Di Stefano: Better than Pele and Maradona?

[GrandOldTeam]

Di Stefano: Better than Pele and Maradona? - FourFourTwo

An eminent South American journalist has carried out a comparative evaluation of Pele and Maradona for FourFourTwo – but insists that Alfredo di Stefano was better than both.

Enrique Macaya Marquez is one of the best-equipped men on the planet to judge the two against each other. Having covered every World Cup since 1958, he has also fronted Futbol de Primera – Argentina’s most-watched football show – for 20 years, while lecturing on football at the Universidad de Palermo in Buenos Aires.

Asked by FourFourTwo to settle the eternal pub debate about Pele and Maradona, the don analysed both men and made his decision – but said that both cowered in the shadow of Di Stefano, the Buenos Aires-born “Blond Arrow” who became a legend at Real Madrid.

“He dominated the game,” said Marquez. “He played all over the pitch, he had no zones, no position. He had a rare ability to make other footballers better.”

Marquez rated Pele against Maradona over a number of criteria. He found the two legends impossible to separate for shooting, dribbling and “Wow factor”, acclaimed the Brazilian’s superior athleticism and heading ability but sided with the Argentinian for leadership and passing.

To see who came out on top between the two most talked-about footballers in history, see the new issue of FourFourTwo, out now.

I dont think Di Stefano gets the recognition he deserves, like Dean.

 

[davek]

Dean does in this country. I'd say he is generally celebrated as THE player of the pre-War II era.

As for Di Stefano: other than the EC with Madrid, he never had an international stage to prove himself on - unlike Pele and Maradona - and it's World Cups that stick in people's minds most when handing the plaudits out. That's probably why Cruyff isn't mentioned in the same category. If Holland would have beaten W.Germany in the '74 Final he'd have done, efectively, what Maradona did in the '86 WC: dragged a pretty good but not great national side along behind him to win the game's biggest prize.

 

[coyney]

Di Stefano: Better than Pele and Maradona? - FourFourTwo



I dont think Di Stefano gets the recognition he deserves, like Dean.

Having had the pleasure of seeing Di Stefano play live ,he was a great player surrounded at the time by great players Puskas for one to behonest it would be hard to choose but if I had to choose Pele would come first

 

[Jamo Martinez]

Obviously over here he does get a lot more recognition. The Spanish media tend to break it down like this..
best player of the 1950s- Di Stefano
60s- Pele
70s- Cruyff
80s- Maradona
90s- Zidane
Pele and Maradona still tend to get most people's votes though with Alfredo basically considered the 3rd best of all time
Before he arrived in 1953, R. Madrid had won 2 league titles in 22 years. he was fundamental in turning them into the biggest name in club football. Had a little help from Puskas, Kopa, Gento etc it must be added.

 

[davek]

Obviously over here he does get a lot more recognition. The Spanish media tend to break it down like this..
best player of the 1950s- Di Stefano
60s- Pele
70s- Cruyff
80s- Maradona
90s- Zidane
Pele and Maradona still tend to get most people's votes though with Alfredo basically considered the 3rd best of all time
Before he arrived in 1953, R. Madrid had won 2 league titles in 22 years. he was fundamental in turning them into the biggest name in club football. Had a little help from Puskas, Kopa, Gento etc it must be added.

Yeah, and all the Francoist referees.

 

[Neiler]

Puskas was awsome!