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Maradona dies: was he really the best player in history?

2020-11-28T11:14:06.886Z


Since his death, Argentina's number 10 has been presented by many observers as the greatest footballer of all time. A


The times do not lend themselves to it, but it is a debate which deserves long hours, a large company, and especially not in good faith, accompanied by a good meal.

It was therefore only a few minutes after the death of Diego Maradona, this Wednesday, to see a border emerge between two categories of observers: those who, in their eulogy, present the Argentine as the best footballer of history and those who refuse to attribute this label to it.

Let's get on well, Maradona will remain a legend in his discipline.

How do we recognize him?

In the passionate tone of Nordine Kourichi for example when asked about the trace of the "Pibe de Oro" (the "golden kid").

In 1986, the Algerian international contested the World Cup in Mexico, won by Maradona and his selection.

“In the draw, I wanted so much that we fell on Argentina to face it.

I wasn't that lucky, but when you were a footballer at the time, you wanted to compete with him, says the former defender.

I admired him, he gave off such ease on the lawn ... It was beautiful.

"

"Diego is a myth"

Asking the player's supporters why he deserves to be consecrated greatest of the greats, is to ensure an answer linked to the incredible technique of the star, his flashes, like the "goal of the century" against England in 1986, but above all his charisma and his aura.

“He lived as if he was immortal.

And at his death, we realize that he was right, supports his compatriot and former Nantes coach Angel Marcos.

Diego is a myth that has led me to believe that I was doing the same job as him the few times I spoke with him.

But Diego was something else!

"

“I also find that Maradona has enriched football and sport, while television media were much less important.

The whole world knew him, argues another former Argentine footballer, Omar Da Fonseca.

It's not just his way of playing but also his way of being, his character, the fact that his life is a novel.

"

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The BeIN Sports consultant classifies him as "the greatest", qualifying however: "the strongest, we can discuss it".

Because it is often the eternal point of this kind of debate: how to prioritize the talents and qualities of Maradona, Pelé, Ronaldo, Zidane or Messi?

Johan Cruyff, another missing icon, was annoyed with the eternal desire to rank between the two Argentinian playmakers.

“The comparison Messi - Maradona is absurd, annoyed, in 2010, the Dutch genius.

Beyond the fact that comparisons are always hateful, how can one categorically say that one is better or worse?

If in addition they are not even from the same era or the same football.

"

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Some, pragmatic, will pass the careers of each other to the sieve, will highlight here the only World Cup won by Maradona where Pelé won three, his 312 club goals when Messi exceeded 600 a year ago or its only UEFA Cup as a list of achievements in European competitions.

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“It's absurd as an argument, because we must not forget that Diego has always evolved in average teams, to be kind, supports Angel Marcos.

Her 1986 Argentina, she does not deserve to be in the Top 10 of the best selections of our country.

When he arrives in Naples, half of the team does not have the level to evolve in French D2.

Of all the greats, he's the only one who has not benefited from an armada like Messi with Barça or Pelé with Brazil.

"

Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Reuters  

Let's move on to the numbers, the gestures and the aura.

What remains to decide?

Well, probably nothing ... If it is not the feeling, specific to each one.

“It's necessarily a generational point of view, says former international Yannick Stopyra.

For me, Pelé is the best player in history because I saw him shine when I was a kid.

It was the beginnings of football on TV, I saw him do extraordinary things.

For me he has become the king.

And they will explain to me what they want, it will not move.

"

Maradona votes ... Di Stefano

For Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the best player in history is called Ronaldo, the Brazilian, because "he played the football that all young people wanted to play".

Understand: him and his friends.

"In Argentina, part of the population gives this title to Lionel Messi," said Angel Marcos.

And for Diego Maradona, the strongest footballer is named Alfredo Di Stefano, legend of Real Madrid in the 1950s. The symbol of an endless and eminently subjective debate.

And on which we will still spend hours in the future without ever getting tired ...

Source: leparis

All sports articles on 2020-11-28

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