Lionel vs. Pelé
The controversy between Katie and I has gone on for too long. It’s between who is the best footballer in history; Lionel Messi or Edison “Edson” Arantes do Nascimento, also known as Pelé.
Lionel Messi, was born on June 24, 1987 in Rosario, Argentina. He has played football since he was 5, six years later he was unfortunately diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency. He was found by a scout from FC Barcelona and the club would pay for his treatments if he signed on. He currently plays for the Argentina National team as striker or a right wing. He has become the youngest scoring player ever to be signed onto the Barcelona football club. He is also the third-youngest player ever to play for FC Barcelona and youngest club player who played in La Liga. Lionel makes approximately $18 million dollars in one year. Some compare him to his fellow countryman, Diego Maradona, his trademark move being the Rabona, a reverse-cross pass shot behind the leg that holds all the weight. His first appearance was in an official match on October 16, 2004, in Barcelona’s derby win against Española at the Olympic Stadium.
Edison “Edson” Arantes do Nascimento, more known as Pelé, was born the 21 or 23 October 1940. Discovered by Waldemar de Brito; one of Brazil’s premiere player, at the age of eleven. Before this, he learned the game of football from his father, Dondinho. Stunning the world by scoring six goals in the first World Cup that Brazil won in 1957 – this included the two goals he made in the championship game over Sweden. At this time he was only seventeen years old. Out of all the 1,360 games he has played in his career, Pelé has scored 1,280 goals. His famous trademarked move, being the bicycle, is where you kick the ball between the laces of your shoes and the bottom of your shin guard, or just the middle of your shin guard while jumping up and landing on your butt. It may seem simple, but trust me, it’s not, and you have to have the right timing, which Pelé mastered easily. Being the former ambassador of sports in Brazil, he was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1993. In the year 2000 he was awarded second for the “Sportsman of the Century”, Muhammad Ali beating him to first.
So who do you think should be the voted the best player of all times, Pelé or Lionel Messi? Or do you choose someone else? Katie chooses the almighty Messi, I choose the born legend Pelé. Going above and beyond everyone else is how you choose the best. They’re literally being compared to gods, with magnets in between their feet and orbiting the ball around the pitch. Skill is just a part of their greatness, but the love of soccer coursing through their veins makes football more than a sport, it makes it a lifestyle.
Citations:
“FIFA Rankings 2011: The Best Soccer Players in the World Right Now | Rivalspot Blog.” Video Games, Tournaments, Tips, Strategy, Sports News & Fantasy Advice At Rivalspot Blog. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. <http://blog.rivalspot.com/2011/04/11/fifa-rankings-the-three-best-soccer-players-in-the-world-right-now/>.
“Top 20 Football Players Of All Time.” Top 10 Lists – Listverse. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. <http://listverse.com/2008/12/11/top-20-football-players-of-all-time/>.
“Lionel Messi Biography.” Lionel Messi the Unofficial Website. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. <http://www.lionelmessi.azplayers.com/lionel-messi-biography.html>.
“A Biography of Pele — Latino Legends in Sports.” Latino Legends in Sports Online Magazine. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. <http://www.latinosportslegends.com/Pele_bio.htm
“Lionel Messi Biography, Pictures, Videos, Lists – FamousWhy.” Famous People Biographies, Pictures, Photo Galleries, Questions and More – FamousWhy. Web. 20 Sept. 2011. <http://people.famouswhy.com/lionel_messi/>.