Almost nobody discuss Pele supremacy as the best player ever, like nobody doubts that Michael Jordan was the best alltime basketballer. But I liked more Magic, he did things that we never saw in Michael. Of course MJ scored more points, he could jump higher and he won more titles. The same thing happens to me with Maradona, they could say that Pele is the best, but when we saw Pele dribbling six men and scoring a wonderful goal in a so important match, like a quaterfinal of the WC. I choose the Magic.
Sorry it's gotta be Pele, he was the definition of consistency (it was less a case of "will he score? and more a case of "How many will he score?"), had a far longer career (upwardss of twnety years, iirc), and was more versatile (could literally play ANYHWERE - I've even heard he had 4 Brazilian caps in goals and kept clean sheets in all of the... is this true?)
If you talk about playing anywhre, you should know that Maradona played in Argentina's fields. And i know that Pele was greater if you look the numbers, but i see the both game and i choose Maradona. PD:A hint: look in what leagues played Pele and Maradona, and compare.
First of all, as a Chicagoan I must let you know that not only did Michael score, he did it with more passion, effort, and amazing ability than anyone else. He was more fun than Magic to watch because not only could he pass almost as well as Magic, he could score more, played so high above the rim, was a tougher rebounder, better defender, and more competitive. On the other argument, I'd say Pele and Maradona are tough to compare: they were both great - Pele had an amazing, long, career, Maradona had an astonishing decade or so. But keep in mind how good Maradona could have been (and wasn't), and also it could be noted that when Pele and Garrincha played together for Brazil, they never lost a game. Never.
Not just brazilians,i have read many many articles by respected football writers/players/commentators from franco rossi to joao havelange to armando noguiera who say that garrincha was at least the equal of pele(some say better),he is just not as globally known.garrincha was truly awesome
Minor slip. Pele~Jordan, Maradona~Magic J...not "=" In truth, Pele>Michael J; Maradona>Magic J And, Pele>Maradona>Michael J>Magic J...
i agree with you. id take Magic over Jordan(id take Kareem over both though), and i would take Maradona over pele. however, Jordan is the best player ever. pele isnt the best ive seen. i saw the 1970 final the other day. theres no doubt a decent national team of today would beat these guys pretty easily.
Yeah, sure, go beat up on the old men. They are all like 60 years old by now! So, in this hypothetical game between 1970's Brazil/Italy and a decent national team of today, which era would the refs be from? Would we play with backpasses to the GK? How many substitutes? Would we use yellow cards or straight ejections? - Paul
Not even close. Magic Johnson = Garincha (widely known that some Brazilians consider Garincha better than Pele) "Magic" and Garincha have more in common. Flashiness, high-light material, singlehandedly could lead a team (NOTE: What I write for Pele below) to victory. Micheal Jordan = Becenbauer (more of a clutch superstar.) Great all around player and could make the big plays. Micheal Jordan is not on the same level of Pele or even Garincha or even Maradona. Jordan was highlight material, but in terms of being "flash" he wasn't even "magic' johnson. Pele. Ok Garincha is known to have singlehalndedly win WC Chile 62'. Just like Maradona in WC Mexico 86'. But Garincha wasn't eternally legendary. Sure he'll be remembered as Brazil's greats. But Pele was the true package. No one, not Micheal Jordan not Larry Bird no one in the baskeball sphere is on the same page. To truely appreciate Pele's magic watch the highlights of WC Sweeden 58' WC Meixco 70' and his Santos days in Brazil. Especially seeing Santos beat Inter Milan in the Intercontinental Cup, was a scene to behold. Santos in the 60's was something else as well. See the highlight reel of a Pele in his prime, mesmerizing, intoxicating, and lethal. Garincha was close on the first 2, but Pele was just on an other planet.
How on earth can you compare a basketball player to a football player? In terms of popularity and impact on the game, Michael Jordan beats any football player.
Scottie Pippen shackled Magic in the 91 finals, no one ever held Michael Jordan in check. So Micha...ahem ahem Pele wins this one.
Man, how old are some of the folks posting here? Michael Jordan has 0 flaws in his game at his peak. 0. He was simultaneously the best scorer/player in the league, best 'mind' in the league, most courage in the league (look at his playoff vs. Utah with the dangerous fever/flu and his performance), best defender in the league- and if he wanted to be- best passer. He elevated a mediocre surrounding cast into championship status by his presence. I love Magic, but he won his titles with a much better surrounding cast. Sadly, because of his HIV retirement, we will never know if he could have challenged Jordan in his prime. Likely not- he no longer had Kareem, Worthy in prime, etc. Pele, Maradona, Magic and Jordan were all great.....they are like works of art...why even compare? But if you must, you really don't have an argument against Jordan. Not one. And I wasn't the biggest Jordan (or Bulls) fan either..
Are you smoking pot? How the hell is a basketball player more popular than a football player? Heck, basketball will find it difficult to reach cricket's global popularity. Competing with football is absolutely unthinkable!
My dad had the pleasure of watching DiStefano play before he left Argentina and he also saw Maradona at Boca and WC86. He also saw the famous dribbling exibihition during the 1978 cup and he said Maradona in his opinion was clearly the better player. This is coming from a hardcore Gallina that didn't talk to me for months after getting a Boca crest tattooed on my arm. As for the Magic/Michael argument, take a look at the players Magic had sorrounding him at LA compared to Scottie Pippen for MJ. Pippen was good but he was definitely not Kareem and may not have been better than Big Game James (Worthy). B/W Pele and Maradona it's just a toss up of what type of player you wanted to watch. To me Pele was edges out Maradona based soley on the big picture (behavior). Skill wise it's what you like. Cheers
excuse me? heres how id compare them.. pele = Oscar Robertson or Elgin Baylor, Maradona = Jordan. if anyone is wondering what i mean by that; pele was way ahead of his time. versatile. could do anything. would probably be one of the best ever no matter what position you put him in, if simply because of his smarts... Maradona just did everything anyone else ever did, and then added some of his own stuff. physical ability withdrawn. of course.
no question about it. Jordan is bigger in basketball terms then pele and Maradona combined. or close to it.
I have to disagree with that. Basketball blows away cricket. Countries that play cricket: England, Australia, West Indies, South Africa, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Fiji, Canada, The Netherlands, and Bangladesh. Countries that play basketball: United States, Canada, Argentina, Italy, France, Lithuania, Greece, Puerto Rico, Spain, China, Australia, New Zealand, Serbia & Montenegro, Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Latvia, Russia, Brazil, Cuba, Turkey, Croatia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, and about fifty more listed on www.fiba.com