They are flowers from the same season. On Wednesday, October 23, in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Pelé, King of football. One Sunday the 30th, in Lanús, in Buenos Aires, Diego Maradona, Child of gold. Only because of these two, it could be said that for football spring arrives in October, the month that gave us two of the three supreme gods. But there were many green shoots in this fertile month. Enrique Omar Sívori was born on October 2. Enrique was a Juventus legend and the second South American Ballon d’Or winner. Golden left foot, like Diego and Messi. Juggler and rebel Zlatan Ibrahimović is from the 3rd of the tenth month. Jorge Valdano and César Luis Menotti, two football philosophers, both world champions, were born on October 4 and 5. The extraordinary Bobby Charlton has 11, Lev Yashin 22, Wayne Rooney 24, Elías Figueroa 25, the immortal Garrincha 28, and Marco Van Basten 31. Just to list the heroes. If an ideal eleven were made for each month, October would be unbeatable.

Every time they are connected by a story, an anniversary or a statistic, a comparison is imposed, eternal and spontaneous: Pelé or Maradona? That is the question. By the way, never so hateful, to be two geniuses of the same football stature. Then Lionel Messi joined the discussion. And for the vast majority of analysts, he surpassed them. All three won world championships, but Pelé and Diego don’t have Leo’s European campaign, nor his seven Ballon d’Ors, and they played less fast-paced football, with more space and less pressure from the spot, although none ever had to endure the violence Maradona subjected him to. on the football field.

A disgusting and beautiful proposal! The merits of two great October phenomena are so great that it is impossible to put them above each other. Measured statistically, it is safe to say that Pelé will never be equal. For no one. More than 1200 goals (757 of them official), 3 World Cups won, 2 Libertadores, 2 Intercontinentals, 5 consecutive Brazilian titles, 8 Paulista Championships, dozens of international trophies on Santos’ countless tours…

Diego was a five-time league top scorer playing for Argentinos Juniors (for the Argentinos!). He became a champion with Boca Juniors and won 2 Scudettos, the Italian Cup and the UEFA Cup with Napoli. Copa del Rey with Barcelona. He was the youth and senior world champion. With less, his record still shines. Maradona had to turn it around in Argentina in ’78. He would be a two-time champion. Menotti’s unusual decision marginalized him from the Cup when he was by far the best footballer in the country.

He Down It also brings undeniable advantages about the king, especially in game magic. Pelé was more direct; Diego, more of an artist. Pelé made Santos great; Maradona “invented” Napoli. Pelé was a world champion with Brazil surrounded by monsters; Maradona “made” Argentina a champion. Pelé did not play in Europe; Diego triumphed greatly in a very difficult Calcio. In Pelé’s time, the game was undoubtedly slower and the marking more flexible, so the level of opposition to Diego was much greater. Pelé had compresses of Jairzinho, Gerson, Tostão, Rivelin, Garrincha, Didí, Vava, Nilton Santos, Clodoaldo, Coutinho, Gilmar, Pepe, Zito, among other football creatures. Diego’s company was much less hierarchical.

It is possible that Pelé’s teammates would have become world champions even without him. Almost certainly Ruggeri, Pumpido, Batista, Giusti, Valdano, etc., would not have celebrated in Mexico ’86 without him. Child. The brunette scored unforgettable goals; The brunette scored the goal of the century against England, the one that every kid in the world dreams of when they put their head on the pillow.

Pelé received the honorary title of “athlete of the century” with absolute justice. A panther in leaping, in ferocity to plant a leg, in cruising speed. With less bodywork, Diego is on par: Maradona’s left foot is the greatest thing world football has given. His short shot – in the style of Messi, Mbappé – created havoc.

The Brazilian was a perfect header, a precise shot with both feet, a fluttering dribble, beauty, strength. Diego – only with his left foot – had a beautiful shot, probably the most consistent in memory until Messi’s. Superb skill and deadly dribbling. Also courage. Not one of them was a game driver; However, within the defined race, Diego had more creative skills.

Not only is it difficult to establish supremacy between one and the other; It is not friendly, to say the least, to cite the virtue of one to the detriment of the other. It is possible to find a football player who stops the ball with his chest like Pelé. Or finish with the power and precision of Pelé. He even dribbles forward like Pelé. On the other hand, until Messi it was impossible to find another left foot equal to Diego’s.

Edson Arantes protected his incredible physical strength by keeping it away from drugs, tobacco or alcohol. For 14 of his 19 years as a professional footballer, Maradona lived with cocaine, a sinister companion that damaged his career because it doesn’t enhance performance: it ruins it. His problem, of course, although we always wonder what other immortal works Diego could have given us without that cross on top.

The Brazilian walked the path without obstacles, under the protection of João Havelange’s protective umbrella. Maradona was targeted by FIFA, which he faced. Criminally crushed by Basque Goikoetxea, he suffered hepatitis, various other injuries and two suspensions of a year and a half each. He was close to the people, but far from the government. And doubts about his doping at the ’94 World Cup are still floating in the polluted sea. In the entire history of football, it has never happened that at the end of a match an official enters the field and takes a player by the hand for doping control. They took him away as an arrestee. And Maradona, submissively, smilingly answered the questions of radio and TV journalists.

Pelé has an impeccable image, a healthy idol and an impeccable life in his favor, although perhaps too close establishment, even in collusion with him. Diego was cornered by drugs; He miraculously escaped death. His figure was not the most suitable for advertising toothpaste; However, he kept intact his rebellion, his rebellious attitude. And he is idolized by all football players on Earth.

Diego says in his autobiographical book: “Pelé is the best as a player… But the greatest in history was Di Stéfano.” In Italy they always argued about whether I was better or worse than Pelé; “In Spain, no one dares to discuss it: it is Di Stéfano.” Diego Armando developed his story in an already globalized world, where technology and the press ruled the universe. They took their feats to the farthest corner of the planet. Also their miseries. Less bloody journalism was practiced in Pelé’s time. It is well praised, no more. They are even.

Pelé and Maradona. How many footballs did God put in just two containers! In recognition of all they have given, October should be declared World Football Month. (OR)