Didi vs Pelé
Brazil against Brazil. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Didi
Brazil · 1957–62 · CM
- Almanac rating
- 94
- Rank in Brazil
- #7 of 33
- Caps
- 68 · 20 goals
- Clubs
- Madureira Esporte Clube, Fluminense, Botafogo F.R.
On 21 April 1957 he bent a folha seca free kick past the Peruvian goalkeeper Asca after eleven minutes at the Maracanã, the only goal of the night, and Brazil were on the plane to Sweden. He won the World Cup there in 1958 and again in Chile in 1962, and was voted the best player of the 1958 tournament ahead of Pelé and Garrincha. Career record: 68 caps and 20 goals for Brazil; club career at Madureira Esporte Clube, Fluminense, Botafogo F.R..
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 5 rating points, 99 against 94.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.