Ranking the 10 greatest player rivalries in football

#2 Pele vs Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona and Pele is one of the most celebrated rivalries in football folklore

The first rivalry of its kind where two players from different eras have been constantly compared to each other. Diego Maradona burst on to the football scene when Pele was in the twilight of his career.

The comparisons between Pele and Maradona have ignited intense debate in spite of the fact that they played in different generations. That is mainly because of their attempts to be remembered as the GOAT - the Greatest Of All Time.

Hailing from Brazil and Argentina who share quite an intense rivalry beyond football, both Pele and Maradona guided their respective nations to World Cup victories. Although Pele won 3 World Cups for Brazil while Maradona only 1 for Argentina, it would be imprudent to ignore the fact that the 'Black Pearl' was a part of one of the greatest Brazilian sides of all time while El Diego had a considerably weaker team around him.

Few would disagree over the claim that Pele vs Diego Maradona is the most celebrated rivalry of the 20th century.