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Maradona and Pele who was better
Do you think Diego Armando Maradona was better than Pele (Edson Arantes do Nascimento). Football debates brings you their individual statistics and comparison.
Date of Birth
| Maradona | Pele |
|---|---|
Born: 30th October 1960 |
Born: 23 October, 1940 |
Died: 25th November 2020 |
Died: 29 December, 2022. |
Age: 60 |
Age: 82 |
Country Stats
| Maradona | Pele |
|---|---|
Argentina-Retired-18 years |
Brazil-Retired-14 years |
Appearances: 91 |
Appearances: 92 |
Goals:34 |
Goals: 77 |
Club Stats
| Maradona | Pele |
|---|---|
Argentinos Juniors-Argentina-5 years | Santos-Brazil-19 years |
Appearances: 166 |
Appearances: 659 |
Goals: 116 |
Goals: 643 |
Boca Juniors-Argentina- 4 years | New York Cosmos-United States-3 years |
Appearances: 111 |
Appearances: 107 |
Goals: 73 |
Goals, 66 |
Barcelona-Spain-2 years | |
. Appearances: 58 | |
Goals: 38 | |
Napoli-Italy-7 years | |
Appearances: 259 | |
Goals: 115 | |
Sevilla-Spain-1 year | |
Appearances: 30 | |
, Goals: 7 | |
Newell’s Old Boys-Argentina-1 year | |
Appearances: 5 | |
Goals: 0 |
Career Transfers
| Maradona | Pele |
|---|---|
|
|
Date: 20 February, 1981 |
Date: 4 July, 1975 |
Fee: 3.80 million Euros |
Fee: None |
Record: None |
Record: None |
2. Boca Juniors to Barcelona | Total Career Transfer Fee: 0 Euros |
Date: 1 July, 1982 | |
Fee: 7.30 million Euros | |
Record: The world’s most expensive transfer for a player | |
3. Barcelona to Napoli | |
Date: 1 July, 1984 | |
Fee: 6.70 million Euros | |
Record: most expensive transfer for a player. | |
4. Napoli to Sevilla | |
Date: 22 September, 1992 | |
Fee: 5.70 million Euros | |
Record: None | |
5. Free Agent to Newell’s Old Boys | |
Date: 9 September, 1993 | |
Fee: None | |
Record: None | |
6. Free Agent to Boca Juniors | |
Date: 1 October, 1995. | |
Fee: None | |
Record: None. | |
Total Career Transfer Fee: 23.77 million Euros |
Career Match Played/goals
| Moradona | Pele |
|---|---|
Total games: 680 |
Total games: 858 |
Career Goals: 345 |
Career Goals: 786 |
Position, height, jersey, foot
| Maradona | Pele |
|---|---|
Positions: AM, SS |
Positions: CF, SS, AMF |
Height: 1.65 meters or 5 feet, 5 inches |
Height: 1.73 meters or 5 foot 8 inches |
Foot: Left Foot, Decent Weak/Right Foot |
Foot: Right Foot, Strong Weak/Left Foot |
Jersey N0s: 10, 16. |
Jersey N0: 10 |
Career Duration/Trophy
| Maradona | Pele |
|---|---|
Career Duration: 1976-1997 (21 years) |
Career Duration: 1956-1977 (22 years) |
Trophies: 11 |
Trophies: 37 |
Most Important Trophy: Winning Argentina’s Second World Cup | Most Important Trophy: Winning Brazil’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd World Cup Trophies. |
GOAT Rival
| Maradona | Pele |
|---|---|
Pele |
Diego Maradona |
Major Awards
| Maradona | Pele |
|---|---|
South American Footballer of the Year- 6
Onze d’Or-2 |
Football Player of the Century- France Football- 1999 |
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball – 1986 |
World Player of the Century- IFFHS- 2000 |
FIFA Player of the Century- 2000 |
World Player of the Century- IFFHS- 2000 |
FIFA Goal of the Century- 2002 |
FIFA Player of the Century- FIFA- 2000 |
Golden Foot: 2003 |
FIFA Centennial Award- FIFA- 2004 |
Globe Soccer Player of the 20th Century, 2012 |
FIFA Balon d’Or Prix d’ Honneur- 2013 |
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1970 |
League played & Seasons
| Maradona | Pele |
|---|---|
Argentine Primera Division- 10 seasons |
Campeonato Paulista-18 seasons |
La Liga-3 seasons |
Campeonato Brasileiro Seria A- 15 seasons |
Seria A- 7 seasons |
Ligue 1- 2 seasons |
North American Soccer League-3 seasons. |
Playing ability & Image
| Maradona | Pele |
|---|---|
Abilities Known for: Dribbling, Playmaking, Close Control, Shot Power, Finishing, Free Kicks, Penalty Kicks, Clutch Moments | Abilities Known for: Dribbling, Shot Power, Finishing, Playmaking, Free Kicks, Penalty Kicks, Clutch Moments, Agility, Longevity, Strong Weak Foot, Tricks, Aearial Threat, Runs/Off the ball movement. |
Underrated Abilities: Defending, Speed/Pace | Underrated Abilities: Close Ball Control. |
Common Public Image: Born Talent, Controversial, Outlandish, Poor Professionalism, Troubled Life Style, Leadership, Team Player. | Common Public Image: Great Sportsman, Father of Football, Team Player, Obsessed with Unofficial Goals, Unproven in European Football, Born Talent. |
Underrated Public Image: Jovial, Funny, Friendly. | Underrated Public Image: Funny. |
Player Net Worth
| Maradona | Pele |
|---|---|
Net Worth (before death): $500 thousand. |
Net Worth (before death): $100 million |
Retirement date
| Maradona | Pele |
|---|---|
Retirement Date: 25th October, 1997 |
Retirement Date: 1st October, 1977 |
Career after football
| Maradona | Pele |
|---|---|
Football Manager | Sports Minister (Brazil) |
Deportivo Mandiyu | |
Racing Club | |
Argentina | |
Al-Wasl | |
Fujairah | |
Dorados de Sinaloa | |
Gimnasia de La Plata |
Football Status
| Maradona | Pele |
|---|---|
Football Status: GOAT, Legend |
Football Status: GOAT, Legend |
Football Superlatives
| Maradona | Pele |
|---|---|
ContentFootball Superlatives: Greatest Playmaker, Greatest Midfielder |
Football Superlatives: Greatest Goalscorer, Greatest Attacker |
Numbers of Record
| Maradona | Pele |
|---|---|
Number of Records: 10+ |
Number of Records: 10+ |
Football Fans Consensus
| Maradona | Pele |
|---|---|
GOAT Debates: Pele 80% vs Maradona 20%. |
GOAT Debates: Pele 80% vs Maradona 20%. |
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