“He was superior to everyone” - When Diego Maradona claimed that the player Pele didn't want to recognize for his talents was greatest ever footballer

Hailed as one of the best to have ever graced the game, late Argentina footballer Diego Maradona once referred to Alfredo Di Stefano as the greatest-ever footballer. Maradona had also mentioned that the legendary Pele did not want to recognize Di Stefano's talents.

As per AS, in 2019, Diego Maradona was asked who he thought to be the greatest footballer ever, and the legend named Di Stefano. Maradona, most vividly remembered for leading Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico with five goals, died in 2020 at the age of 60.

“I think the best was [Alfredo] Di Stéfano, he was superior to everyone - even me. Pelé didn’t want to recognise Di Stéfano’s talents. Pelé‘s friends invented a trophy especially for him for being a living legend of football. I even beat Pelé in Río for being the best in history," Diego Maradona said.

Maradona was further asked about the best shirts he had swapped in his career. He mentioned Dutch legends Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten while referring to former Napoli player Careca as the one he connected with the most.

“The best shirts I swapped were with (Ruud) Gullit and (Marco) Van Basten when they were at AC Milan. The player who I connected best with was [former Napoli player] Careca," Diego Maradona added.

Di Stefano was among the best footballers of his generation, having won LaLiga on eight occasions and the European Cup five times with Real Madrid. The Argentine primarily played as a forward and won the Argentine Primera Division with River Plate twice. He also won the South American Championship with his country in 1947.

"I would never like to face Lionel Messi - not ever" - When Diego Maradona praised his compatriot

When asked about what he thought of Lionel Messi's achievements on the football pitch, Maradona was effusive in his praise for his fellow Argentine. Although he mentioned that he would have won a few Ballons d'Or himself, what Messi had achieved was 'outstanding.' By 2019, Messi had won six Ballon d'Or awards.

The former Barcelona star has now won the coveted prize a record eight times, adding a title in 2021 and 2023.

“I think I’d had quite a few, but what Messi has achieved is outstanding. I told him where he should place his foot, but the rest is all down to him. He has got it down to a tee. I would never like to face Messi - not ever. I don’t criticise Messi, the lad comes home, plays, doesn’t sing the hymn and they say he’s Catalán. I’m a friend of Leo’s," Maradona said in the same interview.

Diego Maradona, who played for several top clubs in his career, including Barcelona and Sevilla in LaLiga and Napoli in the Serie A, retired in 1997. He scored 160 goals and provided 109 assists in 344 games across competitions. Pele, on the other hand, is referred to as a godlike figure in football.

Pele's 1,279 goals in 1,363 games (including friendlies) are recognized as a Guinness world record. He was most successful with the Brazil national team, winning the FIFA World Cup on three occasions — 1952, 1956, and 1970. In his club career, he won the Brazil Serie A six times with Santos.