Futbol GOAT vote

[Manucrick]

Pele Pele Pele... the man won three World Cups Absolutely nothing beats the World Cup

[vvvslaxman]

21 minutes ago, Manucrick said:

Pele Pele Pele... the man won three World Cups Absolutely nothing beats the World Cup

Defintely Pele was the first house hold name in the world. Black pearl :) 

 

 

 

[nevada]

13 hours ago, Vickydev said:

I voted for Messi but og Ronaldo(Brazilian)was my favourite.

 

 

His 2002 WC win was cheered by fans all over the world. 

 

23 hours ago, Ranvir said:

It's Messi and Pele.

 

Maradona is a level below both.

 

Messi does everything Maradona does but much more consistently. Maradona's most famous attribute was dribbling with the ball at speed and Messi is better at this, he has better close control and agility. Passing wise and freekicks they are similar, in terms of shooting Messi is far ahead. Maradona was maybe a bit more flashy. In terms of physical strength I would give it to Messi as well, he is very difficult to push off the ball, I've seen Maradona tumbling and diving lots.

 

Pele was simply a more dangerous player than Maradona ever was. His dribbling and playmaking was slightly worse than Maradona's but still elite, everything else he was better at and being genuinely two footed gave him much more attacking options than Maradona. Even Maradona's coach in the 1982 World Cup Menotti said Pele was better. Maradona was just more pleasing on the eye. Whilst Pele won the 1958 and 1970 World Cups, his actual peak would have been the 1962 and 1966 World Cups in which he was sadly injured in.

 

I consider Maradona as a bit of a wasted talent. While he won quite a few trophies with Napoli between 1986-1990, he was already past his best, hardly able to dribble past defenders anymore due to being fatter, slower and less agile and it was largely his own fault. His routine at Napoli was to party hard for 4 days taking copious amount of cocaine and alcohol, and then train a couple of days before Sunday's match. He abused his body and that lead to him being past his best at 27. It's a myth that he single handedly won Napoli all of those trophies because the Maradona who played for Napoli between 1984-1986 that won no trophies was better than the one of 1986-1990, Napoli had a good team which they kept on strengthening. Maradona's peak was actually 1980 - 1986 during his Boca Juniors, Barcelona and early Napoli days. Just wasn't the same player after, watch some clips and see.

 

 

Wasted talent is apt description. Maradona was washed up by the age of 29, in the 1990 WC. He failed to score a goal in the entire tournament IIRC. He was fat and a shadow of his 1986 

IMO Pele is the GOAT. Due to recency bias, his greatness is overlooked. 

[putrevus]

On 6/18/2026 at 3:26 PM, Gollum said:

Football was much rougher back in the day, proper contact sport, and refs wouldn't even call many fouls. There is a reason longevity wasn't a thing back then. Lothar Matthaus would go for Maradona's ankles, to break them.  Fouling was very different back then, check YT videos man, just of Maradona being fouled....you'll realize that none of these modern players would have endured that kind of physical punishment. 

 

It is like comparing batsmen from pre-helmet era to modern greats. 

 

 

But still Messi surpassed him in every aspect.Maradona would have been best if he did not indulge in drugs and lost his fitness.

 

He was not the same player after 1990.

 

 

Edited June 20 by putrevus

[putrevus]

20 hours ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

@Gollum, you may cringe at this cross-sport comparison, but for me, watching Maradona and Mohammed Shahid was like watching the same guy. Unparalleled individual brilliance in dribbling - magical feet vs magical stickwork. 

Shahid was too selfish and indulged in too much of showmanship.In team sport that does not work and  it showed in team results.

[cricspirit]

I voted Maradona because I always love dribbling skills and Maradona was awesome. I think 1990 he was not at level of 1986 but he was checked, fouled a lot. He kept the opponents occupied for sure. He was also playing with injury in 1990. Carried his team to Final after initial set back. That still is something.

 

Overall Maradona lost discipline and underachieving compared to his talent.

 

I agree with many other members here. Pele definitely the GOAT.

 

Probably Messi is ahead of Maradona too given his achievements.

 

Ronaldo (Brazil)was amazing but not GOAT. 

 

Pele

Messi

Maradona

Rest.

 

 

 

Edited June 20 by cricspirit

[BacktoCricaddict]

14 hours ago, vvvslaxman said:

Defintely Pele was the first house hold name in the world. Black pearl :) 

 

 

 

Is this a Golmaal dub or vice versa?

Edited June 20 by BacktoCricaddict

[vvvslaxman]

7 minutes ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

Is this a Golmaal dub or vice versa?

Goal maal original. Same scene. But he is using SUnil Gavskar

 

 

Edited June 20 by vvvslaxman

[Ultimate_Game]

36 minutes ago, vvvslaxman said:

Goal maal original. Same scene. But he is using SUnil Gavskar

 

 

 

In Golmaal also there's mention of Black Pearl and Pele coming to India and thousands of people visiting Kolkatta's Dum Dum airport to welcome him 

[vvvslaxman]

1 hour ago, Ultimate_Game said:

 

In Golmaal also there's mention of Black Pearl and Pele coming to India and thousands of people visiting Kolkatta's Dum Dum airport to welcome him 

U  r right. Even in this interview scene he is also asking about pele

[Austin 3:!6]

On 6/19/2026 at 9:58 PM, Ultimate_Game said:

 

TBF I couldn't even tell whether the OP meant the Brazilian Ronaldo or the Portugal one  

 

I could think of voting for Brazilian one but the Portuguese one is a selfish player who brings the team down.

Brazilian Ronaldo is one of the best footballer I have seen. He was Messi and C Ronaldo rolled into one

[vvvslaxman]

Brazil was the most followed team at one point due to their artistry and legacy.  They were the gold standard till 1980s.  Maradona was the first guy who shifted the balance and put argentina on the map. Brazil holds the longest legacy. 

 

 

This is a different list.  Greatest world cup soccer players.  Not worrying about their other performance. In this Ronaldo (brazilian) at 3.   Cafu, Beckenbaur were also very good.  

 

https://www.si.com/soccer/greatest-world-cup-soccer-players-all-time-ranked

 

 

On an side there is one guy who has never been booked in any match in his 16 year old career. No yellow card. No red card ever.  Gary Lineker. 

Edited June 20 by vvvslaxman

[Ultimate_Game]

1 hour ago, Austin 3:!6 said:

Brazilian Ronaldo is one of the best footballer I have seen. He was Messi and C Ronaldo rolled into one

 

The best ever natural goal scorer

[Ultimate_Game]

1 hour ago, vvvslaxman said:

U  r right. Even in this interview scene he is also asking about pele

 

One of the best comedy movies. And the interview scene with Amol Palekar and Utpal Dutt is pure gold!

[cricspirit]

1 hour ago, Ultimate_Game said:

 

The best ever natural goal scorer

 

Definitely. He was a striker. Has a claim to be the best in that.  But then Pele was a striker too.

 

Feel Messi better all round among modern players. 

 

I dont watch anymore. No idea about current players.

[Ultimate_Game]

1 hour ago, cricspirit said:

 

Definitely. He was a striker. Has a claim to be the best in that.  But then Pele was a striker too.

 

Feel Messi better all round among modern players. 

 

I dont watch anymore. No idea about current players.

 

No idea at all about current gen other than Mbappe who's special. The only other striker I'm aware of is Haaland from Norway and his goal scoring rate is insane. And know about Harry Kane as he has been playing forever. Heard about Lamine Yamal as he's supposed to be the new Messi but haven't seen him play much.

[vvvslaxman]

1 hour ago, cricspirit said:

 

Definitely. He was a striker. Has a claim to be the best in that.  But then Pele was a striker too.

 

Feel Messi better all round among modern players. 

 

I dont watch anymore. No idea about current players.

MOst of the time i learn about players during world cup. Vinicus is impressive. 

[Ultimate_Game]

1 hour ago, vvvslaxman said:

MOst of the time i learn about players during world cup. Vinicus is impressive. 

 

Is it Vini Jr. from Brazil? Or some other player?

[Adamant]

There us no debate here.

 

Messi is the GOAT.

 

Cr7 is not even the best Ronaldo.

[putrevus]

12 hours ago, Austin 3:!6 said:

Brazilian Ronaldo is one of the best footballer I have seen. He was Messi and C Ronaldo rolled into one

Are you getting confused with Ronaldinho. Ronaldo was never in the league of Messi.He was pure striker with very little ability to create for others.

 

I would say Ronaldo was better striker than CR7  at their best but he did not have longevity of CR7.