SOCCER/FOOTBALL GREATS OF THE PAST

Football has been entertaining sports fans around the world long before baseball took root. It is indeed an international sport that has allowed greatness from just about every nation that has fielded a team in international competition.

The players that have thrilled the world such as: Lionel Messi, Lev Yashin, Zinedine Zidane and Johan Cruijff with their ball control, passing skills and scoring are numerous, and it is very difficult to select the best. But I think the top three in the world have a lock on their respective positions. Let’s look at them in reverse order.

No. 3: Franz Beckenbauer

Franz Beckenbauer rewrote the concept of attacking sweeper playing for Bayern Munich leading them to the 1967 Winners' Cup, and three consecutive European Cups from 1974 to 1976. While at Bayern, the club owned the Bundesliga, winning the league title four times. Beckenbauer was awarded the European Footballer of the Year award in 1972 and 1976.

The first West German player in history to reach 100 international caps, Beckenbauer made his mark in the 1966 World Cup, scoring four goals losing the final in extra-time to England. He continued to dominate in the early '70s, as he captained West Germany to the 1972 European Championship and 1974 World Cup titles.

No. 2: Diego Maradona

His first World Cup ended in disgrace in 1982, when he was sent off for kicking the Brazilian Batista in the testicles. But in Mexico in 1986 he reached the top! His incredible dribbled goal through the entire English defense in the quarterfinals in Mexico proved his value as a single force to be reckoned with. But to Maradona, the “hand of God” goal in the same match: “It was like stealing the wallet of the English.” Was his crowning achievement! Two goals that best summed up Maradona!

In 1990 he took a bad Argentine team to the final, and in 1994 completing his cycle of World Cups with another early ejection, this time after testing positive for ephedrine. Drugs had plagued him since he became addicted to cocaine while playing for Napoli.

No. 1: Pele

(Edson Arantes do Nascimento)

Pele was the face, heart and soul of Football/Soccer, after his debut for Santos at the age of 15 in 1956, he was the club fixture until 1974, his 1,281 goals in all competitions reinforce the view. Pele led Santos to nine State Championships, and two consecutive World Club Championships in 1962 and 1963.

There is no player who can claim greater success on the world stage. Pele made his international debut at the tender age of 16. A year later and his teammates pressured the national coaching staff to include the 17-year-old in the 1958 World Cup squad. Kept out of the majority of the tournament due to injury, Pele came on in Brazil's pool match against the Soviet Union. In the quarterfinals, Pele scored the winner against Wales, a hat trick in the semifinals against France, and two in the final against Sweden, Brazil won the 1958 World Cup... and a star was born. Out with injury for the 1962 World Cup, Pele returned to the national squad and claimed one more World Cup title in 1970. Voted the Century's Greatest Footballer along with Diego Maradona, Pele has continued to be an inspiration to the "the beautiful game."

Pele is the only player to claim such success internationally, and at the age of 16. In 1958, the 17-year old was on the Brazilian Cup squad that won it all. In the quarterfinals, Pele scored the winning goal against Wales, a hat trick in the semifinals against France, and two in the final against Sweden and Brazil won the 1958 World Cup.

That’s all I wrote, folks!