I don't agree at all. In 1958 he was a kind of new rising prodigy, but his position as a main star of Brazil was not fully grounded until the World Cup, in the middle of that year, and despite his spectacular plays many descriptions of the period indicate that only after the tournament in Sweden his talent was mature in big terms. Meanwhile Didi was already a great figure established from a year earlier, he was considered a big star in his state tournament (at that time Campeonato Carioca was considered somewhat better than Campeonato Paulista) and, most important, he was widely considered the main star of Brazil in the World Cup, even over Pelé (he was retrospectively awarded with the World Cup Golden Ball). That season in Europe (1957-58) Raymond Kopa reached a brilliant peak of performance, one so high that it seems to have overshadowed Di Stéfano in Spanish League and European Cup. He was also one of the greatest figures of the World Cup. That year I think Pelé couldn't beat Didi or Kopa for a prize for the best player in the world, but I think he would fight to be on the podium as 3rd. In 1959 I think he could be the winner, but in a very debatable way because a monumental Di Stéfano in Europe, especially in European Cup (although Pelé also had a great South America Championship). I'm not sure what could point to Pelé as the best player in the world in 1960. He was once again a figure and top scorer of the Campeonato Paulista, but that year there are many players who had attention on a level designated as phenomenal. One of them was Sívori, and absolutely spectacular orchestrator and huge figure in Italy. In Europe Puskás had his best season with Real Madrid and Luis Suárez led Barcelona to overcome them in Spain. On the contrary, his absence in 1962 seems to me an undoubted mistake. Of course, it's clear that this happens because they prefer Garrincha, who was the great figure of Brazil in the World Cup after being injured promptly, but during the whole year there's no doubt that Pelé was monstrous, one of his most legendary seasons, superior to the one offered by Garrincha (in fact, Santos destroyed Botafogo when both faced and Pelé overshadowed him individually as reported). Also had a spectacular year at the continental level in Copa Libertadores and a legendary performance in the Intercontinental Cup against Benfica. Personally, I'd also point him out as the best in the world in 1965, slightly better than Eusébio, although here certainly with many doubts. It was the last year that Pelé showed himself in a glorious state and seems to me that the opinions are divided only because Santos couldn't access to the final of the Copa Libertadores. Even though I think Pelé could be the first among South Americans in 1968, not at his highest peak of performance I think he couldn't compete with the legendary 1967-68 season of George Best in global terms and I don't think he couldn't surpass Bobby Charlton, Dragan Dzajic or Eusébio by sure. At that moment Pelé was a great player, but he was not the same as during the first half of the decade and I think many gave him a disproportionate credit for returning to his national team. Finally, although it's very common, I think that nominating him in 1970 doesn't make any sense. I think there is a tendency to honor his career after winning his 3rd World Cup, but although his level was very good in that tournament it wasn't so impressive for there to be a consensus on him as the main star (in fact, many point to Gérson or Jairzinho). Even more important, at the club level his season could be marked as poor with Santos failed in Campeonato Paulista and Brasileirao by a considerable margin and him with irregular performances and discrete numbers. I don't think there's any way he could dispute the title as the best in the world against his teammates Gérson, Jairzinho and Tostao, European strikers Gerd Müller and Luigi Riva and the main star of Feyenoord, Wim van Hanegem. In global terms I'd say: 1958: Just behind Didi and Kopa for sure (3rd or below). 1959: Disputed with Di Stéfano (1st or 2nd). 1960: Not so close to contesting it. 1961: The best, without doubts (1st). 1962: The best, even over Garrincha (1st). 1963: The best, without doubts (1st). 1964: The best, without doubts (1st). 1965: The best, with doubts due to Eusébio (1st or 2nd). 1966: No chances for him. 1967: No chances for him. 1968: Just behind Best, Dzajic, Charlton and Eusébio for sure (5th or below). 1969: Just behind Rivera and Tostao for sure (3rd or below). 1970: No chances for him unless it's to honor him and no more then. So, in my opinion Pelé may have been the best player in the world 6 times maximum (1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1965) and 4 times at least (1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964).
As I mentioned in my message I base my rankings in the period of each one's season, not on the chronological year. During that season (2001-02) Ronaldo barely played in Serie A, on his return in November he went back to injure and finally he only played between 7 to 8 matches and not complete. Very much in spite of his World Cup that detail detracts him a lot, even to leave him behind Rivaldo, who also had not a great season with Barcelona. All the prizes you mention refer to either the World Cup or the chronological year, so they didn't fit my estimates.
Top Players Argentine , Brazilian and Uruguayan year by year http://www.xtratime.org/forum/showthread.php?t=422049 BEST ARGENTINIAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 1910: Arnoldo Watson Hutton (Alumni) 1911: Carlos Lett (Alumni) 1912: Alberto Ohaco (Racing Club) 1913: Alberto Ohaco (Racing Club) 1914: Alberto Ohaco (Racing Club) 1915: Alberto Ohaco (Racing Club) 1916: Alberto Ohaco (Racing Club) 1917: Alberto Ohaco (Racing Club) 1918: Alberto Ohaco (Racing Club) 1919: Alberto Ohaco (Racing Club) 1920: Amèrico Tesoriere (Boca Juniors) 1921: Julio Libonatti (Newells Old Boys) 1922: Manuel Seoane (Independiente) 1923: Domingo Tarasconi (Boca Juniors) 1924: Domingo Tarasconi (Boca Juniors) 1925: Manuel Seoane (Independiente) 1926: Manuel Seoane (Independiente) 1927: Manuel Seoane (Independiente) 1928: Domingo Tarasconi (Boca Juniors) 1929: Manuel Ferreira (Estudiantes de la Plata) 1930: Luis Monti (San Lorenzo) 1931: Raimundo Orsi (Juventus) 1932: Raimundo Orsi (Juventus) 1933: Francisco Varallo (Boca Juniors) 1934: Raimundo Orsi (Juventus) 1935: Francisco Varallo (Boca Juniors) 1936: Bernabè Ferreyra (River Plate) 1937: Josè Manuel Moreno (River Plate) 1938: Antonio Sastre (Independiente) 1939: Herminio Masantonio (Huracàn) 1940: Josè Manuel Moreno (River Plate) 1941: josè Manuel Moreno (River Plate) 1942: Josè Manuel Moreno (River Plate) 1943: Jaime Sarlanga (Boca Juniors) 1944: Adolfo Pedernera (River Plate) 1945: Norberto Mèndez (Huracàn) 1946: Renè Pontoni (San Lorenzo) 1947: Alfredo Di Stèfano (River Plate) 1948: Adolfo Pedernera (River Plate) 1949: Llamil Simes (Racing Club) 1950: Alfredo Di Stèfano (Millonarios) 1951: Alfredo Di Stèfano (Millonarios) 1952: Alfredo Di Stèfano (Millonarios) 1953: Alfredo Di Stèfano (Millonarios) 1954: Alfredo Di Stèfano (Real Madrid) 1955: Alfredo Di Stèfano (Real Madrid) 1956: Alfredo Di Stèfano (Real Madrid) 1957: Alfredo Di Stèfano (Real Madrid) 1958: Alfredo Di Stèfano (Real Madrid) 1959: Alfredo Di Stèfano (Real Madrid) 1960: Omar Sivori (Juventus) 1961: Omar Sivori (Juventus) 1962: Josè Sanfilippo (San Lorenzo) 1963: Omar Sivori (Juventus) 1964: Omar Sivori (Juventus) 1965: Àngel Clemente Rojas (Boca Juniors) 1966: Ermindo Onega (River Plate) 1967: Luis Artime (Independiente) 1968: Juan Ramòn Veròn (Estudiantes) 1969: Àngel Clemente Rojas (Boca Juniors) 1970: Héctor Yazalde (Independiente) 1971: Luis Artime (Nacional) 1972: Josè Pastoriza (Independiente) 1973: Renè Housemann (Huracàn) 1974: Carlos Babington (Huracàn) 1975: Norberto Alonso (River Plate) 1976: Daniel Pasarella (River Plate) 1977: Ricardo Bochini (Independiente) 1978: Mario Kempes (Valencia) 1979: Diego Maradona (Argentinos Juniors) 1980: Diego Maradona (Argentinos Juniors) 1981: Diego Maradona (Boca Juniors) 1982: Diego Maradona (Barcelona) 1983: Diego Maradona (Barcelona) 1984: Ricardo Bochini (Independiente) 1985: Diego Maradona (Napoli) 1986: Diego Maradona (Napoli) 1987: Diego Maradona (Napoli) 1988: Diego Maradona (Napoli) 1989: Diego Maradona (Napoli) 1990: Diego Maradona (Napoli) 1991: Gabriel Batistuta (Boca Juniors) 1992: Claudio Caniggia (Atalanta) 1993: Gabriel Batistuta (Fiorentina) 1994: Gabriel Batistuta (Fiorentina) 1995: Gabriel Batistuta (Fiorentina) 1996: Ariel Ortega (River Plate) 1997: Gabriel Batistuta (Fiorentina) 1998: Gabriel Batistuta (Fiorentina) 1999: Gabriel Batistuta (Fiorentina) 2000: Juan Romàn Riquelme (Boca Juniors) 2001: Juan Romàn Riquelme (Boca Juniors) 2002: Juan Sebastiàn Veròn (Manchester United) 2003: Carlos Tèvez (Boca Juniors) 2004: Carlos Tèvez (Boca Juniors) 2005: Juan Romàn Riquelme (Villareal) 2006: Juan Romàn Riquelme (Villareal) 2007: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 2008: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 2009: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 2010: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 2011: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 2012: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 2013: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 2014: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 2015: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) RANKING (From 1930) 1. Diego Maradona (11) 2. Alfredo Di Stèfano (11) 3. Lionel Messi (9) 4. Gabriel Batistuta (7) 5. Josè Manuel Moreno (4) 6. Juan Romàn Riquelme (4) 7. Omar Sivori (4) 8. Raimundo Orsi (3) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- BEST BRAZILIAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 1910: Eurico (Palmeiras) 1911: Décio (Americano) 1912: Arthur Friedenreich (Mackenzie) 1913: Décio (Americano) 1914: Arthur Friedenreich (Ypiranga) 1915: Facchini (Campos Eliseos) 1916: Arthur Friedenreich (Paulistano) 1917: Arthur Friedenreich (Ypiranga) 1918: Arthur Friedenreich (Paulistano) 1919: Arthur Friedenreich (Paulistano) 1920: Arthur Friedenreich (Paulistano) 1921: Arthur Friedenreich (Paulistano) 1922: Neco (Corinthians) 1923: Feitiço (São Bento) 1924: Neco (Corinthians) 1925: Arthur Friedenreich (Paulistano) 1926: Arthur Friedenreich (Paulistano) 1927: Arthur Friedenreich (Paulistano) 1928: Arthur Friedenreich (Paulistano) 1929: Arthur Friedenreich (Paulistano) 1930: Preguinho (Fluminense) 1931: Feitiço (Santos) 1932: Carvalho Leite (Botafogo) 1933: Carvalho Leite (Botafogo) 1934: Leônidas (Vasco da Gama) 1935: Leônidas (Botafogo) 1936: Teleco (Corinthians) 1937: Leônidas (Flamengo) 1938: Leônidas (Flamengo) 1939: Leônidas (Flamengo) 1940: Leônidas (Flamengo) 1941: Teleco (Corinthians) 1942: Zizinho (Flamengo) 1943: Zizinho (Flamengo) 1944: Zizinho (Flamengo) 1945: Domingos da Guia (Corinthians) 1946: Zizinho (Flamengo) 1947: Zizinho (Flamengo) 1948: Zizinho (Flamengo) 1949: Ademir de Menezes (Vasco da Gama) 1950: Ademir de Menezes (Vasco da Gama) 1951: Jair Rosa Pinto (Palmeiras) 1952: Julinho (Portuguesa) 1953: Julinho (Portuguesa) 1954: Julinho (Fluminense) 1955: Del Vecchio (Santos) 1956: Zezinho (São Paulo) 1957: Didì (Botafogo) 1958: Pelè (Santos) 1959: Pelè (Santos) 1960: Pelè (Santos) 1961: Pelè (Santos) 1962: Garrincha (Botafogo) 1963: Pelè (Santos) 1964: Pelè (Santos) 1965: Pelè (Santos) 1966: Tostão (Cruzeiro) 1967: Ademir da Guia (Palmeiras) 1968: Jairzinho (Botafogo) 1969: Pelè (Santos) 1970: Pelè (Santos) 1971: Tostão (Cruzeiro) 1972: Ademir da Guia (Palmeiras) 1973: Roberto Rivelino (Corinthians) 1974: Roberto Rivelino (Corinthians) 1975: Roberto Rivelino (Fluminense) 1976: Roberto Rivelino (Fluminense) 1977: Zico (Flamengo) 1978: Zico (Flamengo) 1979: Zico (Flamengo) 1980: Zico (Flamengo) 1981: Zico (Flamengo) 1982: Zico (Flamengo) 1983: Zico (Flamengo) 1984: Zico (Flamengo) 1985: Jùnior (Torino) 1986: Careca (São Paulo) 1987: Müller (São Paulo) 1988: Romàrio (PSV Eindhoven) 1989: Bebeto (Vasco da Gama) 1990: Romàrio (PSV Eindhoven) 1991: Romàrio (PSV Eindhoven) 1992: Raì (São Paulo) 1993: Romàrio (PSV Eindhoven) 1994: Romàrio (FC Barcelona) 1995: Ronaldo (PSV Eindhoven) 1996: Ronaldo (FC Barcelona) 1997: Ronaldo (FC Barcelona) 1998: Ronaldo (FC Barcelona) 1999: Rivaldo (FC Barcelona) 2000: Rivaldo (FC Barcelona) 2001: Rivaldo (FC Barcelona) 2002: Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 2003: Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid) 2004: Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona) 2005: Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona) 2006: Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona) 2007: Kakà (AC Milàn) 2008: Kakà (AC Milàn) 2009: Kakà (Real Madrid) 2010: Maicon (Inter de Milàn) 2011: Neymar (Santos) 2012: Neymar (Santos) 2013: Neymar (Santos) 2014: Neymar (FC Barcelona) 2015: Neymar (FC Barcelona) RANKING (From 1930) 01. Pelè (9) 02. Zico (8) 03. Zizinho (6) 04. Leônidas (6) 05. Neymar (5) 06. Ronaldo (5) 07. Romario (5) 08. Roberto Rivelino (4) 09. Ronaldinho (3) 10. kakà (3) 11. Rivaldo (3) 12. Julinho (3) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BEST URUGUAYAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 1910: Josè Piendebene (CURCC) 1911: Josè Piendebene (CURCC) 1912: Josè Piendebene (CURCC) 1913: - 1914: - 1915: Àngel Romano (Nacional) 1916: Isabelino Gradìn (Peñarol) 1917: Hèctor Scarone (Nacional) 1918: Josè Piendebene (Peñarol) 1919: Hèctor Scarone (Nacional) 1920: Àngel Romano (Nacional) 1921: Josè Piendebene (Peñarol) 1922: Hèctor Scarone (Nacional) 1923: Josè Nasazzi (Bella Vista) 1924: Pedro Petrone (Nacional) 1925: Hèctor Scarone (Nacional) 1926: Josè Leandro Andrade (Nacional) 1927: Hèctor Scarone (Nacional) 1928: Hèctor Scarone (Nacional) 1929: Josè Leandro Andrade (Nacional) 1930: Josè Nasazzi (Bella Vista) 1931: Josè Nasazzi (Bella Vista) 1932: Juan Labraga (Rampla Juniors) 1933: Pedro Young (Peñarol) 1934: Aníbal Ciocca (Nacional) 1935: Josè Nasazzi (Nacional) 1936: Severino Varela (Peñarol) 1937: Severino Varela (Peñarol) 1938: Severino Varela (Peñarol) 1939: Atilio Garcia (Nacional) 1940: Atilio Garcia (Nacional) 1941: Atilio Garcia (Nacional) 1942: Atilio Garcia (Nacional) 1943: Severino Varela (Boca Juniors) 1944: Atilio Garcia (Nacional) 1945: Obdulio Varela (Peñarol) 1946: Atilio Garcia (Nacional) 1947: Nicolàs Falero (Peñarol) 1948: Obdulio Varela (Peñarol) 1949: Òscar Miguez (Peñarol) 1950: Juan Alberto Schiaffino (Peñarol) 1951: Juan Alberto Schiaffino (Peñarol) 1952: Walter Gomez (River Plate) 1953: Juan Alberto Schiaffino (Peñarol) 1954: Juan Alberto Schiaffino (AC Milàn) 1955: Juan Alberto Schiaffino (AC Milàn) 1956: Juan Alberto Schiaffino (AC Milàn) 1957: Javier Ambrois (Nacional) 1958: Òscar Miguez (Peñarol) 1959: Juan Alberto Schiaffino (AC Milàn) 1960: Josè Santamarìa (Real Madrid) 1961: Luis Cubilla (Peñarol) 1962: Luis Cubilla (Peñarol) 1963: Pedro Rocha (Peñarol) 1964: Pedro Rocha (Peñarol) 1965: Pedro Rocha (Peñarol) 1966: Pedro Rocha (Peñarol) 1967: Pedro Rocha (Peñarol) 1968: Pedro Rocha (Peñarol) 1969: Pedro Rocha (Peñarol) 1970: Ladislao Mazurkiewicz (Peñarol) 1971: Ladislao Mazurkiewicz (Atlètico Mineiro) 1972: Pedro Rocha (São Paulo) 1973: Fernando Morena (Peñarol) 1974: Pedro Rocha (São Paulo) 1975: Fernando Morena (Peñarol) 1976: Fernando Morena (Peñarol) 1977: Fernando Morena (Peñarol) 1978: Fernando Morena (Peñarol) 1979: Waldemar Victorino (Nacional) 1980: Waldemar Victorino (Nacional) 1981: Rubèn Paz (Peñarol) 1982: Fernando Morena (Peñarol) 1983: Enzo Francescoli (Montevideo Wonderers) 1984: Enzo Francescoli (River Plate) 1985: Enzo Francescoli (River Plate) 1986: Enzo Francescoli (Racing Club de Parìs) 1987: Enzo Francescoli (Racing Club de Parìs) 1988: Rubèn Paz (Racing Club) 1989: Rubèn Sosa (Zaragoza) 1990: Enzo Francescoli (Olympique de Marsella) 1991: Rubèn Sosa (Lazio) 1992: Rubèn Sosa (Inter de Milàn) 1993: Rubèn Sosa (Inter de Milàn) 1994: Rubèn Sosa (Inter de Milàn) 1995: Enzo Francescoli (River Plate) 1996: Enzo Francescoli (River Plate) 1997: Àlvaro Recoba (Nacional) 1998: Àlvaro Recoba (Inter de Milàn) 1999: Paolo Montero (Juventus) 2000: Àlvaro Recoba (Inter de Milàn) 2001: Àlvaro Recoba (Inter de Milàn) 2002: Àlvaro Recoba (Inter de Milàn) 2003: Àlvaro Recoba (Inter de Milàn) 2004: Àlvaro Recoba (Inter de Milàn) 2005: Diego Forlàn (Villareal) 2006: Àlvaro Recoba (Inter de Milàn) 2007: Diego Forlàn (Villareal) 2008: Diego Forlàn (Atlètico de Madrid) 2009: Diego Forlàn (Atlètico de Madrid) 2010: Luis Suàrez (Ajax de Àmsterdam) 2011: Luis Suàrez (Liverpool FC) 2012: Luis Suàrez (Liverpool FC) 2013: Luis Suàrez (Liverpool FC) 2014: Luis Suàrez (Liverpool FC) 2015: Luis Suàrez (FC Barcelona) RANKING (From 1930) 01. Pedro Rocha (9) 02. Enzo Francescoli (8) 03. Juan Alberto Schiaffino (7) 04. Àlvaro Recoba (8) 05. Luis Suàrez (6) 06. Atilio Garcia (6) 07. Fernando Morena (6) 08. Rubèn Sosa (5) 09. Diego Forlàn (4) 10. Severino Varela (4) 11. Josè Nasazzi (3) All credit goes to bocaesboca
BEST ARGENTINIAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 1910: Arnoldo Watson Hutton (Alumni) ---> OK 1911: Carlos Lett (Alumni) ---> league goalscorer, but 1 NT cap. Bigger names as Jorge Brown (Alumni) or Harry Hayes (Rosario) could make it. 1912: Alberto Ohaco (Racing Club) ---> Ohaco had 1 NT cap. From champion side (Quilmes) Jorge Brown or Harry Hayes (Rosario) 1913: Alberto Ohaco (Racing Club) ---> OK 1914: Alberto Ohaco (Racing Club) ---> OK 1915: Alberto Ohaco (Racing Club) ---> OK 1916: Alberto Ohaco (Racing Club) ---> Francisco Olazar had more caps and played more intl. cups with Racing 1917: Alberto Ohaco (Racing Club) ---> Alberto Marcovecchio or Juan Perinetti. Ohaco also played at Right Half. 1918: Alberto Ohaco (Racing Club) ---> Ohaco or Olazar or Pedro Calomino or Carlos Isola 1919: Alberto Ohaco (Racing Club) ---> P.Calomino or Marcovecchio
The classifications of international entities (FIFA, France Football, Word Soccer, etc.), are annual (chronological), can not be limited to the European calendar. For that reason, France Football has recognized Pelé the Golden Ball 1958, with a chronological criterion. Your estimates are presented annually, you put 1958, you do not put 1957-58. With that clarification, Pelé was the best player of the year 1958, in all fairness. Not only did he win the Silver Ball of the World Cup, one step behind Didí (1st) and above Kopa (3rd), that season he scored 75 goals in 54 official games, he was the best player and scorer of the Championship Paulista, the best player and scorer of the Rio-San Pablo Tournament, above Didí. At that time, Brazil was the world's greatest power, was the World Champion and 100% of its players were active in the Brazilian league, had more or more weight than the Spanish league. That's why I understand France Football. In the 50s, the Sao Paulo teams won 7 titles of 9 Rio-Sao Paulo Tournaments and also won 7 titles of 10 Copa Brasil played in the 60s. They also played all the finals !. Therefore, you are wrong when you say that the Carioca Championship was something better than the Paulista Championship. It was the opposite! Between 1960 to 1965 Pelé was unquestionably the best player in the World, in 1966 he played very little and was "hunted" in the World Cup, he was injured and did not recover. In 1968 Pele returned to a great level and won everything he played: Paulistao, Copa Brasil, Recopa Sudamericana and Recopa Intercontinental. In 1969 maintains the level, plays a good eliminatory and is only surpassed by a phenomenal Tostao. In the 1970 World Cup, Pele is the best again, that's why they recognized him the Golden Ball, I do not understand so much pettiness, there were many stars in that World Cup but Pele made a difference, just look at the performance data published by Opta Sports. For example, if we analyze the goals scored and the goal assists created (key pass) by each player, we will know the offensive importance of each one: GOALS + CREATED GOL CHANCES = GENERATED DANGER Pele: 4 + 28 = 32 Muller: 10 +14 = 24 Jairzinho: 7 + 13 = 20 Rivelino: 3+ 15 = 18 Tostao: 2 +15 = 17 Gerson: 1 + 15 = 16 Cubillas: 5 + 8 = 13 Gigi Riva: 3 + 8 = 11 Pele was the biggest danger in the 1970 World Cup. If we analyze other aspects of the game (passes, tackles, shots and dribbles) Pele far exceeds Muller (less in shots), beats Jairzinho in almost everything except dribbles, it surpasses to Gerson in almost everything except in passes, the same happens with Tostao and Rivelino. Pele's performance with Brazil both in the World Cup and in friendlies was excellent and has more significance than the European Cup won by Van Hanegen with Feyenoord. Muller, Riva, Jairzinho, Tostao as well as Pelé did not win any title at the club level in 1970 and none exceeds or Pele. In global terms: 1958: 1 ° Pele, 2 ° Didi and 3 ° Kopa 1959: Between the 1st or 2nd with Di Stefano 1960: 1 ° Pele, 2 ° Suarez 1961: 1° Pele, 2° Sivori 1962: 1 ° Pele, 2 ° Garrincha (according to you) 1963. 1° Pele, 2° Yashin 1964: 1° Pele, 2° Law 1965: 1º Pele, 2º Eusebio. 1966 - 1967: Not for injuries. 1968: In the TOP-3, 1st Best, 2nd Pelé, 3rd Charlton 1969: In the TOP-3, 1st Rivera, 2nd Tostao, 3rd Pele 1970: 1° Pele, 2° Muller, 3° Jairzinho In my opinion, Pele was the best in the world, 8 times with safety (1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1970), possibly winning in 1959 and would be in the TOP-3 in 1968 and 1969
BEST URUGUAYAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 1910: José Piendibene (CURCC) ---> José Benincasa (River uruguayo) 1911: José Piendibene (CURCC) ---> OK 1912: José Piendibene (CURCC) ---> Alfredo Foglino (Nacional) 1913: - ---> J.Benincasa (River uruguayo) 1914: ---> J.Piendibene 1915: Ángel Romano (Nacional) ---> OK o Carlos Scarone 1916: Isabelino Gradìn (Peñarol) ---> OK o Romano 1917: Héctor Scarone (Nacional) ---> OK 1918: José Piendibene (Peñarol) ---> I.Gradín 1919: Héctor Scarone (Nacional) ---> OK
I think you didn't understand the clarification mate. I didn't put out that the period of analysis I used was based on the European calendar, but in the period of the season where each player plays. For 1958, for example, the calendar year would correspond to Didi and Pelé playing in Brazil, but not for Kopa, who played in the European calendar (1957-58). For that same reason, my analysis criteria for 2002 take Ronaldo with the 2001-02 season at club level (Inter Milan) and the calendar year at international level (Brazil), excluding all his participation with Real Madrid for the 2002-2003 season. In fact, there are some inaccuracies. Pelé was not the scorer of the 1958 Torneio Rio-Sao Paulo, but Gino Orlando (12). Pelé was the 5th top scorer with 8 (tied with his teammate Pepe), only 3 more than Didi (5). Then, what source do you rely on to indicate that he was the best player of that tournament above Didi? As far as I know there was not a established award for it and the vast majority of the time that I read point as the best attacker of the tournament to "Mazzola" (José Altafini) and/or Vavá, both of them scored 3 goals more than Pelé. That also makes a lot of sense with the fact that Altafini and Vavá came up with a higher status than him for the Brazilian starting lineup for the 1958 World Cup. Even Dida seems to me better highlighted by the majority and agrees with the start of the World Cup as a starter in the left-inside position. Well, a Brazilian League per se only began a year later with the start of the Brasileirao (1959), but I understant what you want to refer to. However, the case of Kopa not only holds with the Spanish League, but also what is done internationally at club level (European Cup) and the international stage (World Cup). The whole package.
Unfortunately there is also a tendency to only look at Pele's goals at the 70 cup and downgrade his performance.Truth is he had the best all round game in the cup which somehow misses the attention of many people. Louis Soccer correctly shows Pele was the main offensive threat in the cup.If it was just due to reputation it wouldn't show in the stats.There would have been a mismatch between his so called 'stature' and the stats.That doesn't happen here. The other players mentioned in Peru FC's post might better Pele in one or two departments but overall it was the latter who had the better all round performance.Hence,he was the best player in the cup and the golden ball given to him wasn't to honour him.Pele was the deserving winner of it.
As far as I understand it Peru, Pele was carrying some sort of minor injury into World Cup 1958 and that influenced the decision to leave him out of the first game (along with his age I guess). It seems like it was always intended that he'd come into the team as the tournament progressed, but that bringing in Garrincha was a decision influenced by opinions of some players before the USSR game (I could be mis-informed or slightly wrong though and I don't recall the sources where I read/heard this although think it's from more than one)? I think on Tom Stevens great thread it worked nicely to use seasons for Europe and calendar years for South America in general, and it can be done that way as a retrospective analysis, where Tom wants to fully consider seasons (and the associated stats and stories in full) for each continent. France Football's award was intended to be for calendar year though, although it does seem it's not always stuck rigidly to that (or the voters haven't and increasingly even look at seasons starting the previous summer?) and obviously when the results are announced before the end of the year then the full year can't be considered (but even in 2013 we did see C.Ronaldo benefit from late 2013 form and significant games like the Sweden one).
I should add though (I think it's relevant even though he himself isn't South American!) that according to the info (ratings) @msioux75 found Kopa was great for Real Madrid towards the end of 1958 (start of the 58/59 season) and I think it was a similar story for France still. So very feasibly his award of the Ballon d'Or was in part due to that, even if he might've done enough culminating in the World Cup already, especially as Di Stefano was ineligible that year (votes for him were disallowed or at least discouraged, as he'd won the previous year - obviously soon that tradition was abandoned even if it seems it wasn't easy for players to gain consecutive wins still for quite a long time - who knows if in real time this would've harmed Pele's chances in a global Ballon d'Or but I suppose France Football's article suggesting he'd win all those times was written more in a modern context).
BEST BRAZILIAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 1910: Eurico (Palmeiras) ---> Abelardo de Lamare (Botafogo) 1911: Décio (Americano) ---> or Eurico Mendes (Palmeiras) 1912: Arthur Friedenreich (Mackenzie) ---> OK 1913: Décio (Americano) ---> or Mimi Sodre (Botafogo) 1914: Arthur Friedenreich (Ypiranga) ---> OK 1915: Facchini (Campos Eliseos) ---> Pindaro de Carvalho (Flamengo) or Harry Welfare (Fluminense) 1916: Arthur Friedenreich (Paulistano) ---> or Amilcar (Corinthians) 1917: Arthur Friedenreich (Ypiranga) ---> Marcos Mendonça (Fluminense) or Neco (Corinthians) 1918: Arthur Friedenreich (Paulistano) ---> OK 1919: Arthur Friedenreich (Paulistano) ---> OK
Those are somewhat deceptive data. Maybe a Brazilian soccer expert can add or correct what I say next: First, just counting the champions you can't measure very well the average of each state championship, you need to expand the sample. Also, I understand that interstate tournament was one with several irregularities until 1957 (a year before it was disputed only by clubs from Sao Paulo). Then, as I refers to their status in 1958 I wouldn't take as a sample whole decades (a long period with many ups and downs), but a shorter period focused on that moment and just a little more to reflect that slight imbalance. For this, here are the first 5 between 1957 and 1961: 1957 1. Fluminense (Rio de Janeiro) 2. Flamengo (Rio de Janeiro) 2. Vasco da Gama (Rio de Janeiro) 4. Santos (Sao Paulo) 5. Portuguesa (Sao Paulo) 5. Botafogo (Rio de Janeiro) 1958 1. Vasco da Gama (Rio de Janeiro) 2. Flamengo (Rio de Janeiro) 3. Corinthians (Sao Paulo) 4. Sao Paulo (Sao Paulo) 5. Botafogo (Rio de Janeiro) 5. Fluminense (Rio de Janeiro) 1959 1. Santos (Sao Paulo) 2. Vasco da Gama (Rio de Janeiro) 3. Flamengo (Rio de Janeiro) 4. Palmeiras (Sao Paulo) 4. Sao Paulo (Sao Paulo) 1960 1. Fluminense (Rio de Janeiro) 2. Botafogo (Rio de Janeiro) 3. Vasco da Gama (Rio de Janeiro) 3. Corinthians (Sao Paulo) 3. Flamengo (Rio de Janeiro) 1961 1. Flamengo (Rio de Janeiro) 2. Botafogo (Rio de Janeiro) 3. Vasco da Gama (Rio de Janeiro) 4. Palmeiras (Sao Paulo) 5. Santos (Sao Paulo) 5. Corinthians (Sao Paulo) I can only give credit for that popular opinion between 1961 and 1965 with total trust and precision. Between 1958 and 1960 I don't think that status belonged to him yet under a global consensus before that of a new rising prodigy. I agree, but on returning at a great level I think it's known that he didn't return to the phenomenal level of between 1961 to 1965. I mean, he was once again a world-class player, but he was not so absolutely devastating to not have any competition as in the first half of the decade and players like Best, Rivera or Tostao could impress something else.
First, I'd have to mention that I don't point to pettiness (Pelé is firmly the best player ever in my opinion), but to try to be more precise with the recognitions in short periods apart from his general prominence. Then, of course I've checked his numbers in the tournament, but more importantly, I've watched his matches (and sometimes just to analyze him), so my opinion here is based on my impression as a witness, but what gives me more support is that I've reviewed opinions of some analysts about the way in which Pelé transcended in Mexico 1970, which I think is undisputable that he was one of the best, but there is an open discussion about whether he was the best. That's my point, Pelé would have to be a too brutal figure above others without any doubt to have an opportunity in my criteria considering his low profile at club level, which cover most of the year, and that even though the World Cup was a tournament of great significance, it's a short one and can't push a player to be recognized as the best in the world in a whole season by itself.
This would be my best extended attempt: 1958 1° Didi (Brazil & Botafogo) 2° Raymond Kopa (France & Stade de Reims) 3° Just Fontaine (France & Stade de Reims) 4° Pelé (Brazil & Santos) 4° Alfredo Di Stéfano (Spain & Real Madrid) 1959 1° Alfredo Di Stéfano (Spain & Real Madrid) 1° Pelé (Brazil & Santos) 3° Luis Suárez (Spain & Barcelona) 3° José Sanfilippo (Argentina & San Lorenzo) 5° José Altafini (Brazil & AC Milan) 1960 1° Ferenc Puskás (Hungary & Real Madrid) 2° Omar Sívori (Argentina & Juventus) 3° Luis Suárez (Spain & Barcelona) 4° Uwe Seeler (Germany & Hamburg) 4° Pelé (Brazil & Santos) 4° Lev Yashin (Soviet Union & Dynamo Moscow) 1961 1° Pelé (Brazil & Santos) 2° Omar Sívori (Italy & Juventus) 3° Garrincha (Brazil & Botafogo) 4° Alberto Spencer (Ecuador & Peñarol) 5° Danny Blanchflower (Northern Ireland & Tottenham Hotspur) 1962 1° Pelé (Brazil & Santos) 2° Garrincha (Brazil & Botafogo) 3° Josef Masopust (Czechoslovakia & Dukla Prague) 4° Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (Germany & Köln) 5° Coutinho (Brazil & Santos) 1963 1° Pelé (Brazil & Santos) 2° Gianni Rivera (Italy & AC Milan) 3° Jimmy Greaves (England & Tottenham Hotspur) 4° Eusébio (Portugal & Benfica) 5° Pepe (Brazil & Santos) 1964 1° Pelé (Brazil & Santos) 2° Luis Suárez (Spain & Inter Milan) 2° Denis Law (Scotland & Manchester United) 4° Eusébio (Portugal & Benfica) 5° Amancio (Spain & Real Madrid) 1965 1° Pelé (Brazil & Santos) 1° Eusébio (Portugal & Benfica) 3° Luis Suárez (Spain & Inter Milan) 4° Giacinto Facchetti (Italy & Inter Milan) 5° Pedro Rocha (Uruguay & Peñarol) 5° Sandro Mazzola (Italy & Inter Milan) 1966 1° Bobby Charlton (England & Manchester United) 1° Eusébio (Portugal & Benfica) 3° Bobby Moore (England & West Ham United) 4° Alberto Spencer (Ecuador & Peñarol) 4° Pedro Rocha (Uruguay & Peñarol) 1967 1° Flórián Albert (Hungary & Ferencváros) 1° Jimmy Johnstone (Scotland & Celtic) 3° Bobby Charlton (England & Manchester United) 3° Pedro Rocha (Uruguay & Peñarol) 5° Ademir (da Guia) (Brazil & Palmeiras) 5° George Best (Northern Ireland & Manchester United) 1968 1° George Best (Northern Ireland & Manchester United) 2° Bobby Charlton (England & Manchester United) 2° Eusébio (Portugal & Benfica) 2° Dragan Dzajic (Yugoslavia & Red Star Belgrade) 5° Pelé (Brazil & Santos) 5° Gianni Rivera (Italy & AC Milan) 1969 1° Gianni Rivera (Italy & AC Milan) 2° Tostao (Brazil & Cruzeiro) 3° Pelé (Brazil & Santos) 4° Luigi Riva (Italy & Cagliari) 4° Gerd Müller (Germany & Bayern Munich) 4° Johan Cruyff (Netherlands & Ajax) 1970 1° Tostao (Brazil & Cruzeiro) 1° Gerd Müller (Germany & Bayern Munich) 1° Jairzinho (Brazil & Botafogo) 4° Luigi Riva (Italy & Cagliari) 5° Gérson (Brazil & Sao Paulo) 5° Pelé (Brazil & Santos)
Below a 60 year list will be posted, which contains the most successful South American players. World titles, continental titles and Ballon d'Or wins are considered the greatest means of success. Therefore there can be multiple winners per year. The highest rated players are mentioned first. For example, for 1957, Alfredo Di Stéfano is mentioned before Omar Sívori. The European Cup and Ballon d'Or winner, is rated higher than the best player of the Copa América for that year. Sometimes a player on the losing side is rated highest, for example Daniel Passarella in 1976, who was absent in the lost Libertadores match. Players of the same club cancel eachother out. An example is Juan Román Riquelme and Óscar Córdoba in 2001. Since the latter also won the Copa América, the first is canceled out. *because no Brazilian teams participated in the 1969 and 1970 Copa Libertadores and because Estudiantes won both editions, both years are considered as one. Most Successful South American Players 1957-2017 1957 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Omar Sívori 1958 Hilderaldo Bellini/Alfredo Di Stéfano 1959 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Pelé/Alcides Silveira 1960 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Alberto Spencer 1961 Alberto Spencer/Omar Sívori 1962 Pelé 1963 Pelé/José Altafini/Ramiro Blacut 1964 Mario Rodríguez/Jair da Costa 1965 Jair da Costa/Raúl Bernao 1966 Alberto Spencer 1967 José Urruzmendi 1968 Juan Ramón Verón 1969 Eduardo Flores* 1970 Pelé* 1971 Luis Artime 1972 Teófilo Cubillas 1973 Carlos Caszely 1974 Miguel Ángel Raimondo/Elías Figueroa 1975 Percy Rojas 1976 Daniel Passarella 1977 Hugo Gatti 1978 Mario Kempes/Carlos Salinas 1979 Hugo Talavera 1980 Waldemar Victorino 1981 Zico 1982 Zico/Fernando Morena 1983 Fernando Morena 1984 Ricardo Bochini 1985 Claudio Borghi 1986 Maradona/Antonio Alzamendi 1987 Obdulio Trasante/Celso 1988 Santiago Ostolaza 1989 Bebeto/René Higuita 1990 Maradona/Raúl Vicente Amarilla 1991 Gabriel Batistuta/Patricio Yáñez 1992 Rai 1993 Goycochea/Cafú 1994 Romario/José Chilavert 1995 Enzo Francescoli/Mario Jardel 1996 Enzo Francescoli 1997 Ronaldo/Nolberto Solano 1998 Fernando Redondo/Juninho 1999 Rivaldo/Marcos 2000 Juan Román Riquelme/Fernando Redondo 2001 Óscar Córdoba/Giovanni Elber 2002 Ronaldo/Santiago Solari 2003 Carlos Tevez/Dida 2004 Luis Fabiano 2005 Ronaldinho/Rogério Ceni 2006 Ronaldinho/Fernandão 2007 Kaká/Juan Román Riquelme/Robinho 2008 Anderson/Joffre Guerrón 2009 Messi/Juan Sebastián Verón 2010 Messi/Maicon 2011 Messi/ Neymar/Luis Suárez 2012 Messi/Ramires/Emerson Sheik 2013 Messi/Ronaldinho/Dante 2014 Messi/Ángel Di María/Juan Ignacio Mercier, 2015 Claudio Bravo/Carlos Andrés Sánchez 2016 Alexis Sánchez/Marcelo/Alejandro Guerra 2017 Marcelo/Luan Vieira
-added 10 years to the list The Most Successful South American players 1947-2017 1947 José Manuel Moreno 1948 Nílton Santos 1949 Ademir de Menezes 1950 Juan Alberto Schiaffino 1951 Alfredo Di Stéfano 1952 Alfredo Di Stéfano 1953 Adolfo Pedernera/Heriberto Herrera 1954 José Santamaría/Gilmar 1955 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Ángel Labruna 1956 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Juan Alberto Schiaffino/Óscar Miguez 1957 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Omar Sívori 1958 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Hilderaldo Bellini 1959 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Pelé/Alcides Silveira 1960 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Alberto Spencer 1961 Alberto Spencer/Omar Sívori 1962 Pelé 1963 Pelé/José Altafini/Ramiro Blacut 1964 Mario Rodríguez/Jair da Costa 1965 Jair da Costa/Raúl Bernao 1966 Alberto Spencer 1967 Pedro Rocha 1968 Juan Ramón Verón 1969 Eduardo Flores 1970 Pelé 1971 Luis Artime 1972 Teófilo Cubillas 1973 Carlos Caszely 1974 Miguel Ángel Raimondo/Elías Figueroa 1975 Percy Rojas 1976 Daniel Passarella 1977 Hugo Gatti 1978 Mario Kempes/Carlos Salinas 1979 Hugo Talavera 1980 Waldemar Victorino 1981 Zico 1982 Zico/Fernando Morena 1983 Fernando Morena 1984 Ricardo Bochini 1985 Claudio Borghi 1986 Maradona/Antonio Alzamendi 1987 Obdulio Trasante/Celso 1988 Santiago Ostolaza 1989 Bebeto/René Higuita 1990 Maradona/Raúl Vicente Amarilla 1991 Gabriel Batistuta/Patricio Yáñez 1992 Rai 1993 Goycochea/Cafú 1994 Romario/José Chilavert 1995 Enzo Francescoli/Mario Jardel 1996 Enzo Francescoli 1997 Ronaldo/Nolberto Solano 1998 Fernando Redondo/Juninho 1999 Rivaldo/Marcos 2000 Juan Román Riquelme/Fernando Redondo 2001 Óscar Córdoba/Giovanni Elber 2002 Ronaldo/Santiago Solari 2003 Carlos Tevez/Dida 2004 Luis Fabiano 2005 Ronaldinho/Rogério Ceni 2006 Ronaldinho/Fernandão 2007 Kaká/Juan Román Riquelme/Robinho 2008 Anderson/Joffre Guerrón 2009 Messi/Juan Sebastián Verón 2010 Messi/Maicon 2011 Messi/ Neymar/Luis Suárez 2012 Messi/Ramires/Emerson Sheik 2013 Messi/Ronaldinho/Dante 2014 Messi/Ángel Di María/Juan Ignacio Mercier, 2015 Claudio Bravo/Carlos Andrés Sánchez 2016 Alexis Sánchez/Marcelo/Alejandro Guerra 2017 Marcelo/Luan Vieira
-added 10 years 1937 Miguel Andreolo/Carlos Peucelle 1938 Arsenio Erico/Miguel Andreolo 1939 Arsenio Erico/Lolo Fernández 1940 Ernesto Lazzatti 1941 José Manuel Moreno/Tim 1942 Obdulio Varela 1943 Mario Boyé 1944 Carlos Adolfo Sosa 1945 Félix Loustau 1946 Adolfo Pedernera 1947 José Manuel Moreno 1948 Nílton Santos 1949 Ademir de Menezes 1950 Juan Alberto Schiaffino 1951 Alfredo Di Stéfano 1952 Alfredo Di Stéfano 1953 Adolfo Pedernera/Heriberto Herrera 1954 José Santamaría/Gilmar 1955 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Ángel Labruna 1956 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Juan Alberto Schiaffino/Óscar Miguez 1957 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Omar Sívori 1958 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Hilderaldo Bellini 1959 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Pelé/Alcides Silveira 1960 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Alberto Spencer 1961 Alberto Spencer/Omar Sívori 1962 Pelé 1963 Pelé/José Altafini/Ramiro Blacut 1964 Mario Rodríguez/Jair da Costa 1965 Jair da Costa/Raúl Bernao 1966 Alberto Spencer 1967 Pedro Rocha 1968 Juan Ramón Verón 1969 Eduardo Flores 1970 Pelé 1971 Luis Artime 1972 Teófilo Cubillas 1973 Carlos Caszely 1974 Elías Figueroa/Miguel Ángel Raimondo 1975 Percy Rojas 1976 Daniel Passarella 1977 Hugo Gatti 1978 Mario Kempes/Carlos Salinas 1979 Hugo Talavera 1980 Waldemar Victorino 1981 Zico 1982 Zico/Fernando Morena 1983 Fernando Morena 1984 Ricardo Bochini 1985 Claudio Borghi 1986 Maradona/Antonio Alzamendi 1987 Obdulio Trasante/Celso 1988 Santiago Ostolaza 1989 Bebeto/René Higuita 1990 Maradona/Raúl Vicente Amarilla 1991 Gabriel Batistuta/Patricio Yáñez 1992 Rai 1993 Goycochea/Cafú 1994 Romario/José Chilavert 1995 Enzo Francescoli/Mario Jardel 1996 Enzo Francescoli 1997 Ronaldo/Nolberto Solano 1998 Fernando Redondo/Juninho 1999 Rivaldo/Marcos 2000 Juan Román Riquelme/Fernando Redondo 2001 Óscar Córdoba/Giovanni Elber 2002 Ronaldo/Santiago Solari 2003 Carlos Tevez/Dida 2004 Luis Fabiano 2005 Ronaldinho/Rogério Ceni 2006 Ronaldinho/Fernandão 2007 Kaká/Juan Román Riquelme/Robinho 2008 Anderson/Joffre Guerrón 2009 Messi/Juan Sebastián Verón 2010 Messi/Maicon 2011 Messi/ Neymar/Luis Suárez 2012 Messi/Ramires/Emerson Sheik 2013 Messi/Ronaldinho/Dante 2014 Messi/Ángel Di María/Juan Ignacio Mercier, 2015 Claudio Bravo/Carlos Andrés Sánchez 2016 Alexis Sánchez/Marcelo/Alejandro Guerra 2017 Marcelo/Luan Vieira
-removed Tim, representative of Brazil, which withdrew from the Copa América 1941(amongst others). The reason for this is the inferiority of the Brazilian leagues compared to the Argentinian one. -added 10 years 1927 Manuel Seoane 1928 Héctor Scarone 1929 Manuel Ferreira 1930 José Nasazzi 1931 Raimundo Orsi 1932 Raimundo Orsi/Francisco Fedullo 1933 Raimundo Orsi 1934 Raimundo Orsi/Francisco Fedullo 1935 José Nasazzi/Raimundo Orsi 1936 Miguel Andreolo/Lolo Fernández 1937 Miguel Andreolo/Carlos Peucelle 1938 Arsenio Erico/Miguel Andreolo 1939 Arsenio Erico/Lolo Fernández 1940 Ernesto Lazzatti 1941 José Manuel Moreno 1942 Obdulio Varela 1943 Mario Boyé 1944 Carlos Adolfo Sosa 1945 Félix Loustau 1946 Adolfo Pedernera 1947 José Manuel Moreno 1948 Nílton Santos 1949 Ademir de Menezes 1950 Juan Alberto Schiaffino 1951 Alfredo Di Stéfano 1952 Alfredo Di Stéfano 1953 Adolfo Pedernera/Heriberto Herrera 1954 José Santamaría/Gilmar 1955 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Ángel Labruna 1956 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Juan Alberto Schiaffino/Óscar Miguez 1957 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Omar Sívori 1958 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Hilderaldo Bellini 1959 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Pelé/Alcides Silveira 1960 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Alberto Spencer 1961 Alberto Spencer/Omar Sívori 1962 Pelé 1963 Pelé/José Altafini/Ramiro Blacut 1964 Mario Rodríguez/Jair da Costa 1965 Jair da Costa/Raúl Bernao 1966 Alberto Spencer 1967 Pedro Rocha 1968 Juan Ramón Verón 1969 Eduardo Flores 1970 Pelé 1971 Luis Artime 1972 Teófilo Cubillas 1973 Carlos Caszely 1974 Elías Figueroa/Miguel Ángel Raimondo 1975 Percy Rojas 1976 Daniel Passarella 1977 Hugo Gatti 1978 Mario Kempes/Carlos Salinas 1979 Hugo Talavera 1980 Waldemar Victorino 1981 Zico 1982 Zico/Fernando Morena 1983 Fernando Morena 1984 Ricardo Bochini 1985 Claudio Borghi 1986 Maradona/Antonio Alzamendi 1987 Obdulio Trasante/Celso 1988 Santiago Ostolaza 1989 Bebeto/René Higuita 1990 Maradona/Raúl Vicente Amarilla 1991 Gabriel Batistuta/Patricio Yáñez 1992 Rai 1993 Goycochea/Cafú 1994 Romario/José Chilavert 1995 Enzo Francescoli/Mario Jardel 1996 Enzo Francescoli 1997 Ronaldo/Nolberto Solano 1998 Fernando Redondo/Juninho 1999 Rivaldo/Marcos 2000 Juan Román Riquelme/Fernando Redondo 2001 Óscar Córdoba/Giovanni Elber 2002 Ronaldo/Santiago Solari 2003 Carlos Tevez/Dida 2004 Luis Fabiano 2005 Ronaldinho/Rogério Ceni 2006 Ronaldinho/Fernandão 2007 Kaká/Juan Román Riquelme/Robinho 2008 Anderson/Joffre Guerrón 2009 Messi/Juan Sebastián Verón 2010 Messi/Maicon 2011 Messi/ Neymar/Luis Suárez 2012 Messi/Ramires/Emerson Sheik 2013 Messi/Ronaldinho/Dante 2014 Messi/Ángel Di María/Juan Ignacio Mercier 2015 Claudio Bravo/Carlos Andrés Sánchez 2016 Alexis Sánchez/Marcelo/Alejandro Guerra 2017 Marcelo/Luan Vieira
With the last 10 years, the 90 year list will be complete. This doesn't mean that it isnt up for discussion. Although the aim of this list is different from others, as success is less subjective, it often coincides. But sometimes it doesn't. A direct critique on bocaesboca's work would be that it over expands players' peaks, as @msioux75 already pointed out, and it has a strong preference for topscorers. @Tom Stevens list, together with El Mundo's among others, became a point of reference. As such, I noticed that counting EU seasons instead of calendar years results in different picks, especially in the early 50's. Still, as a minor point of critique, Schiaffino looks relatively out of sync with his titles. Other observations from this project: -the Argentinian league trumps all other leagues, except for the 1948-1954 period. -around the millenium Brazilian football improved, winning the Copa América away from home aswell as winning more Libertadores.
-changed Pedernera for his successor Villaverde in the Ballet Azul of 1953. -added Sergio Órteman to 2002 -added 10 years 1917 Héctor Scarone 1918 Juan Perinetti 1919 Arthur Friedenreich 1920 José Piendibene 1921 Américo Tesoriere 1922 Agostinho Fortes Filho 1923 José Nasazzi 1924 Pedro Petrone 1925 Manuel Seoane 1926 José Leandro Andrade 1927 Manuel Seoane 1928 Héctor Scarone 1929 Manuel Ferreira 1930 José Nasazzi 1931 Raimundo Orsi 1932 Raimundo Orsi/Francisco Fedullo 1933 Raimundo Orsi 1934 Raimundo Orsi/Francisco Fedullo 1935 José Nasazzi/Raimundo Orsi 1936 Miguel Andreolo/Lolo Fernández 1937 Miguel Andreolo/Carlos Peucelle 1938 Arsenio Erico/Miguel Andreolo 1939 Arsenio Erico/Lolo Fernández 1940 Ernesto Lazzatti 1941 José Manuel Moreno 1942 Obdulio Varela 1943 Mario Boyé 1944 Carlos Adolfo Sosa 1945 Félix Loustau 1946 Adolfo Pedernera 1947 José Manuel Moreno 1948 Nílton Santos 1949 Ademir de Menezes 1950 Juan Alberto Schiaffino 1951 Alfredo Di Stéfano 1952 Alfredo Di Stéfano 1953 Ramón Alberto Villaverde /Heriberto Herrera 1954 José Santamaría/Gilmar 1955 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Ángel Labruna 1956 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Juan Alberto Schiaffino/Óscar Miguez 1957 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Omar Sívori 1958 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Hilderaldo Bellini 1959 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Pelé/Alcides Silveira 1960 Alfredo Di Stéfano/Alberto Spencer 1961 Alberto Spencer/Omar Sívori 1962 Pelé 1963 Pelé/José Altafini/Ramiro Blacut 1964 Mario Rodríguez/Jair da Costa 1965 Jair da Costa/Raúl Bernao 1966 Alberto Spencer 1967 Pedro Rocha 1968 Juan Ramón Verón 1969 Eduardo Flores 1970 Pelé 1971 Luis Artime 1972 Teófilo Cubillas 1973 Carlos Caszely 1974 Elías Figueroa/Miguel Ángel Raimondo 1975 Percy Rojas 1976 Daniel Passarella 1977 Hugo Gatti 1978 Mario Kempes/Carlos Salinas 1979 Hugo Talavera 1980 Waldemar Victorino 1981 Zico 1982 Zico/Fernando Morena 1983 Fernando Morena 1984 Ricardo Bochini 1985 Claudio Borghi 1986 Maradona/Antonio Alzamendi 1987 Obdulio Trasante/Celso 1988 Santiago Ostolaza 1989 Bebeto/René Higuita 1990 Maradona/Raúl Vicente Amarilla 1991 Gabriel Batistuta/Patricio Yáñez 1992 Rai 1993 Goycochea/Cafú 1994 Romario/José Chilavert 1995 Enzo Francescoli/Mario Jardel 1996 Enzo Francescoli 1997 Ronaldo/Nolberto Solano 1998 Fernando Redondo/Juninho 1999 Rivaldo/Marcos 2000 Juan Román Riquelme/Fernando Redondo 2001 Óscar Córdoba/Giovanni Elber 2002 Ronaldo/Santiago Solari/Sergio Órteman 2003 Carlos Tevez/Dida 2004 Luis Fabiano 2005 Ronaldinho/Rogério Ceni 2006 Ronaldinho/Fernandão 2007 Kaká/Juan Román Riquelme/Robinho 2008 Anderson/Joffre Guerrón 2009 Messi/Juan Sebastián Verón 2010 Messi/Maicon 2011 Messi/ Neymar/Luis Suárez 2012 Messi/Ramires/Emerson Sheik 2013 Messi/Ronaldinho/Dante 2014 Messi/Ángel Di María/Juan Ignacio Mercier 2015 Claudio Bravo/Carlos Andrés Sánchez 2016 Alexis Sánchez/Marcelo/Alejandro Guerra 2017 Marcelo/Luan Vieira
While I agree that easy free passes do happen (at the time itself by the usual megaphones, and amplified many years later), for me those two things don't really add up. The equation between those two logics breaks down. The situation is that Rivera himself had not his best year in 1969. This is why he lost his secure place in the national team after euro 1968. Therefore he scored merely 6 goals for club and country in all games, the 2nd lowest total by him before the age of 31. Because Rivera his role and position remained static between the years (his inflexibility and how he fits into a side was a source of criticism), except for 1972-73, those goal tallies are indicative for his form and it is backed up by the archives. Unlike other seasons (1967-68, 1972-73) he wasn't elected as Italy's best player. Ferrucio Valcareggi (Italian national team manager between 1966 and 1974) made most probably an error with his Rivera-Mazzola alternation that was installed in 1969, but it didn't come from nowhere. Rivera was his default playmaker at euro 1968, only interrupted by injury and thus missing the final plus the replay. By 1969 Rivera did have a career to stand on, and he had a handful good-to-great games (most notably the first leg of the 1969 European Cup semi final, and the final itself), but so had Pelé in 1970. Also he delivered in (less than) a handful games, not the least in the tournament final itself against an (admittedly) tired and bruised Italian team. Rivera was a great player (had him down as best of his birthyear, without much doubt), sometimes lucky, just as often unlucky, but the factors for him winning the 1969 Ballon d'Or were greatly similar to what was behind Pele in 1970. A strong career, a crowning (club) achievement, some prominent games. With regards to the individuality of Pelé, there is an interesting reference point in the England national team (June 1969 until June 1970). Pelé, George Best and Cruijff played all two games within 12 months against a top strength England team, in a very competitive spirit/setting. England was #1 in the Elo ranking although by the time Pelé played them for a second time England had dropped to #2/#3. Although I think Pelé was widely referred as the world's best player until 1971 (as indicated by me before), and this idea wasn't totally delusional, it is here that some doubts tend to arrive. Pelé was namely commonly described as the sheer individual force, while others are placed down as the more coordinative persons (throughout their careers). As an individual characteristic that is to say his area of strength and source of value, while e.g. George Best was described as having other strengths (and he had to carry the Northern Ireland national team, costing him unnecessary focus, energy and effort). But it is this area of strength, the individual tornado, where Pelé ought to pull a distance, that was suddenly not so visible any more. Certainly still visible class, but not that whirlwind compared to Best (at his best phases), Cruijff in that span. Which happens to be less of an 'unique selling point' for them.
I agree with you and for the good Didi was - and he was - I just can't see Didi being the South America Player of the Year in 1958 when Garrincha was rated as the Best Player of Campeonato Carioca that year by Jornal dos Sports (Nilton Santos in 1956 and 1957) with Didi being not rated that well compared to others like Castilho, Dida, Bellini or Nilton Santos in this year... and when Garrincha also was elect unanimously as the Best Player and the Biggest Figure of the Carioca Soccer by the Correio da Manhã: and when Pelé was voted unanimously as the Best Player of Paulista football in 1958 being top scorer of Campeonato Paulista in this year (all-time record): In 1959 again, Pelé was the Top Scorer... in Copa América and also in the Campeonato Paulista again. Jornal dos Sports, famous Rio's newpapers had Pelé as the Crack do Ano do Brasil 1959 (over Carioca players). while, for example, Di Stefano was rated as 28º Best Player in 1958/1959 and was at best mediocre, at best!, in 1959/1960 in La Liga: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...qgQrdoBV5mPSKv9rh3p_kaBfk/edit#gid=1923177106 Also in 1960 Pelé in Campeonato Paulista was voted almost unanimously again as the Best Player, something like 113 vs 2 or 3 if I remember and he was Top Scorer once again. What I can see as more interesting case is Garrincha being the South American Player of the Year in 1962 when, if I remember correctly, he was elected the Best Player of Campeonato Carioca and won the WC62 Best Player, even though Pelé was still more dominant in his matches. _______________________________________________________ I mean Didi did phenomenal in the WC58, but so did Garrincha, Nilton Santos and Pelé, the top scorer of Brazilian NT* and many others too: *he was injured, so he missed some matches and wasn't fully fit But at the club level he didn't have a year of "prominence", let's put it in that way. Btw, I can complete this after. But my impressions remains intact, that Pelé was clearly the best player in the world between 1958 and 1965, with a status similar to Messi today, being one of the best - if not the best player - between 1966 and 1970 and still a World Class player after 1970.