Who is the greatest footballer (soccer player) - Pele or Maradona

[geezer]

What else would you compare it to when an American says it isn't exciting...?

[ERC7.5]

What else would you compare it to when an American says it isn't exciting...?

Hockey is an option....and much more similar than American football or baseball. A better option would be not making a comparison. Just my opinion though.

[julie_m]

I know a lot of people say they don't like American football. I understand their complaints. The two are apples and oranges though - to like our football, you really have to get it. And I don't really get soccer, though I've tried watching now and then. So I asked. And I got an answer, so thank you. STG it wasn't an attack.

Yes, I know viewership is high, I suspect it has to do with the longstanding and deep rivalries. Any other opinions?

[Surefire]

Just to clarify also, my post wasn't an attack. It was just to put things in perspective. Sometimes we are so used to one environment that we forget its not the only environment.

I wasn't trying to compare soccer and American football, although I could probably do a bit of a better job, as I have played both, and rugby and hockey aswell.

[RaLos18]

It's hard for me to say, big Football fan (go Bears), but the NFL stars are just local stars! Nobody, but here in US, knows about Romo, Brady or Manning! Local stars! Sad but true! Step outside US and everything you hear is Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Beckam! Big companies, like Mcdonalds, Coca Cola, IBM notice that. Heck, even Tiger Woods and Kobe are more known outside US (Biggest US Sport Exports PGA and NBA). Nobody likes our version of the football. Big companies know that, because it's a simple math for them: what is bigger market: 300.000.000 people or other 6 billion? Pure math! Also, about the TV, last world cup viewership was so big, that the last superbowl 90 million people was joke. Even african cup, and Copa America have more viewers. Euro 2008 had viewership of about 3 to 3 and a half billion people! Go compete with that! That's why I like and I watch football(soccer)!

[j0h4n]

Well you guys maybe already know this article but ok here is the link if you want to have a quick look at it. I think it is interesting even though the results are from 2005...

http://www.reuters.com/article/press...008+BW20080117 Then I want to comment on my vision of football, baseball and soccer. (nah I am not a NASCAR fan even though I live in Rock Hill, SC... :))). I am watching footbal games since 3 years and half since I am in the US for now. We have a limited access to football games and baseball in France even with the satellite TV. Anyway, I love football (go Giants!!! Can you believe I have dreamed of their victory in September of 2007. If I had played money on it I would be rich...! and I love even more baseball (Go Braves! Yes I know there is a little bit of a southerner in my heart...). I still have a lot of things to learn in baseball though but I like that math side that you find in Baseball. Am I saying though all the time? uh :))) The thing regarding soccer is that we have been borned and raised watching soccer. Soccer in Europe is everywhere it is like a religion and as RaLos18 noted:

Nobody, but here in US, knows about Romo, Brady or Manning! Local stars! Sad but true! Step outside US and everything you hear is Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Beckam! Big companies, like Mcdonalds, Coca Cola, IBM notice that. Heck, even Tiger Woods and Kobe are more known outside US (Biggest US Sport Exports PGA and NBA).

To conclude:

1. Zinedine Zidane FR 2. Edison Arantes do Nascimento Pele BR 3. Luis Nazário de Lima Ronaldo BR 4. Johan Cruyff NL 5. Diego Armando Maradona AR 6. Michel Platini FR and of course Vinnie Jones!!! ( X2P9gGElMB4

[907golfer12]

Well you guys maybe already know this article but ok here is the link if you want to have a quick look at it. I think it is interesting even though the results are from 2005...

I agree that Zidane is a great player, he is my favorite player

, but I don't think he is the greatest player ever, especially not over some of the guys that you mentioned, Pele, Cruyff, and Maradona. On another note, is it just me or does anyone else get sick of hear that "Christiano Ronaldo is the greatest player that is active?" I mean I hate that guy, and there are many other better players around the world.

[j0h4n]

I think Zidane is the best player w/ regard to the bunch of other really good players that were playing at the time he was playing. No one on my list has ever been confronted to such an amount of really good players. Ronaldo, ...dinho, Christiano Ronaldo, Schevchenko, Figo, Beckham, etc, etc...

[907golfer12]

I think Zidane is the best player w/ regard to the bunch of other really good players that were playing at the time he was playing. No one on my list has ever been confronted to such an amount of really good players. Ronaldo, ...dinho, Christiano Ronaldo, Schevchenko, Figo, Beckham, etc, etc...

I agree, I just think that I mis-interpreted your post, and now we are both confused. So let me try this again.

Is that just a random order list, or is that the order for Worlds best soccer player? And I'm not saying that you are wrong, because you cannot be wrong about your own opinion, I was just saying that I felt different, and maybe putting different thoughts into your head. Or maybe starting a civil debate