Pelé vs Oleh Blokhin
Brazil against Ukraine. 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).
Oleh Blokhin
Ukraine · 1970s · SS
- Almanac rating
- 93
- Rank in Ukraine
- #2 of 33
- Caps
- 112 · 42 goals
- Clubs
- FC Dynamo Kyiv, SK Vorwärts Steyr, Aris Limassol
- Honours
- Ballon d'Or 1975 · 7× Hall of Fame
A true Dynamo Kyiv legend and 1975 Ballon d'Or recipient, he terrorized defenses with his blistering speed and clinical goalscoring. Career record: 112 caps and 42 goals for Ukraine; club career at FC Dynamo Kyiv, SK Vorwärts Steyr, Aris Limassol; honours include Ballon d'Or 1975, 7× Hall of Fame.
The verdict
The almanac puts Pelé ahead by 6 rating points, 99 against 93.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.