Mind you, he was good at handball as witnessed by the brits. Seriously, when talking about the best footballer, i think his professional attitude and public persona as an example to others, should be taken into account. Pele was loved and respected by his peers,. I dont think maradonna commanded that type of respect. He was a good footballer but just as alex higgins was a great snooker player, he brought the game into disreput by his behaviour.

 Maradona used to be amazing player, but I don't think you can compare him with king Pele. Now check for another argentinian, Messi in the Barcelona F.C. He's doing a great job this year!

 Pele won 3 world cups for his country. Although he never played in Europe, wnvr his main team, Santos, with the European elite they would usually win. Ppl always like to say he lived in a time with little talent. I see footage of him and he amazes me to this day. He played in 70 world cup and was considered one of the best and there were plenty of world class players then. Maradona talented but there really is no competition.

 No... He may be one of the best but he's definitely not the best. Plus he should have stayed clean.

Other's have replaced his brilliance

 Had Maradona stayed clean and kept football as his priority, than I can see that would have been the greatest ever. One great goal does not a legend make. '86 was a great goal for El Diego, but what about Pele's goal at the Maracana? Where is Diego's 1000th goal? Laws in Pele's day forbade him from playing in Europe. Pele is responsible for raising Santos from football obscurity to the world power that it remains to be today. If you're using the idea of progression over the eras, then I offer you Puskas(spelling?) from Hungary. The game had progressed from his day to Pele's just as it had from Pele's to Maradona's day; and just as has since then to now. With the advent of and progression of radio and tv, I stick by my opening statement and add to it: You don't have the Maradona without Pele.

 I don't forgive him that blatant hand ball. A great player of any sport should not cheat.

 Maradona is only The Greatest Soccer Player because he & Pele were an inspiration for current Masters of the games. Maradona only represent a good memory of the best goal ever made. Messi score a Similar goal. Still you can't compare two players from different eras. Because when Pele apper at the field they weren't too many talents . It is not fair to compare Pele with Messi. At the end, I think Messi & Ronaldinho are better than Maradona by billion times.

 Sorry, but i think pele was something else. I would put maradonna on a power with george best and ronaldinho. Pele was skilled as a barefoot child in the backstreets and people who knew him even then, knew he was special. The name of pele will always be synonymous with the footballing elite.

 Well at least pele did'nt take any drug enhancers. He's a joke