The title of the best football player of the 20th century is often awarded to Pelé, the Brazilian football legend. In 1999, Pelé was named FIFA Player of the Century alongside Diego Maradona.
Reasons why Pelé is considered the best of the 20th century:
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Three FIFA World Cup titles (1958, 1962, 1970), which is a record that no player has matched.
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Pelé scored over 1,280 goals in his career, a remarkable achievement for any player.
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He is regarded as a complete player who possessed incredible technique, vision, and creativity on the field.
Diego Maradona also often comes up as a contender for the title of the best footballer of the 20th century, especially because of his extraordinary performances for Argentina, most famously during the 1986 FIFA World Cup, where he led Argentina to victory and scored the legendary “Hand of God” goal and the “Goal of the Century” against England.
Both Pelé and Maradona left an indelible mark on football and are celebrated for their extraordinary skill and achievements, but Pelé’s three World Cup victories often give him the edge as the best of the 20th century.