RIP Pele BUT

[sinkov]

Was he that good? Genuine question. I have not seen a lot of him at all. Was he overhyped or was he really that good? Better than Maradona or Messi? It's easy for people to jump on the Pele bandwagon at such a sad time so just curious.

I never saw him play but I did see Eusebio twice, and he was outstanding, I would rate him up there with Maradonna and Messi, but he wasn't rated as highly as Pele.

[sinkov]

I had the good fortune to watch a live game, where Pele was playing for Brazil. He was a brilliant player I would certainly rate him as the best player I have ever seen.

My top five I have seen would be
1) Pele (Brazil).
2) Tom Finney (Preston North End).
3) John White (Tottenhan Hotspur).
4) George Best (Manchester United).
5) Bobby Moore (West Ham United).

I would also mention both Jimmy McIlroy and John Angus who were both a pleasure to watch.

John White was a joy to watch VC, except when playing against Burnley, but I'm surprised you rate him higher than Jimmy Mac and George Best.

[Balanbam00]

I would have to shove 'Johan Cruijff' in my list.

The Dutch played a style they called 'Total Football.' ( I think around the 1974 years) It was that every player could change positions with other players.
In 1999. he was voted the European Player of the century, and finished 2nd behind Pele in the World Player of the century. Three times he was awarded the Ballon d'Or, in 71, 73 and 74, as Europe's best. Over 19 seasons he scored 425 goals, (Alax 266, Barcelona 85, Holland 33, ) When I saw Johan play I used to think he cuts through defences like cutting butter!

[army88]

A great footballer but for NY cosmos in the main

Which for me puts him behind Maradona in the all time greatest deceased.

Ok so we’ll go one further and say - never saw pele live but saw Maradona play even in his later days was an absolute genius.

It’s a little like todays Messi Ronaldo scenario one has been to several continents and leagues and became a superstar the other stayed at Barcelona , it’s opinions only for me Ronaldo is the better - and my reason for Maradona was / is that he won Napoli the titles on his own and world cups basically on his own aswel.

That was the basis of my opinion.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Ok so we’ll go one further and say - never saw pele live but saw Maradona play even in his later days was an absolute genius.

It’s a little like todays Messi Ronaldo scenario one has been to several continents and leagues and became a superstar the other stayed at Barcelona , it’s opinions only for me Ronaldo is the better - and my reason for Maradona was / is that he won Napoli the titles on his own and world cups basically on his own aswel.

That was the basis of my opinion.

None of the "others" ever won THREE World Cups army88. Pele was the best and no mistake.

[Vintage Claret]

John White was a joy to watch VC, except when playing against Burnley, but I'm surprised you rate him higher than Jimmy Mac and George Best.

I did not include any Burnley players in my list of the top five players as I mistakenly thought to only include players I saw on a few occasions. Had I included Burnley players Jimmy McIlroy would have been second only to Pele.

My thoughts were that John White, chose to use his talent wisely and tragically died far to early, whereas George Best could in all probability been a world beater even better than Pele. but his chosen lifestyle limited his progression. I think it was in 1963 's game at Old Trafford when I first saw George Best play, but on that day we were destroyed by John Aston and not by George Best.

[alfinyalcabo]

UG,...PELE was the best ever for me and I've seen them all.I'd put Maradona and Messi behind him.He played when football was football and not softball .

[Swissclaret]

Purely hypothetical but I wonder how much Pele would be worth were he playing now? I only ever saw him play in the international team. What players Brazil had! He was certainly the standout in an outstanding group of players .

[barrie_burn]

Just as an aside I was astonished to hear from his daughter that they hadn't told his mother that he had passed away.Good God he was 82.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Just as an aside I was astonished to hear from his daughter that they hadn't told his mother that he had passed away.Good God he was 82.

She's a hundred years old, the shock would probably kill her.