Maradona

It is difficult to answer this question: who is the best ever player in world? Is it Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Maradona, or Zinedine Zidane? Certainly this question is invalid, because it is not fair to compare them who played in different situation and era. It is better to say that they are considered as the best player at their times. Are you satisfied with this anwer?

Pele is the best when we talk about 3 times of winning World Cup trophy in 1958, 1962 and 1970. Beckenbauer is the best when we remember how he lead German to beat the much tipped Netherlands led by much praised Johan Cruyff in the 1974 World Cup final. Zidane is the best when we saw him playing attractively for host-country France to grasp the World Cup in 1998.

In my opinion, Maradona is the best. Yes I have the bias judgment here. Frankly speaking I have hardly seen Pele and Beckenbauer playing – despite I have seen some footage – as I saw a dazzling Maradona. I never forgot that if he got the ball to dribble then at least 4 opponent players came to guard him or Maradona will rampage their defense. The England knew this in 1986 World Cup, when Maradona could dribble the ball through 5 English players before conquering the goalkeeper Peter Shilton. And every time he got a chance and shot it to the goal, then it would be the dangerous shooting. There is no player ever like this.

Even Michael Platini praised Maradona when he was asked who is the best between Maradona and 1998 World Cup winner, Zidane. Platini answered what Zidane does with a ball, Maradona could do with an orange. I don't know whether it is a real compliment or maybe Platini was merely jealous to Zidane since he never appeared as the champion of the World Cup.

Now Maradona comes back to 2010 World Cup as a coach of Argentina. He pursues the record as the player and the coach winning the trophy the way Beckenbauer did in 1990 World Cup. Should Maradona succeed in this tournament, then I never cast doubt that Maradona is the best in the football history.