There has always been a comparison vs Pele and Diego Maradona legacy, even before the argument over whether Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi is the best football player to have ever lived, know about their goals and rivalry
Because they didn’t play in the same era, Pele and Maradona were never direct competitors. In the renowned Brazilian side, the legendary Brazilian ruled the period from 1950 to 1970. In the celebrity-studded Santos club, he was the shining star. Maradona changed the legacy of the Albiceleste in international soccer during his time with Argentina in the 1980s.
Pele vs Maradona rivalry who was the best, goals, stats, world cup titles, net worth
Both Pele and Diego Maradona have passed away at this time in football history. On November 25, 2020, the Argentine magician passed away at the age of 59. Pele, a Brazilian goal-scoring machine, passed away on December 29, 2022, at the age of 82. Even though they didn’t play during a modern era, similarities were often made. Who has contributed more to this magnificent game’s legacy is still up for debate.
Who has more goals between Pele and Maradona?
When comparing the legacies of football players, goals are a crucial factor because they decide games. Pele has scored 1281 goals in 1363 games, making him the sport’s all-time leading scorer. Maradona, on the other hand, has 356 goals in 679 appearances.
Maradona and Pele are two different kinds of players. While Maradona used to tuck deep into the offensive midfield position to open up opportunities for his teammates, Pele played as a classic striker. Most of Pele’s club football experience was in Santos. Later, he relocated to the New York Cosmos team in North America. Despite this, Maradona played for top European clubs like Napoli and Barcelona. He also played for Boca Juniors in Argentina.
Who has won the most World Cups?
With three back-to-back World Cup titles from 1958 to 1970, Pele is the undisputed champion in terms of trophy wins. Pele, though, was a member of the star-studded Brazil team of the mid-1900s, the finest international team ever. Pele participated in 14 World Cup games and scored 12 goals overall.
Maradona participated in four World Cup tournaments with Argentina and is considered the sole winner of the 1986 World Cup. His spectacular goal against England is regarded as one of the finest goals ever. Maradona participated in the 1990 World Cup championship match but was unsuccessful. In 21 games, he scored 8 goals while playing a deeper role.
Pele vs. Maradona: Net Worth comparison
One of football’s most recognisable faces was Pele. Pele was the highest-paid player of his generation despite having played in a very different era with considerably smaller earnings and no electric media. Pele had a phenomenal net worth of almost $100 million at the time of his passing.
Maradona’s contracts and endorsement deals brought in close to $50 million during his career. His wild lifestyle and some unethical business practices severely reduced his net worth. Maradona’s market value at the time of his passing was barely about $100,000.
Who left a greater legacy?
The most common metrics used to compare two of the greatest players ever are goals, trophies, individual accolades, and net worth. Stats are merely numbers, which occasionally may not fully support comparison.
Who has left a greater legacy between these two is unclear. Moreover, we can only be grateful for their huge contributions to the beautiful game and pray that they will one day play football together in paradise, away from our mortal view.