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Over the past decade, there has been one debate which has dominated football - Messi Vs Ronaldo. Fans of the beautiful game worldwide have endlessly argued about which of these two incredible players is the "greatest of all time". Sports websites, analysists, and experts have all pitched in with opinions and statistics to show that one is better than the other.
The debate is so intense that many fans choose to sit firmly on one side of the fence, fully backing their chosen player while deriding the other. However, this decade-long divide among football fans seems to have led to a collective memory loss. The millions of Messi and Ronaldo fans have forgotten that football existed long before the pair burst onto the scene in the early 2000s.
Perhaps it is a consequence of our social media and Internet culture, providing instant access to news and opinions. Perhaps it is due to a new generation of fans who only know a football world with Messi and Ronaldo in it. Or perhaps it is the unrelenting hype surrounding the pair every day. Whatever the reason, the Messi and Ronaldo debate deserves some context and new entries.
Firstly, it is worth noting that modern football players are finely-tuned athletes. From their daily diet to their access to cutting-edge sports technology, today's players are bigger, stronger, and fitter than ever before.
Secondly, the playing surface, football, and even boots which players wear are significantly better nowadays. Ronaldo and Messi play on pristine surfaces every week, wear boots specially designed for their feet and style of play, and use a light, finely tuned football which increases accuracy and shot range.
For these reasons, today's players cover more ground on the football pitch than their predecessors. They also enjoy a significantly better playing environment and far superior accessories, such as boots and balls, than the generation before. Due to these improvements, statistics for modern players are dramatically boosted in comparison to players from previous eras.
The huge differences between the modern game and football before the turn of the century make it difficult to directly compare players from both periods. However, while the Messi Vs Ronaldo debate continues to dominate headlines and social media, the following three icons, each of whom dominated the headlines during their illustrious careers, should enter the equation.
George Best
George Best was a cultural and footballing icon whose career flamed, flickered, and then died in the space of a decade. He made his debut for Manchester United at age 17, lined up for his nation at age 18, was European Footballer of the Year by the age of 23, and had all but retired by his 27th birthday
Best's career reflected his lifestyle - fast and furious. It is perhaps best summed up by his most notorious quote:
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered" - George Best
The scrawny boy from Belfast had caught the attention of Manchester United as a young teenager. Arriving at Old Trafford as a player with incredible raw talent, Best was transformed into a world superstar by the time he celebrated his 20th birthday.
In just three years, Best had accumulated more than 125 appearances and 37 goals for the Red Devils. He had lifted the First Division title and caught worldwide attention for his mesmerizing performances in the European Cup.
At the age of 22, "El Beatle", as the English media had christened him, enjoyed his best season at Old Trafford. Scoring 28 league goals as Manchester United finished runners-up to Manchester City, he stole the show in the European Cup final when United became the first English club to lift the coveted trophy.
That season, he finished as the top scorer in the First Division and was named the FWA Player of the Year and European Player of the Year. Still only 22, many expected Best to kick on and dominate headlines for the next decade. Unfortunately, he dominated headlines for the wrong reasons as his footballing career entered decline.
His popstar-like looks and persona earned him a huge following and, at a time when Beatle-mania was at its peak, Best became the first real celebrity footballer. Fame led to demons and temptations as George Best enjoyed more and more of the spotlight, surrendering time and effort on the training field.
By the time his 27th birthday arrived, Best had stopped playing football at the highest level. His battle with alcoholism finally caught up with him at age 59 when he sadly passed away. Tributes poured in for the icon upon the announcement of his death in 2005, with a club statement from Manchester United calling him "one of the greatest footballers of all time".
While his career at the peak of football was short-lived, Best was the first genuine football superstar and one of the most iconic players to ever grace a football pitch.
Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona is widely remembered for one infamous moment, the so-called "Hand of God" against England in the 1986 World Cup. Many jokingly say that 'El Diego' single-handly won the biggest prize in football for his country. However, there is a significant truth behind the joke - Maradona dragged his nation to World Cup victory with the greatest individual tournament performance ever witnessed.
Maradona enjoyed a sparkling career full of personal and team achievements. The Argentinian represented his country in four World Cups, captaining them to the title in 1986. He led his club side, Napoli, to two Serie A titles in 1986-87 and 1989-90, changing the landscape of Italian football forever in the process.
He won countless individual awards including the World Cup Golden Ball in 1986, the Ballon d'Or for services to football in 1996, and the Fifa Player of the Century in 2000. His number 10 jersey was retired at Napoli in 2000 in recognition of his contribution to the club.
However, it wasn't just awards and titles which made Maradona an icon. His genius on the football field was mesmerizing, combining extraordinary ball control with vision, technique, dribbling, and passing skills. His flair and style inspired thousands of young boys across the world, not least Lionel Messi who recognizes Maradona as the greatest footballer of all time:
"Even if I played for a million years, I’d never come close to Maradona. Not that I’d want to anyway. He’s the greatest there’s ever been.” - Lionel Messi
However, Maradona's post-playing career has somewhat damaged his reputation. Failed managerial reins at Argentina and a series of obscure Middle Eastern clubs along with his recent dramatics at the World Cup in Russia have made "El Diego" a laughing stock in the media and among some of his peers.
Regardless of what has happened since Maradona retired, there is little doubt that his playing career was one of the most distinguished in footballing history. A true legend of the game, Maradona deserves to enter into any debate discussing the greatest player of all time.
Pelé
Credited with popularizing the term "the beautiful game" in connection to football, it was Pelé who made the game beautiful. A true legend in every sense of the word, Pelé started playing football professionally at the age of 15. By 16 he had earned his first cap for Brazil, and just a year later, aged 17, he played an influential role in helping his nation lift the World Cup.
Pelé went on to play in four World Cups, winning three of them in 1958, 1962, and 1970. He is the only player in history to lift the trophy three times. The forward remains the record goalscorer for Brazil and his club side, Santos, with 77 goals in 92 games for his nation and 619 goals in 638 appearances for his beloved club.
His personal career achievements are extraordinary and include seven (7) Ballon d'Ors, the Fifa World Cup Golden Ball in 1970, Fifa Player of the Century in 2000, and a knighthood from the Queen of England. He is credited with having the most career goals with 1,283 goals in 1,363 games, holds the record as the youngest player to lift the World Cup at 17 years and 249 days, and is the youngest player to score a World Cup hattrick at 17 years and 244 days.
Pelé's career spanned almost two decades and changed the way football was played forever. A complete forward with a wide range of skills, Pelé popularized dribbling techniques such as feints and jaw-dropping moves such as the bicycle kick. His reputation within the game is best summed up by West Germany's World Cup-winning captain, Franz Beckenbauer:
"Pelé is the greatest player of all time. He reigned supreme for 20 years. All the others – Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini – rank beneath him. There's no one to compare with Pelé." - Franz Beckenbauer
While Pelé's career on the field was truly astonishing, his influence on the beautiful game since retiring had added to his legacy. He helped to transform football in the United States and became a global ambassador for football via numerous commercial ventures. He has even influenced the highest echelons of the game, working against corruption in Brazilan football by proposing legislation known as "Pelé Law".
Pelé's long and distinguished career is incomparable as no player has yet achieved what the Brazilian legend did during his time on the pitch. An icon, a legend, and an ambassador, Pelé is truly the personification of the beautiful game.
