Soccer Legends Diego Maradona and Pele

By TW

Diego Maradona and Pele were both great players. Both are thought of as the greatest player who ever lived. But who is better?

Pele grew up as a young boy in poverty, usually playing soccer on the streets with a grapefruit or stuffed papers. At 11 years old, he was scouted by a Brazilian Legend, Waldemar de Brito and was invited to join his amateur team. When Pele turned 16, his mentor took him to try out for the pro club team Santos Futebol Clube. He was offered professional terms and scored four goals in his first league game. When the new season started, Pele was given a starting position and became the highest scoring player in the league. Just after ten months in the professionals, he was called up to Brazil’s World Cup Team. When he was 17, he became the youngest ever FIFA World Cup winner ever. He even scored two goals in the final for their team to win 5-2. He played in three more World Cups, two of which he won.

When Maradona was 10 years old, he was spotted by a talent scout while he was playing in his neighborhood club. When he was a ball boy in first division games, he would amuse the spectators during halftime by playing around with the ball. When he was 15, he was transferred to the club that he supported, Boca Juniors, and won his first league title. After the 1982 World Cup he was transferred to FC Barcelona in Spain. Maradona participated in four World Cups, two of the four Argentina was victorious. Maradona in the middle of his career became addicted to cocaine which damaged his reputation greatly when his fans found out.. He was kicked out of many games for fighting even though he was an amazing player.

In 2000, FIFA appointed a “football family” which held two spots. Both Pele and Maradona were elected. But the question still remains of who is better. Based on the information here, who do you think is better?

Sources: ESPN.com/soccernet