Pelé vs Marco van Basten
Brazil against Netherlands. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
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).
Marco van Basten
Netherlands · 1981–93 · ST
- Almanac rating
- 95
- Rank in Netherlands
- #2 of 33
- Caps
- 58 · 24 goals
- Clubs
- AFC Ajax, AC Milan
- Honours
- Ballon d'Or 1988 · FIFA World Player of the Year 1992
Widely considered one of the greatest strikers of all time, the three-time Ballon d'Or winner and Euro '88 champion was a phenomenon for AC Milan before his career was cut short by injury. Career record: 58 caps and 24 goals for Netherlands; club career at AFC Ajax, AC Milan; honours include Ballon d'Or 1988, FIFA World Player of the Year 1992.
The verdict
The almanac puts Pelé ahead by 4 rating points, 99 against 95.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.