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Brazil livid, Argentina gloats over Maradona and Pele
By Brian Homewood
RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Brazilians are livid and Argentines are gloating at the possibility that Diego Maradona could beat Pele in a FIFA vote to find the Footballer of the Century.
Argentines, following a report in a Spanish newspaper earlier this week, believe Maradona is set to win and are jubilant at what they believe will be another famous victory over their greatest sporting rivals.
However, in a twist to the tale it seems that neither could win as FIFA's award now appears to be to the best player of the past decade.
The award, made after voting through the internet from fans around the world and by a FIFA jury, was due to be made next week at FIFA's World Player of the Year gala in Rome.
But the world governing body's website said on Thursday:
``FIFA will be commemorating the end of the 20th century by awarding the best male player, the best female player, the best club - of the last decade.
Nobody was available at FIFA to comment on whether the criteria had been changed.
Nevertheless, Argentines are convinced that the man who inspired their World Cup success in 1986 is about to be feted.
``Diego is already celebrating and choosing the clothes he will use on December 11,'' said the sports daily Ole on Wednesday. ``Pele and all of Brazil are crying because Maradona won the election.''
``This is the most important prize I have, alongside a cap that Fidel Castro gave me,'' said Maradona, adding that he considered Pele over-rated.
``They say he has played in World Cups, but nobody explains that he did not play in 1962 (Pele missed the final through injury) and in England (in 1966) when he played a game and a half,'' said Maradona.
``They are judging me for the 12 years I played in Europe, something Pele did not do. Let's be serious: don't compare me with him any more.''
Over in Brazil, the possibility was greeted with outrage.
On Wednesday, a television commentator described the idea as ``ridiculous'' during a match broadcast. On Thursday morning, radio presenter Juca Kfouri devoted nearly his entire programme on the CBN station Thursday to what he perceived to be a travesty of justice.
Brazilians blame a possible Pele defeat on the contest being web-based and therefore dominated by younger voters, who saw Maradona in action but not Pele. Brazilians add that the Argentina Football Association has organised a campaign for people to vote for Maradona, something its Brazilian counterpart had failed to do for Pele.
The confusion surrounding the vote has led to accusations that FIFA has changed the awards to avoid a snub for Pele.
``I've heard that the Brazilians are lobbying and that FIFA are seeing what they can do so that the prize is split with Pele,'' Maradona told Ole on Thursday.
I've told my agent to tell that them if they do this, I'm not going.''
``Yesterday, I was packing my suitcase and today I'm emptying it again. I'm going to wait and see what happens. If the people voted for me, then the prize is for me. They can't start inventing ways of taking it away from me.''
Maradona played in three World Cups, including one losing final and one successful. He ended the last of his numerous comeback attempts three years ago.
Pele, who scooped dozens of player of the century awards a year ago, played in four World Cups, including two finals, both of which he won, in a career which lasted from 1957 to 1977.
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It is clear that younger voters on the internet has been the major effect on his preference. He can be only compared I believe with his exploits of WC 86 but on the whole Pele is by far the most dominant player of the century without a doubt.
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Maradonna is talent that was cut short because of his off the field antics. He had talent and was good for the short time he played but can't be compared with Pele who was consistent for so long.
Yo i-man did gone for a while but have kept up with some of the good intresting arguments on this forum and i must say while Maridona is my Balla , him cant walk in Pele`s shoes and him should know that too , anytime you as a player learn your playing styles from another player and even form your out look on the game from the same player and even copying the same onusual ball dribbling drills he invented himself , there is no way on earth you can compare your self to such a player after all that , before Pele, beating a player one on one was unheard of much less to dribble past an entire team which he did frequently and even invented plays to help him acunplish this goal so ... BACK UP DEAGO...peace... remember Pele never pirated anyone but everyone after him pirated him so peace...
I wouldn't even comment on this chain because I too would attribute the maradona vote to a younger internet generation (or ballot that never punch out good). Yeh Maradona was a wicked player, but if it is true that he said what he allegedly did he should go lie down in front of a bus.
Then again how much worth can you give to the words of a crack addict.
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Obama/Biden 2012 - We need people who actually think in charge, though they should learn to lead!
Maradona haffi learn fi use im right foot and learn fi head di ball before him cyaan come try wipe Pele boots. Well I guess dat is what so many years of coke abuse does a man. It makes him delusional. Wheel and come again Diego
Everybody want to fight against Black man being the best at something. I guess Larry Bird was a better basketball player than Jordan
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my response. Rudi, Pele did not invent dribbling, or taking on one and one as you suppose. Maradona did not learn Pele's style. Maradona was unique, even Pele comment suggested this "every bone in him is magic" (referring to Maradona). Pele played most of his time in Brazil. To prove your true ability on a global scale you have to also play in Europe. Pele played with a lot of star players around him. Maradona played with almost a nameless team when he won the world cup in 1986 and was runner up in 1990. He again was the key player for argentina in 1994 before he was expelled, not for performance enhancing drugs, like steroids, but for cocaine. From the clippings that I have seen of the pass world cups, not one of those teams could match any team of the modern game. Maradona is the single most player to have transformed the teams that he played with. The same can't be said of Pele. He played with the best around him at all times. Beside Maradona's off the field problems I would give him my vote over Pele. I must add though, that Pele has done more to promote football throughout the world than any other player in the history of the game. Pele is synonymous with Football.
Diego, didn't know what his right foot looked like. Pele crushed the world at age 17!! Pele could murder a football with both feet. Pele played with great players around him and instead of being overwhelmed like Diego would Pele towered above his seniors at a very early age. Pele had the luxury to retire at age 29 from International football. Euro football was not that great in Pele's days. Santos used to kill Euro teams when Pele was about. Pele had to score so many goals because Brazil didn't have a goalie. So you scored 3 or 4 on Brazil and Pele would create as well as score 5 or 6.
Could Deigo do a Bicycle Kick??? Not with that fat lazy ass. Could Marado run with the best 100m runners in the world.
The only thing Maradona was better than Pele at was CHeating. Hand of God. He will burn in hell for that amongst other things.
If you took a ground poll(not internet). PELE WOULD WIN BY A LANDSLIDE. DO NOT DISENFRANCHISE THE BLACK VOTE IN AFRICA as well as a few more internet-less places
Yes PanJam i see your a Maradona fan too , however i chalenge you to tell me one play that he has on his left foot that he invented himself!!! also i challenge you to tell me which player Pele picked up his dribbling style from??, also who dribbled a whole team and score goals more than once in the same WC. game in more than one WC if you can call some names and be truthfull i will then give credence to your arguments!! Maradona transformed a team , Pele transformed the Game as we know it today.. peace... how can you marvle over the man who put a frame on the painting and not the man who mad the painting himself???...peace..
Pele made #10 special. Why did Maradona and all creative players want to wear #10? Doctors have studied Pele, his bone structure etc, to find out why he was so good.. why his moves seem so effortles. Has anyone considered Diego in that way? Pele's skill is unparalleled and unmatched. Peace.
Bwoy mi nuh even think this one is worth any discussion.
Pele vs Madonna?... oh I mean Maradonna? JOKE.I don't even think Maradonna is a clear second. Who is Maradonna compared to the king?
"They are judging me for the 12 years I played in Europe, something Pele did not do. Let's be serious: don't compare me with him any more.'' -Maradonna. Maradonna is a big headed bafoon. -ddread.
"Pele played most of his time in Brazil. To prove your true ability on a global scale you have to also play in Europe." -panjam What does playing in Europe prove?-ddread
Maradona is the single most player to have transformed the teams that he played with.- panjam And he should get MVP for those teams that he played on... Pele is the single most player that "transformed the game" and for that he should get -best player evah! You said it yourself "Pele is synonymous with Football."
notable quotables: [Pele] A DI BEST - jagga DO NOT DISENFRANCHISE THE BLACK VOTE IN AFRICA -delano Maradona transformed a team , Pele transformed the Game - Rudi. Pele made #10 special. -Barz Pele is synonymous with Football - panjam
Bwoy panjam it look like yuh cyaaagn get nuh sleep since the new youth born. Yuh mus tiad! How can you suggest that maradonna is in the same category as the great PELE.
Maradona not close to the best, Pele says By PETER MUELLO Associated Press Writer December 8, 2000
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) -- Is Argentina's Diego Maradona the best soccer player ever? Not even close, says Pele.
Pele, 60, finally weighed in on the question that is consuming Brazilians and Argentines these days as FIFA prepares to release on Monday the results of its survey to determine the outstanding player of the 20th century.
Until recently, Brazilians never doubted it would be Pele, the all-time leading scorer with more than 1,200 goals and a member of World Cup champion teams in 1958, 1962 and 1970. The French sports magazine L'Equipe already had named him athlete of the century, and his selection seemed a formality.
But a Spanish sporting daily reported that the survey, conducted on the Internet in October and November, would name Maradona the winner.
Brazilian media quoted Maradona as saying he was pleased with the award and that he considered it fair because he played most of his career with Napoli in the tough Italian league while Pele spent his best years in Brazil with Santos.
In a TV interview in Argentina, Maradona said he took more punishment and played a faster, more physical and more competitive sport than Pele did.
``He shone in Mexico (in the 1970 World Cup),'' admitted Maradona, now 40 and retired. ``But he received the ball, could turn around with no problems and then choose. They didn't give me a centimeter.''
Pele's former teammates and contemporaries sprang to his defense, but the ``king'' was silent until now. In an interview with Brazil's Globo TV network, Pele suggested that Maradona took a back seat to a handful of Brazilian and Argentine greats.
``Socrates, Rivelino, Romario, Tostao...'' he ticked off. ``I think that if Maradona wants to speak with Pele, he has to speak to them first.''
``After speaking with them, Maradona should ask permission of (Alfredo) Di Stefano or (Jose Manuel) Moreno,'' added Pele, referring to two former Argentine greats.
The FIFA survey gave voters a choice of 27 candidates, including seven Brazilians and two Argentines -- Maradona and Di Stefano.
Jose Roberto Wright, a former FIFA referee who saw both athletes play, sided with Pele.
``Maradona was exceptional,'' he wrote in a column Friday in the Rio sporting daily Lance. ``I saw his art up close. He was truly extraordinary. But he doesn't merit comparison with Pele because he was a complete player.''
I have no doubt that Pele is the best all round player the world has seen. But Pele is either drinking rum or he dissing Maradona, when he suggested that Maradona should talk to Romario, before he talks to him (Pele). That is like comparing Brian Lara to Courtney Walsh.
that seems a more precise analogy If Pele had said Maradona versus Bobby Moore then I would see the analogy you made
Because Lara is offense and Walsh is defense. Dujon was a bit of both. So I would say Lara is Romario and Diego is like Dujie(sorta). Its the closest comparison I could find in Cricket.
But I get what you are essentially saying. Don't compare apples and oranges. I hear ya Peace
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Gentlemen, Yes, I am not getting enough sleep (lol). But seriously, Maradona has done a lot for the game of Football too. His greatest problem was his off the field exploits (cocaine and beating up news reporters). If he with one left foot acomplished so much, what if he was using the other foot much lest his head!!! I think that we should look at things in the context of the game and how it is played today. Sontos was not a dominiant team in the world during Pele days. Sontos was dominant in Brazil! and to a lesser extent South America. The same Sontos played against Sontos of Jamaica and drew 1:1. Pele and the great Alan "Skill" Cole was playing. Pele marvelled at the skill and ability of the "Skill". Cole went to play in Brazil shortly after. Sontos of Jamaica at that time could not beat an English Div. 1 team. Which team did Pele dribbled and score against in the world cup? How come none of Pele's goals are rated among the top ten WC goals of all time? Pele did not play throughout the 1966 WC. In 1958 Pele was not a star for the Brazillian team. The Brazil team of the 1970 is rated as the best team ever. I saw clips of that team and while they were good, I don't believe that they were better than the 1982 Brazil team. Not one person as presented some logical argument to suggest that Pele deserve to be rated as better than Maradona. 1200 goals is not a good enough yardstick to say that he is the best player ever. There is a player who played indoor soccer in the American soccer league, NPSL, who has scored more than a 1000 goals. I read this 5 years ago. If he is still playing, he could easily surpass Pele's feat. What I am saying is Pele's achievements must be taken into context. The team that he was playing with and who he played against. Maradona said it well... ``He shone in Mexico (in the 1970 World Cup),'' admitted Maradona, now 40 and retired. ``But he received the ball, could turn around with no problems and then choose. They didn't give me a centimeter.''
A journalist who saw both Maradona and Pele had this to say about Maradona... ``Maradona was exceptional,'' he wrote in a column Friday in the Rio sporting daily Lance. ``I saw his art up close. He was truly extraordinary...''
Pele has done much to promote the sport, but don't dis Maradona by saying he can't be compared with Pele, or to compare him with other players of lesser stature.
Did you see Pele's life story?? I will loan it to you if you wish. Where did they ever give Pele a centimetre?? They were on him life stink on doodoo, like bread on butter. They nearly crippled him everytime he touched the ball. They didn't try and kill Maradona. That to me is an indication of how GREAT he was. They fouled Maradona alot. They tried to cripple Pele so that they wouldn't have to face him again. In 1962 they hacked him and put him out of that tournament for good. In 1966 I believe they broke or factured his leg and Brazil got kicked out. He then came back in 1970 and committed the most fouls he has ever done in his career as a means of retaliation. He still managed to be the marshall of his team and was the one mainly responsible for their victory.
Did you notice Pele dominated the final against Sweden in 1958 at the tender age if 17?He scored twice. He has scored three goals in a final match. How many did Maradona score???
The best goal Maradona ever scored was the hand of god(not God) - Blasphemy. I still marvel how he got away with that. What a true winner sarcasm
can Maradona, do a bicycle kick? Can he kick with his right foot? Can he head the ball? I guess not since I had to use his hands as a substitute? Lazy bugger!! LOl
If we were discussing who was the better left footed footballer we might have a tight argument. But we are discussing who is the best FOOTBALLER, period. Maradona right foot must be wooden. Pele was the complete package. Who made 10 legendary?? Who made you want wear ten panjam?
Also, I saw on record that Santos use to beat the crap out of Euro teams in World Club champs. I believe the mrudered Benfica in 1960 in either Rome or Tokyo(can't remember) with Eusebio on Benfica's team.
Besides you know better than to use one little exhibition match as a yardstick. I don't remember Man U lighting it up at the recently concluded World Club Champs. Wasn't it two Brazilian sides that contested the final?
BTW panjam, I saw Pele in 1962 or 66 WC dribble around the same amount of players Mdonna did but only he did it in the 18 yard box and fired past the goalkeeper. He didn't require contact from another player to get the ball off like Donna did.
Also when I see the best goals of all time I am astonished to see that they onclude a Pele miss(near goal). Remember when he dummied the Uruguayan goalkeeper without even touching the ball?? Oh my Lord. He didn't score eventually but it was so inventive that people are marvelled at the audacity Pele showed when pulled that off. All this I talk about is on My Pele tape. Believe me I have a lot of footage on the god of Football. Pele nearly scored from the halfway line in the World Cup against Romania. Beckham scored from the halfwayline but only against Wimbledon.
