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Pelé vs Maradona

Who is the GOAT?

The world decides.

Brazil

Pelé

Argentina

Diego

Maradona

About the debate

In 2000 FIFA could not choose between them, so Pelé and Diego Maradona shared the Player of the Century award. Pelé won three World Cups with Brazil and scored 1,279 goals by Guinness World Records’ count; Maradona captained Argentina to the 1986 World Cup and carried Napoli to their first two Serie A titles.

Both wore the number 10 for their country, and the argument between Brazil and Argentina has outlived them both. The world now votes on who is the GOAT.

Major honours
PeléHonourMaradona
3World Cups1
12World Cup goals8
4World Cups played4
7League titles3
77International goals34

As of October 2026.Every trophy, side by side

The case for Pelé

  • Won the World Cup three times with Brazil, in 1958, 1962 and 1970, the only player to do so, and scored twice in the 1958 final against Sweden at 17.
  • Scored 12 goals in 14 World Cup matches across four tournaments, and 77 goals in 92 games for Brazil.
  • Won two Copa Libertadores titles and two Intercontinental Cups with Santos, in 1962 and 1963, plus six Brazilian championships, and scored 643 goals for the club in official matches.
  • Holds the Guinness World Record for career goals, 1,279 in 1,363 games including friendlies, and won the 1977 NASL title with the New York Cosmos in his final season. He died on 29 December 2022, aged 82.

The case for Maradona

  • Captained Argentina to the 1986 World Cup and won the Golden Ball, scoring both goals in the 2–1 quarter-final win over England: the ‘Hand of God’ and the ‘Goal of the Century’.
  • Led Napoli to their first two Serie A titles, in 1986–87 and 1989–90, as well as the 1986–87 Coppa Italia and the 1988–89 UEFA Cup.
  • Twice broke the world transfer record, joining Barcelona in 1982 and Napoli in 1984, after winning the 1981 Metropolitano title with Boca Juniors; at Barcelona he won the 1982–83 Copa del Rey.
  • Shared FIFA’s Player of the Century award with Pelé in 2000 and was named South American Footballer of the Year six times. He died on 25 November 2020, aged 60.

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Pelé vs Maradona: your questions

Who is the GOAT: Pelé or Maradona?

That’s for the world to decide. WHOISTHEGOATS.COM runs a live public vote on Pelé vs Maradona: cast yours in one tap, then see how every country has voted. In 2000 FIFA could not choose between them, so Pelé and Diego Maradona shared the Player of the Century award. Pelé won three World Cups with Brazil and scored 1,279 goals by Guinness World Records’ count; Maradona captained Argentina to the 1986 World Cup and carried Napoli to their first two Serie A titles.

What has Pelé won?

Won the World Cup three times with Brazil, in 1958, 1962 and 1970, the only player to do so, and scored twice in the 1958 final against Sweden at 17. Scored 12 goals in 14 World Cup matches across four tournaments, and 77 goals in 92 games for Brazil. Won two Copa Libertadores titles and two Intercontinental Cups with Santos, in 1962 and 1963, plus six Brazilian championships, and scored 643 goals for the club in official matches.

What has Diego Maradona won?

Captained Argentina to the 1986 World Cup and won the Golden Ball, scoring both goals in the 2–1 quarter-final win over England: the ‘Hand of God’ and the ‘Goal of the Century’. Led Napoli to their first two Serie A titles, in 1986–87 and 1989–90, as well as the 1986–87 Coppa Italia and the 1988–89 UEFA Cup. Twice broke the world transfer record, joining Barcelona in 1982 and Napoli in 1984, after winning the 1981 Metropolitano title with Boca Juniors; at Barcelona he won the 1982–83 Copa del Rey.

How do Pelé and Maradona compare?

As of October 2026: World Cups: Pelé 3, Maradona 1; World Cup goals: Pelé 12, Maradona 8; World Cups played: Pelé 4, Maradona 4; League titles: Pelé 7, Maradona 3; International goals: Pelé 77, Maradona 34.

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