It’s less than two years to the next World Cup in Brazil. Although many (mainly English journalists) like to lay claim to England being the home of football not many will argue with the belief that Brazil is the spiritual home of football and the World Cup.
Scotland will not be there that is almost certain.
One man who definitely be there is Edison Arantes do Nascimento aka Pele and he will no doubt be selling some sort of product, shamelessly
Every World Cup he is selling something new. Visa cards, Coca-Cola, Insurance even Viagra. You name it, he’ll probably be hawking it.
For many Pele is the greatest player ever but for me it has to be Maradona. This may be because I never watched Pele live and i have a rose-tinted view of Diego in Mexico 1986 but it also has to do with the apparent character of both men.
Diego is a flawed genius and while he isn’t low on opinions he isn’t constantly blowing his own trumpet or so obsessed by his own public persona like Pele.
There is no doubt that Pele is one of the greatest ever but his personality and inflated ego sometimes annoys in the extreme.
I suppose I prefer my heroes to be a little bit more human and humble.
“For 20 years they have asked me the same question, who is the greatest? Pele or Maradona? I replay that all you have to do is look at the facts – how many goals did he score with his right foot or with his head?” Pele
Alistair McLauchlan 