2026 FIFA World Cup Thread

#101      
I don't know much about soccer/football. After Messi's hattrick I saw the google thingy of a player doing a bicycle kick. It reminded me of Pelé. He's the first player I saw do it. For years he was said to be the greatest.
It got me to wonder how he stacks up against today's players. I would think that someone as talented as he was would be able to adapt the the modern game. Both would have to contend with Ronaldo. Where would Maradona fit on the list?
I think direct comparisons across eras is a really difficult thing to do. In soccer this is compounded by the fact that players of the past did not move as freely, so a guy like Pele for example never played in Europe. Most of his career, and the best part of his career, was in Brazil. I do tend to think that a player who was among the best of his era would translate, if he had access to the same modern coaching and nutrition current players do.

But would he score as many goals? Hard to say, but I tend to think not. Tactics have changed over the years, and goalkeeping/defending as improved. You look at these early World Cup games, and there were a lot of high scoring games and huge blowouts. Far fewer goals per match in the modern game:

1000020727.jpg
 
Back