Ignorance is often bliss. If the game was slower the frequent fouls and two footed leg breaking tackles made it more dangerous.

Players had zero protection.

You really shouldn't take into account the physical condition of players when debating who was better over different periods.

The improvements and understanding of science and how it can benefit sports means players will always improve in that respect. Had Pele been around now he would have been different in that we would have taken into account modern day science in regards to his physical ability.

You have to only really be able to compare natural ability, for me Pele and Maradona(from the clips I've seen) were immense, better than Ronaldo but hard to say compared to Messi.

It's also very hard to know how good a player is until time has past.

And what about the pitches like a mud pond?

Balls that weighed 2-3 times that of today's?

Never saw Pele or Maradonna play, so I won't comment on that. (In fact, most of the people who like to have this argument haven't seen Pele play..)

One thing for sure though, Messi and Ronaldo both belong in that pantheon of greats alongside Pele and Maradonna. You're right about nostalgia - you'll get many older people who will swear blind that Messi/Ronaldo aren't in the same league as the older players. I just can't believe that for a second.

I remember Maradona very well (I was 10 when he scored the wonder goal against England).

He was every bit as good as Messi or Ronaldo.... Better, imo. Just pure, natural talent.

Physical condition of the opponents of Pele and Maradona were weak so they could not do the pressing that most modern teams do successfully. so playing football was relatively easier for them

Messi is nearest to them than any other player. Ron belongs to the group that includes Cruyff.

Ji, how come you filtered Darren?

Maradona's stats arent close to messi and CR7 and Pele scored most of his goals in Brazilian league where defending and tactics are just carp

What about the superb condition of the modern day pitches, allowing teams to play quick passing football?

What about the modern ball, which swerves more and makes the goalkeepers job more difficult? Then again all goalkeepers wear high quality gloves now!

Have changes in the offside rule over the year made it easier for the modern day attacker?

Comment deleted by Article Creator

Didn't players still smoke and have a cup of tea at half time when Maradona and Pele were playing

When Maradona and Pele played they actually had to swap them with lookalikes at Half Time because players didn't have the stamina to play both halves back then.

If you look at the videos there is nothing that likes of pele and maradona can do that messi and CR7 cannot. plus they are far more consistent than any other player

For me Messi is quite simply the best player I've ever seen. He plays in the same leagues as Ronaldo and Maradona (back in the day), and surpasses the pair of them.
As for Pele, my only doubt has been that he never played in Europe on a weekly basis. Maybe the 'myth' was created in the days of little media coverage and generally only being seen every 4yrs in a team full of stars?
Obviously he was a great player but was he 'that' great?

comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 2 minutes ago
I'm guessing Screen is trolling.

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I don't think so, and he makes a good point about nostalgia, it's the same in many different things such as music & movies. Peoples memories get exaggerated over time, and things go from good to great to incredible. Imagine what people will say about Messi & Ronaldo in 50 years time.

Messi and Ronaldo are our generation Pele and Maradona, that's not up for dispute. It also shows how spoilt we are as fans that fans had to wait a generation to find a player as good as Pele, while we have 2 currently in world football.

I always find it funny when people compare Messi to Maradona, but in terms of their arguments, Pele and Messi are in the same boat while Ronaldo and Maradona are in theirs.

Pele already has, but Messi will also go down playing in the same league so the argument of being tested elsewhere will never be answered. They both played in a far superior team to most in the world and Messi will always have a fantastic chance to win a World Cup based on the fact of the players around him. It is why Pele can boast winning numerous World Cups, but never would I say he dragged their team far beyond their expectation.

Ronaldo and Maradona are tested, both have dragged teams beyond their potential. Ronaldo did it with Manchester United, he also did it with Real Madrid, winning the league by a league record point when they are clearly second best to Barcelona is no small feat. He's literally been dragging Portugal to the World Cup. Maradona dragged Napoli and he was more than a huge influence on Argentina winning the World Cup. On top of it, both players were criticised heavily by the media and were seen as the one not to like.

The arguments that Pele v Maradona will apply to Messi and Ronaldo. Word for word!

Yeah but Messi wouldn't have been a professional footballer if he played in those days at he wouldn't have had the growth hormones he needed.

"Pele scored most of his goals in Brazilian league where defending and tactics are just carp"

This isn't trolling?

The game is far less physical these days, players like Messi and Ronaldo are given far more protection and benefit from it. Had Pele or Maradona played today their fitness levels would be far greater because of the advancements in science which has allowed players today to play at a far higher level of fitness, that should not be taken into account when comparing players ability from different eras, it's incredibly naive.

Basically Screen's believes humans today are better than they were 30-50 years ago which is nonsense, or he's trolling.

It is clear that the people talking about the negatives of nostalgia didn't actually watch Maradona or Pele though... So how can they know?

Maradona was every inch the player that Messi was... that is not nostalgia, that is just knowing what I saw and using my brian to work out the pros and cons of the modern game v yesteryear.

If nostalgia was this great influence on decisions... why do i think players like Butcher were no better or worse than, say John Terry.

Surely nostalgia should make me think Butcher was far better, especially as the image of his battered and bloody is burned into my mind when i were a kid?

Darkphoenix

It's a very different comparison simply because Maradona and Pele did not play at the same time where as Messi and Ronaldo do.

It's quite clear that Messi and Ronaldo feed off each other's talents and it in turn raises both of their games. Maradona and Pele never had this so I don't really see the comparison.

manutd1982

Players were fitter these days than thirty years ago so there is far more pressing than the days of pele and maradona. Good players read tackles and skips past them but most find it difficult to deal with the pressing.

Less pressing, easier to play. simples

Screen

Why is there more pressing? Because of advancements in science and fitness training allowing players to play at a higher tempo. You seem to be completely missing the point of natural talent.

Had Messi or Ronaldo played in the 50's their fitness levels would automatically be less because of the science around them. Equally had Pele or Maradona played today their fitness levels would automatically be superior. You can't use fitness as an excuss as to who is better.

Had Pele or Maradona played today their fitness levels would be far greater because of the advancements in science which has allowed players today to play at a far higher level of fitness, that should not be taken into account when comparing players ability from different eras, it's incredibly naive.

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But they would be playing against far fitter players too. Having a player who can run a marathon marking you is probably a bit tougher than one whose going to go to the pub for a few after the match.

Pressing? That isn't some vital guarantee of success though. It's just one way to play. Besides, i'm assuming you've heard of total football, mastered by the Dutch in that prehistoric era of the 70's?

And anyway, take Bryan Robson. At his best he'd walk into any team in world football even today. And he played at the same time as Maradona.