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Reactions Users respond to FIFA's Player of the Century pollPosted: Thursday November 30, 2000 4:05 PMUpdated: Thursday November 30, 2000 4:05 PM
We wanted to know your thoughts on FIFA's recently released Player of the Century poll, and the analysis by CNNSI.com's Gabriele Marcotti. Based on the responses, many of you felt the list could have had just a single name on it -- Pele. Here's a sample of the responses. Certainly there are a number of arguments that could be made for several players. My theory is that you must consider the following: A. The impact the player had on his clubs. B. The impact the player had for his country. C. The impact the player had on his peers. D. The impact the player had on the fans of the game throughout the world. When these four factors are all taken into account, then you can narrow down the list considerably to Pele, Maradona, Cruyff and Beckenbauer more than anyone else. The defining factor is probably "D," which would make Pele the obvious winner. This man had an incredible career, domestically and abroad, at the club level and at the international level, even playing in the U.S. He has been an ambassador for the game, and even a movie star (Victory, 1981). The choice is obvious.
What am I reading here? Pelè is not the greatest player ever? Come on. It has got to be a joke. When one decides to nominate someone as the greatest player of the soccer, a game so rich with traditions and legends, the most popular sport on Earth, one must take into account the player's ability on the field and his behavior off the field. Of course, the former weighs more than the latter. Nevertheless, players often bring shame to the game. Pele never did that. He scored more goals than anyone at the international level. He made the game popular. It is unfortunate I never saw him play. But, now viewing his plays on tapes, it is amazing how his legend is close to actuality, itself a rarity in any sport. Pele makes the sport revolve and revolve endlessly. If you want a reminder, just see his games.
Why Pele? Think about it. Let's watch the old football games. Aren't they boring? How can one forget the glory of the green field when Ronaldo was playing on it? I really think that football without Ronaldo is not complete. Ronaldo is the football player who added beauty to the football. I have seen lots of football games, big teams, small teams, leagues and World Cups. Every player has created some glorious scene in his career. Add all of them, watch them and then compare them to just one of the Ronaldo's games, then you will find out what I am trying to say.
Diego Maradona, despite his drug problems, is the greatest soccer player ever. He took a small, poor club (Napoli) and did the impossible: he led them to two Serie A titles, the only ones ever by a team from southern Italy. He also single-handedly led Argentina to a World Cup over better teams, scoring the greatest goal ever along the way. Pele, however great he was, never played in Europe, but rather stayed in his native Brazil. He was never as fouled, hit and marked as Maradona, who triumphed in the world's most competitive league (Serie A). No one man has made such an impact and such a difference every time he was on the field as has Maradona, who won games by himself on numerous occasions. Choosing Pele over Maradona is a great mistake. Just because sponsors like Nike, etc., use their influence on FIFA, to choose whoever their interests say is No. 1, and even leave great players such as Batistuta (third all time scorer in Serie A) out and instead pick high profile ones such as Ronaldo, who has a long way to go if he is to reach Batistuta´s accomplishments, makes one feel that FIFA´s selection process is totally biased.
How could you possibly leave Paulo Maldini off that list? The man not only has been playing for AC Milan since he was sixteen, but he also redefined the outside back position -- hence bringing glory to the guys who normally end up doing all the grunt work.
I think that Pele is the greatest player, the best ever. I am sure that voters will name him the Player of the Century.
As always, the Brazilians get more credit than they deserve. I disagree with Marcotti calling Roberto Baggio questionable. Apart from his impact on Fiorentina, Juventus, Bologna and now Brescia (two great assists last weekend against Reggiana), he was the driving force behind Italy's third-place finish in the 1990 World Cup. He was the unlucky goat in 1994 (although Sacchi is largely to blame for that), and the king in 1998, when although Vieri got the goals, Baggio served him perfectly. In terms of goalies, Dasayev from U.S.S.R. should not have been left off.
I believe that Pele should be the Player of the Century. He has the most outstanding records or goals in soccer history. He made soccer a popular sport in the United States for a short time, and he is the most talented player to ever play the sport. Also, when my friends or I think of soccer, or who to aspire to be like, we think of Pele.
You have Zico as debatable. Have you forgotten that Zico has scored more goals than anyone in a Brazilian uniform except for Pele? Have you forgotten that the only reason for that is because Zico played less games, and was hampered by injuries? Have you forgotten that Zico finished second in player of the year voting to Platini, while he was playing for basically a second-division team? Have you forgotten that the 1981 Flamengo team is regarded as the greatest club team in Brazilian history, on which Zico was the main threat?
Player of the century? Which one: 19th or 21st? Only one person could possibly be named for the 20th, Pele. He had it all, individual skill, team spirit, class and a great football mind. Simply put, he is a genius.
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