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Tanya Lee | Who is the greatest footballer?

Published:Thursday | April 5, 2018 | 12:00 AM
In this June 29, 1986, file photo, Diego Maradona holds up the trophy, after Argentina beat West Germany 3-2 in their World Cup soccer final match, at the Atzeca Stadium, in Mexico City. On Sunday, July 13, 2014.
In this June 21, 1970 file photo, Brazil’s Pele (centre) is hoisted on the shoulders of his teammates after Brazil won the World Cup soccer final against Italy, 4-1, in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, Mexico. On this day: Perhaps the most glorious day in Brazil’s World Cup history. Its third World Cup triumph against a strong Italian side meant it kept the Jules Rimet trophy for good.
Ronaldo
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On Tuesday, it was the bicycle kick seen around the world, when Cristiano Ronaldo punished Juventus by scoring, not once, but twice against Gianluigi Buffon, who was being humbled for the second time in 10 months by the Champions League title-holders, Real Madrid. In his post-match interview, Buffon poured tremendous accolades on Ronaldo, whom he likened to Pele and Diego Maradona.

I, too, bestowed accolades on Ronaldo as I took to my Instagram and cheekily posted the caption, 'Football's greatest'. It was merely to taunt the Messi fans, but it sparked a debate, once again, about where Ronaldo and Messi are in comparison to Pele or Maradona.

The truth is, neither Messi nor Ronaldo enters that debate on who is the greatest footballer ever simply because they haven't won a World Cup. I consider the World Cup the great separator. For now, Messi and Ronaldo are massive club sensations and undoubtedly the best two of their generation, and while they can thus assume royal ascendancy among the greats, royal supremacy is an entirely different measure.

Royal supremacy as the greatest player of all time is reserved for football's 'Wakanda ceremony', the FIFA World Cup. I will never accept any argument that attempts to have either Messi or Ronaldo reign supreme as kings of football, unless they have touched football's crown jewel, the Jules Rimet Trophy.

Now, as it relates to Pele and Maradona, and who is the greatest footballer of all time, I am forever baffled by the needless comparisons between these two giants of football. To truly separate these lofty achievers and arrive at only one will no doubt be marred by subjectivity, personal biases and a complete disregard for the ways in which football has evolved over the 28 years between Pele's first win and Maradona's only win.

Usually for the Maradona fans, their arguments are hinged on his mesmerising play and how he did magic with the football. Maradona is undoubtedly a maestro with a great first touch and finish, yes, but what Maradona fans never factor is that he had the advantage of the modern, synthetic football.

Comparatively, Pele's exquisite bicycle kicks were supernatural, and are even more impressive when you consider that he worked his magic with a notoriously heavy, leather ball that doubled in weight in wet conditions and so playing attractive football could not have been easy. The first fully synthetic football was introduced at the 1986 World Cup, encouraging more flair and expression and may coincidentally account for Maradona's illustrious displays at that World Cup final.

Pele fans consistently mentioned that he is football's greatest player because he has won not one, not two, but three World Cup titles, and is the only footballer in the history of the sport to ever accomplish that feat. While this is truly exceptional, and while he had a longer and scandal-free career than the ephedrine-induced Maradona, Pele fans haven't factored that Pele had a much better supporting cast for Brazil than Maradona had ever seen with Argentina.

It's evident both Maradona and Pele have earned hero worship status, but both are difficult to separate. During FIFA's poll for the greatest footballer of the 20th century, an award they both shared, even fans were divided. FIFA online voters resoundingly gave Maradona the nod as they were younger and likely never saw Pele. FIFA thus conducted a general vote with its global magazine readers, which Pele won by a landslide. Just as it is today with Messi and Ronaldo, fans are never truly able to arrive at a consensus.

Our brains are naturally wired to create comparisons, and everyone fancies himself or herself of superior intellect. Hence, these debates will rage on. Some debates will be slavish to sound statistical analysis with little regard for circumstantial considerations, while others will descend into hero worship with little regard for the facts. What is sure is that both will be tinged with personal biases.

While comparison can be useful, it often diminishes our appreciation for one at the expense of another, and we begin to undervalue each player's unique contribution. Maradona and Pele are, each in their own right, masters of the great sport. Messi and Ronaldo can get there, but the route remains the same, the FIFA World Cup.