Greatest Soccer player of all time?

[Orangemac]

The only person who can genuinely comment on such a discussion is someone who spent time in Brazil during the 60s, where he watched Pele and the quality of his opposition a lot, who is also around today and has watched Messi with a similar eye.

Pele was undoubtedly an extraordinary footballer; 1,000 goals is such a rare achievement.

It's easy to believe that scoring goals in football is more difficult these days, but there's no real evidence. It's just the standard of opposition that counts.

Brazilians often go for Garrincha as the greatest. He was gone by 1970 though when tv had become widespread in Europe, so wouldn t have been as well known over here. Garrincha dragged a Peleless Brazil to World Cup glory in 62 as sinlehandedly as Maradonna did Argentina in 86 in Mexico. The 1970 s Brazil team had many greats in their own right like Carlos Alberto, Revelino, Gerson and Jairzinho.
While Pele was undoubtedly one of the greatest he was also a pet of the British press - a bit like Ali. He was clean cut and approachable and always gave them what they wanted to hear. Even still he is quoted as fancying England to win before every world cup. Garrincha on the other hand was a deformed illiterate Indio with a drink problem

And tell us why Brazil were Pele-less that year?

i was watching a documentary about Garrincha last week pretty  sure it said Pele got injured in the group stages that year . Garrincha was player of the tournament it said he got 2 yellows against England in the Semis but still played in the Final (don't know how that happened)  and scored 2 goals in the final. Even seeing the old clips he was some player . He had a foundness for the women and the beer he died aged 52 .

Remember reading that even in his last days in the hospital that nurses were fighting with each other to get a few minutes alone with him.

Didn't Pele get injured in the group stages in 1966 as well?

[ziggy90]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wyp-xT4sMU

He did indeed. Have a look at the above clip to see just what dirty f88ckers were about then. It's from the '62 world cup.

[NAG1]

Now thats the way soccer should be played. Can you imagine some of the nancy boys now if it was still like that.