Pele, insisting that the Brazilian will always remain inferior.

Pele was awarded the Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur in Switzerland last week, after being ineligible to win the orginal Ballon d’Or during his playing days as it was then only for those plying their trade in Europe.

However, Maradona, who has often spoken out against the former Santos man in the past, was far from impressed at FIFA’s decision to honour the Brazilian.

“How can you say that Pele received the Ballon d’Or before me? I received the award in Paris [in 1996]. So to make Pele the first one to receive the award before me is a huge mistake,” he said.

“According to me, Pele will always remain second best in football when compared to Maradona. Look at it this way, in his own country, Brazil, Pele is the second best sportsman after Ayrton Senna [the former F1 driver].

“Pele will always be second, be it in international football or in Brazilian sports. The sad thing is that he is second best and he will continue to stay in that position.

“While presenting the award [this year’s Ballon d’Or] to Cristiano Ronaldo, Pele uttered his name as ‘Cristiano Leonardo’. This just shows where he belongs.”

Maradona, the former Argentina manager, is currently the Dubai sports ambassador, and added: “I am happy with what I am doing for football and for myself. I am content living in a home in Dubai, but Pele lives in FIFA.”

Source: ESPN FC
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So much for "Maradona vs Pelé isn't the greatest rivalry in football"

And so it begins.

Also, it is hilarious how he criticizes Pele for living with FIFA (living with money) when he is the sports ambassador of Dubai (not even a country)

This whole feud thing is sad.

In all honesty you can tell they loved each other at one point too.

Pele, seeing his own drug addicted son in Maradona, spoke against him as a proxy way in speaking to his own son.

Maradona, just wanting the acceptance and love from Pele, lashes out in anger.

rwo power wrote:So much for "Maradona vs Pelé isn't the greatest rivalry in football"

It's not a traditional rivalry though..

Anyways why doesn't Pele just tell Maradona to go win a World Cup without cheating, and then come talk?

LeSwagg James wrote:“According to me, Pele will always remain second best in football when compared to Maradona. Look at it this way, in his own country, Brazil, Pele is the second best sportsman after Ayrton Senna [the former F1 driver].

? In Argentina Maradona is also second best sportsman, after Messi.  

Harmonica wrote:

LeSwagg James wrote:“According to me, Pele will always remain second best in football when compared to Maradona. Look at it this way, in his own country, Brazil, Pele is the second best sportsman after Ayrton Senna [the former F1 driver].

? In Argentina Maradona is also second best sportsman, after Di Stefano.  

Fixed that for you.

In Argentina no one cares about Di Stefano. I doubt he would make it to a top 10 poll.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:In Argentina no one cares about Di Stefano.

Is Messi above Maradona?

Probably not, but a WC would change that. Maradona vs Messi comparisons are never fair considering Messi is only halfway through his career.

Yea thought as much

Last semi related question. Is Riquelme rated as top 5? How does he relate to Maradona and Messi?

BarrileteCosmico wrote:In Argentina no one cares about Di Stefano. I doubt he would make it to a top 10 poll.

Old timers wouldn't agree but I guess their numbers are dwindling now.... unfortunately di Stefano was in an era not that well covered in terms of footage, nor did he do something amazing with the NT, so I guess its natural that his legacy fades with time. Maradona is relatively well documented in terms of footage of him and the 86 WC makes his legacy more durable against the test of time. Time washes many players away....

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Messi comparisons are never fair considering Messi is only halfway through his career.

What do you think of the fairness of comparing a player playing week in week out with one that hung their boots up almost 2 decades ago?

DuringTheWar wrote:Old timers wouldn't agree but I guess their numbers are dwindling now.... unfortunately di Stefano was in an era not that well covered in terms of footage, nor did he do something amazing with the NT, so I guess its natural that his legacy fades with time. Maradona is relatively well documented in terms of footage of him and the 86 WC makes his legacy more durable against the test of time. Time washes many players away....

The fact that he switched national teams probably doesn't help endear him to Argentines as part of our football legacy...

DuringTheWar wrote:

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Messi comparisons are never fair considering Messi is only halfway through his career.

What do you think of the fairness of comparing a player playing week in week out with one that hung their boots up almost 2 decades ago?

True I suppose they both have their handicaps. Although Maradona does have a myth around him that is unlikely to be equaled by anyone else.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:

DuringTheWar wrote:Old timers wouldn't agree but I guess their numbers are dwindling now.... unfortunately di Stefano was in an era not that well covered in terms of footage, nor did he do something amazing with the NT, so I guess its natural that his legacy fades with time. Maradona is relatively well documented in terms of footage of him and the 86 WC makes his legacy more durable against the test of time. Time washes many players away....

The fact that he switched national teams probably doesn't help endear him to Argentines as part of our football legacy...

True. Is messi still booed for being catalan btw?   

Betty La Fea wrote:

Harmonica wrote:

LeSwagg James wrote:“According to me, Pele will always remain second best in football when compared to Maradona. Look at it this way, in his own country, Brazil, Pele is the second best sportsman after Ayrton Senna [the former F1 driver].

? In Argentina Maradona is also second best sportsman, after Di Stefano.  

Fixed that for you.

Not really, I remember Argentinian paper Olé made a poll couple years ago "Who is the greatest Argentinian footballer in history", with 200k votes the result was something like:

50% Messi
35% Maradona
8% Di Stefano
7% Batistuta

RealGunner wrote:Yea thought as much

Last semi related question. Is Riquelme rated as top 5? How does he relate to Maradona and Messi?

As far as Boca fans are concerned many of them rate Riquelme over him for their club, but as far as best argentine overall i don't think he's in the picture.

ungrateful fans

The sad thing is I agree with Maradona. How can Pele be the greatest footballer if he isn't even the greatest in his country.

Se7en wrote:The sad thing is I agree with Maradona. How can Pele be the greatest footballer if he isn't even the greatest in his country.

Well, last I checked, Ayrton Senna wasn't a footballer...

I don't think anyone seriously considers Ayrton Senna a greater sportsman than Pele, that's just Maradona being Maradona.

Even in F1 Argentina owns Brazil, Fangio > Senna

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Even in F1 Argentina owns Brazil, Fangio > Senna

Umm, no.

Se7en wrote:The sad thing is I agree with Maradona. How can Pele be the greatest footballer if he isn't even the greatest in his country.

that is not what maradona said, he was comparing him with another sportsman, Ayrton Senna

Pele IS the greatest brazillian footballer ever (not going to say the best overall to not hustle some jimmies).Garrincha is just used to try to take Pele down

and lol at Fangio>Senna

Fangio was a great of his own time yet Beco (Senna) is the greatest racer in F1 history.