POLL: Who is The Greatest Footballer of all time?

[The Baron]

Quite simply, Pele.

The greatest player to ever grace the game.

Not as good as either Zidane or Maradona IMO.

I rate Zidane and Maradona very highly but Pele was something else.

Two footed, balance, pace, acceleration, bravery, heading, (5"8!) he also looked after himself (unlike Maradona) and had a longer and more successful international career. To be honest for similar reasons I rate Zidane almost as highly. Maradona had the best left foot ever but no right foot at all.

Also for a player to stand out so badly from that 1970 team is bordering on the ridiculous.

Yes, but football has improved greatly in 40 years!

Pele was a great player, among relatively modest players. He only played in Brazil and never played aborad in the top european leagues.

Zidane and Maradona were kings among great players. Cruyff played at the top for 20 years!

Pele didn't play a board as his government declared him a national treasure and wouldn't let him leave! This did not happen to Maradona or anyone since.

Back then the elite in football met in the World Cup not the Champions League like today so to say Pele didn't do it on the big stage is ludicrous. 3 world cups out of 4 says it all. The one he didn't win was because he was kicked about by the Portugese (who seem to cheat in any era) and had to hop through a game on one leg in a time with no substitutes.

Maradona had a shorter career than Pele, he played in much better club teams that were bought with huge budgets. Even then those teams did not compare to the other great team of that era, thee Milan side. So Maradona's club exploits dont impress me that much to be honest.

Thinking about his footballing ability I would even put Maradona behind Zidane. Zidane is more complete than Maradona in terms of using both feet, shooting, heading and interlinking play. He is on a par with Pele but Pele did it first in a time where World Cups were, if anything, more competitive with many countries with many great players.

Look at your World XI for this World Cup. You think they'd have had trouble finding strikers for that list in Pele's time?

Pele = GOAT.

[marcro]

I am surprised that there is a debate on this - Pele is the best footballer the world has seen.

[thetank]

I agree with Rod.

The poll's name is "Greatest footballer of all time" then the question asks from 1960's onwards.

How the fock is 1960-Present Day "all-time" 

I'm voting Pele coz he was a lovely bloke, and that gets you points in my bizarre little world.

[Newportlad]

I dont see Dalglish on that list...

[Nem]

I dont see Dalglish on that list...

or

Jinky Johnson - A player for whom some Celtic fans think is the greatest player to ever play football. >:?

[Triple X]

Truth is there are no right answers - they were all the best of their generation.

I must say though that having gone to Sunday's final I have never watched a player like Zidane - it was an honour to be in the same stadium as him (up to the 107th minute!!). His skill, strength, vision, influence are way beyond any other player that i have ever watched live.

I watch Thierry Henry week in week out and believed not only was he world class but also out of this world and obviously everyone raves about Ronaldinho but Zidane for me is streets ahead of the current generation.  And this was his swansong.  We almost forget how good he was in 1998 and 2000!

[Rod Paradise]

I dont see Dalglish on that list...

or

Jinky Johnson - A player for whom some Celtic fans think is the greatest player to ever play football. >:?

Funny enough Di Sptephano was a huge fan of the wee man.

[Nem]

Jinky Johnson - A player for whom some Celtic fans think is the greatest player to ever play football. >:?



Funny enough Di Sptephano was a huge fan of the wee man.

[Rod Paradise]

Nem, a lack of knowledge is not covered up by a  .

I'll bring you a copy of 'The Lord of The Wing' video to BB3. Watch it and listen do Di Stefano talk about the wee man.

[mikkyT]

Lord of the wing he was...

Greatest footballer of all time he wasn't.

[Rod Paradise]

Lord of the wing he was...

Greatest footballer of all time he wasn't.

Funny enough that's not what I'm saying. Just replying to Nem's pop at him.

I'd have Di Stefano or Pele.

I doubt that either of them would have minded having the wee man in their team though.

[happybhoy]

I think the poll is broken the link for Henrik Larsson doesn't show up.

 

[boldie]

you always have a problem with this sort of thing. Pele was the greatest of his generation..9only the brazilians themselves disagree and name Garrincha as the greatest.) Garrincha was the last amatuer and Pele the first pro...I think that sums him up.

then came Cruyff...unrivalled in the 70's...after that Maradonna...noone better in the 80's (van basten could never prove ow good he realoly was as the bastards broke him)....and then Zidane in the 90's....the 2000's will belong to Henry or Ronaldhino.

Overall...I'd have to go with Pele though...

[raab11]

it has to be diego armando

if only for the greatest goal ever, against england in 86












his second goal was ok too.......

[A$$A$$IN]

Maradona, Maradona, Maradona.

Pele was a great player in great teams who could have won without him.

Maradona was a great player in very ordinary teams i.e. Argentina and Naples who would have won nothing without him.