Rivalries have always been a part of the ‘Beautiful game’ and that is the essence of sport. The rivalry lasts on the field of play and as soon as the final whistle is blown, the culmination ends with handshakes and fist pumps because it is always about Respect.
We have seen generations of champion players during their respective era’s and what made them great was their respect for the opposition, level of skill and the panache with which they did their job and inspired people.
Comparisons will always be a part of sport when players dazzle during their time. To determine the GOAT, we look at the players who were undoubtedly the greatest of their time and we will also have a sneak peek into the future superstars.
PELE- MARADONA
Edson Arantes Do Nascimento aka Pele. A Brazilian enigma he was. The three-time World cup winner scored 77 goals for his country. He made his debut for the national side in the 1958 World cup at the tender age of 17 and marvelled everyone by scoring in the semi-finals and finals to lift the trophy.
Pele played his club football for Santos FC for 18 years and New York Cosmos for 2 years. He scored a total of 650 goals in 694 appearances across both clubs. Such was his performance, power and excellence which left everyone stunned.
He racked up 1283 goals in 1363 matches, making him the top scorer in Brazilian and FIFA history. To add to this, he pulled off 92 hat tricks in his career. He won the World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970. Pele was undoubtedly named the FIFA Player of the Century also. The Individual as well as team honours won by Pele are too many to list down but his greatness lies in the respect he commanded and also had for his teammates and the footballing fraternity.
Shortly after Pele left the arena, entered Diego Maradona from Argentina. His vision, passing, ball control and skill level allowed him to manoeuvre better than most players as he set the footballing stage on fire.
He was instrumental in Argentina lifting the 1986 World Cup which includes the infamous Hand of God and an exquisite, brilliant goal against England in the quarter finals of that World Cup.
Maradona scored 259 club goals during his professional career coupled with 34 goals for country. He later went on to coach the Argentina National side in 2008 and shared the FIFA Player of the Century award with Pele. Such was his impact on the game.
MESSI- RONALDO
Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese sensation made his debut for Sporting CP at the age of 17 before moving to Manchester United in 2003 where he scored 84 goals for the club and won three premier league titles and one Champions League title, he also had many other honours to his name. He was Sir Alex Ferguson’s find and till date maintains a strong relationship with this maestro. Cristiano Ronaldo shifted to Real Madrid in 2009 and during his time with the Los Blancos became their leading goal scorer in La Liga with 311 goals to his name and won the UEFA Champions League 4 times before joining Juventus. CR7 has netted 134 Champions League goals. He became the top goal scorer in football history with 760 goals surpassing Josef Bican’s 759. Ronaldo has also scored 102 goals for Portugal and has won the Ballon d’or 5 times.
Ronaldo and Messi are still active players and with each passing day keep themselves fit in order to keep inspiring generations to come.
MBAPPE-HAALAND
Dortmund’s Haaland is also touted to be the future superstar of the game and will look to live up to that name as he keeps playing.
