Omar Sívori vs Pelé
Argentina against Brazil. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Omar Sívori
Argentina · 1956–62 · SS
- Almanac rating
- 92
- Rank in Argentina
- #6 of 33
- Caps
- 19 · 9 goals
- Clubs
- Club Atlético River Plate, Juventus, SSC Napoli
- Honours
- Ballon d'Or 1961
Argentina's 1957 South American Championship was won by a forward line the press called the carasucias, and he was the one playing with his socks rolled down to his ankles, treating the nutmeg as a signature. Juventus paid a world-record fee of 10 million pesos for him that year, and he returned the 1961 Ballon d'Or, three Serie A titles and two Coppa Italia, on top of the three Argentine championships he had already won with River Plate. Career record: 19 caps and 9 goals for Argentina; club career at Club Atlético River Plate, Juventus, SSC Napoli; honours include Ballon d'Or 1961.
Pelé
Brazil · 1957–71 · SS
- Almanac rating
- 99
- Rank in Brazil
- #1 of 33
- Caps
- 92 · 77 goals
- Clubs
- Bauru Atlético Clube, Santos, New York Cosmos
- Honours
- FIFA Player of the Century 2000 · South American Footballer of the Year 1973 · 5× Hall of Fame (1967–1997)
On 19 November 1969 the Maracanã stopped while photographers swarmed the pitch and 80,000 Vasco supporters cheered Pelé, who had just converted the penalty that was his thousandth goal. He is the only man with three World Cups, scoring twice in the 1958 final at seventeen, and he took the Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup with Santos in both 1962 and 1963 along with five Taça Brasil titles. Career record: 92 caps and 77 goals for Brazil; club career at Bauru Atlético Clube, Santos, New York Cosmos; honours include South American Footballer of the Year 1973, FIFA Player of the Century 2000, 5× Hall of Fame (1967–1997).
The verdict
The almanac puts Pelé ahead by 7 rating points, 99 against 92.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.