[Football] Maradona

[herecomesaregular]

I was disappointed with the movie about him, which didn't show enough footage of him with the ball at his feet imo. To imagine him playing on the flat "carpet" pitches we have here now and without the physical assaults of the game back in that era - he'd be better than Ronaldo and Messi, for sure.

 

[Half Time Pies]

For me the most naturally talented footballer of all time. People point to the drugs and bad behaviour however I think his off field antics make it even more of a miracle that he reached the levels that he did! Without the training, support, playing surfaces and protection from refs afforded to modern day footballers like Messi and Ronaldo, the things he could do with the ball at his feet were incredible.

I think the thing that stands out for me was his ability to pretty much single handedly win games and tournaments. Pele played in a Brazil team full of legends, Messi played for a Barcelona team that was arguably the greatest club team of all time. Maradona on the other hand joined Napoli when they were facing relegation and turned them in to league and UEFA cup champions! I also can't remember another player having such an impact on a world cup than Maradona had in 1986, he pretty much carried that Argentine team to the trophy.

 

[Coldeanseagull]

Drugged up cheat

 

[Happy Exile]

If we go by what used to be the universal benchmark of quality, Ronaldo is the only one out of himself, Messi, Pele, or Maradona to have ever played and won on a wet cold Wednesday Friday night afternoon in Stoke. (A game in which Danny Welbeck was an unused sub too.)

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

It’s noticeable how much more muscular, and presumably stronger, players legs were back then.

 

[Papak]

Look at this iconic photo which shows how dangerous he was with the ball at his feet - the opposition have no idea what is happening next and are all over the place:

 

[GT49er]

No.

 

[AZ Gull]

Look at this iconic photo which shows how dangerous he was with the ball at his feet - the opposition have no idea what is happening next and are all over the place:

View attachment 180883

It is an iconic photo - but completely misleading in what it portrays:-

Diego Maradona against Belgium: the real story behind the famous image​

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

No.

Pele, Messi, Maradona in that order

 

[Stato]

Of course there will always be butts. Sean thought he had it sewn up until Diego bent over and set off the sprinklers.

 

[wigman]

Went to Naples recently. They worship him like a god. Quite literally a shrine or painting or mural or shirt with his name on every street. I obviously knew he was popular there but the level of it is insane.

I was in Naples last October, the spagnoli area is a shrine to him.
he is absolutely idolised there.

 

[Mr Bridger]

Let himself go a bit later on in his career.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

There will always be "buts"

For example, how good would Ronaldo, Messi and Pele have been if they were off their tits on illegal drugs?

Who knows?

Despite.......

 

[bluenitsuj]

No. He was a cheating bastard

Pele is the answer

 

[SeagullinExile]

Best player that ever lived.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

The amount of players I hear say the original Ronaldo was the best (at his peak) that they've seen. We were robbed of what should be been a stunning a career. I think he would have smashed all the records if he'd kept fit. Unreal. Had everything. Look at this for a games and (goals) record despite all the injuries. Did it everywhere

1993–1994Cruzeiro34(34)
1994–1996PSV46(42)
1996–1997Barcelona37(34)
1997–2002Inter Milan68(49)
2002–2007Real Madrid127(83)

 

[AstroSloth]

Well, was he the greatest footballer ever?


Ignore all the obvious “yes buts” this is just a question about his footballing skills.

For me neither Ronaldo or Messi come close

Not Pele or Cruyff either

Some of these dribbles, twist, turns and nutmegs defy belief and some serious attempts at gbh on him too

Have you ever seen Messi dribbling?

He's at least as good at it as Maradona whilst also being one of the best playmakers of all time.

For me nobody comes close to Messi, he's everything the old legends were but against better defenders.

 

[AstroSloth]

Funny how many Argentinians seem to think Maradona was better than Messi then.

Different training, diets, pitches, ref protection etc certainly favour Messi but I can’t see him coping with the way football was played when Maradona was at his peak. Just look at some of the attempted tackles on Maradona in the video posted.

No many Argentinians thought that Messi was underachieving with Argentina and didn't take international football seriously.

There's also the benefit of nostalgia making them remember Maradona as better than he was.

Look at some of the tackles attempted on Messi in the video I posted, they just can't get near him luckily.

 

[AstroSloth]

The amount of players I hear say the original Ronaldo was the best (at his peak) that they've seen. We were robbed of what should be been a stunning a career. I think he would have smashed all the records if he'd kept fit. Unreal. Had everything. Look at this for a games and (goals) record despite all the injuries. Did it everywhere

1993–1994Cruzeiro34(34)
1994–1996PSV46(42)
1996–1997Barcelona37(34)
1997–2002Inter Milan68(49)
2002–2007Real Madrid127(83)

Because he was the best. He was absolutely ridiculous and the best player ever in terms of his peak.

The only thing that stops him being the best player of all time is his knees.

 

[Diablo]

No but he was a champion cheat

Not as much as most are today. He was fouled and got up and continued. The hand of god. He got away with it !!