YOUR COMMENTS: As Pele rests, is he the GREATEST of all time – or should Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Diego Maradona win the title? MailOnline readers have their say on football’s biggest debate
As Brazilian legend Pele lies in state ahead of his funeral in Santos on Tuesday, the footballing world is preparing to lay to rest one of the sport’s greatest talents.
Since Pele’s passing at the age of 82 last week, fans have continued to debate the biggest football debate of all time, weighing whether the three-time World Cup winner deserves the title over superstars who Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Maradona.
For many, Pele will always be viewed as the greatest ever, but Messi staked a huge claim after leading Argentina to World Cup glory last month, just as Maradona did in 1986. And the brigade of Ronaldo superfans remain as loyal as ever in following his record-breaking £175m-a-year move to Saudi Arabia this week…
Football is preparing to lay Pele to rest following the death of the Brazilian legend at the age of 82 last week
Lionel Messi (R) and Cristiano Ronaldo (L) square off with Pele in the greatest debate of all time
Click the comment to add your response:
Different Kings different times.. Pele.. then Maradona and now Messi… All the Kings of times there – Stephen, London, United Kingdom
Not old enough for Pele’s era and still young when Maradona was big, I want to see Messi evolve over the years, he is one of a kind. Ronaldo does have talent but his arrogance gets in the way – billyding, SA, Australia
The undisputed king is Pele, the only 3-time World Cup winner, followed by Maradona. CR7 are not fit to tie their boots either – Thorvex, WA, Australia
Messi is definitely not in the top 5: Pele, Maradona, Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Zidane, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho are better than him! Edwin, Hong Kong
Pele as he was the innovator for all that came behind him, including 3 World CUPS, end of!!!! Colin1, Chatham
Pele is the best. Not only did he score goals he also created them for other team players – market stall, United Kingdom
The greatest player I ever saw was playing football. He is now with Best and Maradona in Heaven. What a forward line. RIP Pele – davvo111, United Kingdom
Pele then Cruyff… defenders and some countries played without prisoners, e.g. Argentina kicked lumps at anything that moved. AND that’s before they get on the pitch – BC Kev, West Bromwich, United Kingdom
Poll
Is Pele the greatest soccer player of all time?
- Yes – He is the icon of football 0 votes
- No – Messi overtook him 0 votes
- No – it’s Ronaldo 0 votes
- No – It’s Maradona 0 votes
- … It’s a different person! 0 votes
No contest!! PELE simple is the best ever! Pitches, Equipment, compared to modern players are like chalk and cheese! Shorty1967, London, United Kingdom
Ronaldo is not in the conversation…. So overrated – Rocky..Racoon, Isle Of Man
Messi plays more games than Maradona, on clean pitches, with top dieticians and sports scientists fueling him; and never-ending knee tackles are fair game. If Maradona was playing now, he would play that many games in a season – Three Tone, Nuneaton, United Kingdom
PELE was the greatest of them all. Today’s players will never be able to play under the same conditions on the pitches, the kit, the balls, the science, no substitutions and will never be able to accept the amount of punishment given on the field then, no diving and play of acting like today. Those who didn’t have the privilege of seeing this man play have no idea what they’re missing. He has the power of speed, skill capable of being better than anyone in his heading ability can use two feet and can score from long distance from anywhere on the pitch – sabrina111, London, United Kingdom
Don’t forget George Best! G Roper, Canterbury
When it comes to achievements, Pele is the GOAT along with Messi. If choosing who is the best professional I would say CR (but very far from the rest in terms of talent). When it comes to who is the best, talented, dazzling player ever, there is only one god, a D10S! The Thin White Duke, United Kingdom
The Brazil team in 1970 was amazing, Pele was great to watch. RIP sir – Inthenorth, United Kingdom
A good time to pick an all time best eleven. Mine are: Banks, Alberto, Baresi, Beckenbauer, Brehme, Maradona, Messi, Netzer, Ronaldo, Muller, Pele. We can all pick a few teams, but I think they all include Pele, Messi, Ronaldo and Maradona – c.traven, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Without a doubt, the best is Johan Cruyff. His football skills are second to none, but he has had a huge impact on his other teams as well. His influence at Ajax, Holland and Barcelona was the influence of great skills, but also of a manager’s brain – Bert Weenink, Abertillery, United Kingdom
1. Maradona 2. Pele and then a big drop off to 3. Messi, Cruyff , Best… Maradona. Single handedly won the WC and then reached a final. He took Napoli from being scrubs to the Euro Cup!!!…in one year!!! He’s sick and will never score a goal like the second against England in 86… that’s all there is – Roastlamb, Gold Coast, Australia
Football is about art and magic moments not stats. Pele, Maradona, Ronaldinho and Messi are the magicians of their generations. All the rest like R9, CR7, Cruyff, Zidane are not like them – Aframe, Hamburg, Germany
Pele did it all first — on terrible pitches, against thug defenders – cvgb1, London, United Kingdom
It could be R9. All names to be mentioned, the only player with God level ability and God level physicality as well – Michael Heath1, Reading, United Kingdom
Very good player. I was fortunate to see him play for his club, Santos when they visited Villa Park in 1972. The ground was packed – Jax, Midlands, United Kingdom
Messi for me. Faster game. His skills are on another level – northernlad59, Shipley, United Kingdom
Pele. Maradona That’s it – Simbo25, Los Angeles, United States
In the US, some sports or jobs have become synonymous with the names of certain people, such as scientist and Albert Einstein comes to mind, or inventor and it is Thomas Edison, or baseball – Babe Ruth, or basketball – Michael Jordan, etc. and I think Pele is the first thing that comes to mind when soccer is mentioned, that’s football – suzgrad, Los Angeles, United States
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