From: andrade@SWVS4.DAB.GE.COM (carlos)
Subject: Maradona or Pele
Organization: GE, SCSD (ASD), Daytona Beach, Fl
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 92 10:45:19 EST
Reply-To: andrade@SWVS4.DAB.GE.COM (carlos)



 I think these are the major differences between Pele and Maradona.
 I believe the only area where Maradona edges out Pele is in ball handling ;-)
 skills. I am serious, It's incredible how he keeps the ball so close to his
 feet when he runs, how he protects it with his body and how he can place it
 anywhere he wishes.
 Pele was a much better header of the ball, but the major difference was
 his intelligence. He invented things with the ball that nobody saw before
 him. Examples: Uruguay vs Brazil 1970 - he ran over the ball faking the
 goalkeeper and running around him to get the ball (If you haven't seen this
 get the tape it will blow your mind). Chekoslovaquia vs Brazil
 1970 - Kicking the ball from midfield over the  keeper's head.
 None of these plays ended up in goal but they show his creativity.

 EL Grafico (Excellent Argentinian Magazine) said this referring to Di 
 Estefano (sp?) but it would say for Maradona too," Maradona knows it all, but
 Pele invented it all".

 If you look at Pele's dribbling most of the time he never touches the ball,
 the ball continues his path while his body is faking one way or another and 
 the defenders are falling all over the place.

 Another side of his intelligence is reflected in the players he surrounded
 himself with, in Santos, Brazil, and even Cosmos after his prime.
 Remember he declined playing in the 1974 world cup when he was still capable.
 I wonder if the team he had to play with made he take this decision.

 The next reason has nothing to do with soccer but it still has to do with
 brains: Pele is loved all over the world, sadly the same cannot be said
 about Maradona (He is more like Gaza than Pele in this respect).
 Pele is still making a living around soccer but it's hard to
 imagine Maradona doing the same. It's easier to imagine him ending up like
 other incredibly skillful Argentinian players like Houseman and Corbatta.   
 I sincerely hope not.

 A better comparison would be Maradona and Garrincha.
 I still think Maradona is probably the second best ever or third if I believe
 everything my father says about Di Estefano.   

 Just my opinion.

 After saying this I have to tell about the time Pele was the commentator
 for Venezuelan TV in the 78 World Cup. The Ball missed the post by inches
 and Pele's comment was "If the ball had gone in it would have been a goal".
 I guess it loses some in the translation.    


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