Xavi is the greatest player of all time imo

some people on here like the Op are really thick about football

Some people here have to realize that both Pele and Maradona are human. they are not demi gods send from Olympus. Its not unthinkable that one or two players will reach their level eventually. people want to hold on to the past that they come up with the most insane excuses.

"they play with a heavier ball", "they had to play on bad pitches", "Messi and Ronaldo dont have to face career threatening two footed challenges" what a shame finally the latest "maradona performed while high on drugs". With these excuses we may as well play football for another 20,000 years and nobody should dare be called equal to Pele and Maradona.

Its not Messi's or Ronaldo's fault that they have to play with a lighter ball in better pitches. they didnt make the rules on fouls and offside. They just had to play in the conditions given to them. These two are doing exactly that with robotic like efficiency. These supremely gifted footballers have achieved a level on skill,ability and stats that other professional footballers can only dream of. Both of them are streets ahead of any footballer in living memory and made a mockery of all the records that were breakable. Its a shame that some people are hell bent on the past to realize that they are more than equal to all time greats

Well I haven't seen a better player than Maradona. Messi comes close. But until he can take a chit Spanish team and a chit Argentina team to the top then he will be an also ran.

Ron is not in the races despite what the stats say. He isn't as good as the first Ronaldo. He's there with Ronaldinho.

Pele and Maradona are both excellent players but Messi and ronaldo are better
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NEVER........

It's all about the stats for that pleb.

think about this stat.

How many more penalties, freekicks, yellow cards and red cards are distributed now compared to the 60s-80s?

These things really affect the game and the stats.

Those stats don't matter. Only those which pyt Messi and Ron in a better light counts.

Maradonna is up there with Messi and Ronaldo, Pele is a good player but well overrated. Fat Ronaldo > Pele.

All this talk of stats fitness etc is lovely but how about just watching these guys play to form an opinion. When Ronaldo picks up the ball from close to 40 yards out and hits it with the most power and accuracy ever seen on a regular basis, how he be discounted as a 'top 3 ever' player? Some of the stuff Ronaldo does, I never thought possible in football same as Messi.

The Godfather (U10154)
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did you watch Pele, Maradona?

I watched the latter, things he did with a football have yet to be matched.

Messi and Ronaldo new 'Pele and Maradona'
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No they aint!!! they're Messi and Ronaldo simple as, the game has changed so much you cant compare them

Yeah Ronaldo has a great shot. But so did Ari Haan who could belt a heavier ball past Dino Zoff who at the time was the best keeper in the world.

comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin - Wenger's sleeping bag for sale - £1.94 (U2958)
posted 22 minutes ago
The Godfather (U10154)
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did you watch Pele, Maradona?

I watched the latter, things he did with a football have yet to be matched.
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Really though? Maradona had superb dribbling, tenacity and finishing as well as a superb mental attitude but can you really say he was doing things never seen before? Ronaldo and Messi have set new benchmarks

No they haven't.

Maradona had superb dribbling, tenacity and finishing as well as a superb mental attitude but can you really say he was doing things never seen before?
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Yes, I don't get why it is so hard to believe?

I'm only 36, i don't think nostalgia comes into it.

Maradona did everything that Messi can, with even more natural flair and skill, on dreadful pitches with a heavy ball... and did it in a relativity weak team against players that kicked him to shreds.

I think they are all fine players and there is little to no point comparing them.... But, I have my own opinion from watching all 3 that Maradona was the best, most talented and most natural player i've personally seen play football.

It is juts an opinion, I wouldn't comment on Pele or Best as it was before my time... In the same vein, people shouldn't comment on Maradona if they didn't watch him quite a bit, back in the day (not aimed at you godfather, just in general).

Also, the sheer amount of football coverage makes the whole argument even more skewed.

I'm not old enough to have watched Pele live but even the Brazilians think he is hugely overrated. He wasn't even the best player in the great Brazilian team. Maradonna was special. Fifa try and put Pele forward as the face of football because of Maradonnas past.

Brazilians rate Garrincha as the best. Brazillian footballers rate Pele. Garri was a people person who captured the imagination because of his battles off the pitch and he was dirt poor.

But Pele had it all. My uncle was around when Pele was playing. He rates him the best. I was around when Maradona was playing. To me he's the best ever. No sentiments or stats needed.

Why is concluding that something that somebody has done before, better, is just nostalgia?

Why can't young people understand that not everything that has happened in the world in the last 5 years is the best it has EVER been.

Ronaldo is the best player in the world today without doubt. Messi is probably the second best player.

In the 60s Pele's was probably the best in the world with Best, Eusebio, Charlton

In the 70s there was no clear best in the world, there was a few candidates like Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Muller etc.

In the 80s Maradona was the best in the world with Platini, Zico, Matthaus, etc

In 90s there was no clear best in the world, there was a few candidates like Van Basten, ZZ, Guillet, Maldini

all these players from all these decades you couldnt put a ciggy paper between

I was around when Maradona was playing. To me he's the best ever. No sentiments or stats needed.
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I have no issue with someone thinking Messi is better, Gary Linekar does and he actually played against Maradona....

But I don't wanna be told that i'm just being sentimental because I think Maradona was the best.

Also, sentimentality is often reserved for likeable people.

Not someone who, as a 10 year old kid, ruined your life with the hand of god, was banned form kicking a football for a year and then went on to be a coke addict.

Very true. Forgot what a cheap shot Charlie he was. But in the language of football he is the best ever.

Ji lets not forget the real Ronaldo. Best of his era.

yea, ronaldo was a beast.... a toss up between him and zidane for player of that generation, for me.

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