Apart from Maradona, who would be an Icon like Pele?

Question

I mean unforgettable for some time...

Answer 1

There have been so many great players in the history of football, and everyone will have a different criteria in their determination of what makes a player ‘iconic’, but there are a few names who I think must surely be in the hat…

Aside from Pele and Maradona, who are penned in already, I’d say the most obvious would be the great George Best, who sadly passed away last year.
Pele himself once described Best as ‘the greatest footballer in the world’, and for pure, unadulterated talent he’s certainly up there with finest proponents of the game. He had a unique genius that made him one of the most exciting players of his, or any other generation, as well as one of the first ‘celebrity’ footballers. The cheeky character so evident in his football was mirrored in his personality and the young Best was a star on and off the pitch, but he also had a self-destructive streak that controlled much of his life.

After Best, I’d have to consider a good few others:

Puskas – The Hungarian that showed England that rest of the world were actually quite good at football. Fearsomely powerful and one of the finest international goal scorers of all time.

Gordon Banks – Seemingly super-human English goalkeeper that made that unbelievable stop from Pele’s close range header in ’70. To my mind the best keeper ever, and in that sense a football icon.

Johan Cruyff – The original Dutch master, he invented half the skills you see today off the top of his head. Wickedly creative, strong and skilful, Cruyff brought something new to the game and was at the heart of one of the most gifted World Cup sides ever.

Zidane – In my opinion the greatest player in modern football. Powerful and skilful with ridiculous vision, Zidane is a French playmaker that creates and scores goals that no one else can even imagine, let alone actually realise.

Phew! And I haven’t even mentioned Van Basten, Eusebio, Ronaldo, Henry, Muller, Beckenbauer, Platini, Charlton, Garrincha, Zoff, Di Stefano, Maldini etc, etc…

Answer 2

Wait a second, lets not compare Maradona with Pele.
Maradona, was a great player but also a cheat. Last time i checked a "hand of god" goal did not call for iconic status. Also unlike Pele, Maradona shamed the world of football with his cheating and drug infested life style. Not a true role model. Not that he should be held as a role model after his service in the great game of football, but he is more like OJ than he is Pele.

Answer 3

I think Lionel Messi is on his way to becoming the next Icon, the kid is amasing !

Lionel Messi became the toast of Argentina when, just days after his 18th birthday, he inspired his country's U-20 side to a fifth world title with a series of masterful displays at the FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005. Such was the impression made by the prodigious midfielder that in addition to taking home a gold medal he also picked up the adidas Golden Shoe award as top scorer, and the adidas Golden Ball as best player. At 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, the 18-year-old could well be in the running to pick up a brand new award - the Gillette Best Young Player Award. With his extraordinary vision, darting runs and impeccable technical skills, Messi strides about midfield like it is his natural habitat, engineering openings where none appear to exist. Endowed with an explosive turn of pace and the ability to majestically dribble his way through the sturdiest of rearguards, he is a constant threat to opposing defences, who seem incapable of containing him.

But the left-footed Messi is a lot more than just an orchestrator of play and a neat passer; he has also got a keen eye for goal. His six-goal tally in the Netherlands, in particular the exquisite strike that opened the scoring in the semi-final against Brazil, have marked him out as a formidable goal-scorer in his own right.

I think he is on his way to the top!!!!!!!

chrisnewcars ....if you were a true to the bone soccer fanatic you would know why Maradona was and still is an Icon my friend!!

Answer 4

Franz Beckenbauer, no doubt. What Pele and Maradona did for the all of the future playmaking number 10's, Beckenbauer did for his sweeper position. That position didn't really exist before he came in, revolutionizing how defense is played (attacking sweepers are still used today) and helped lead both his nation to a World Cup title in '76 and several Bundesliga championships with Bayern Munich. He also followed Pele to the ASL, then a fledgling precursor to the MLS, and played for the New York Cosmos. Also, he is one of two footballers who have won titles both as a coach and as a player. And who else would have the will and drive to play professional futbol with a dislocated arm? The Kaiser, that's who.

Answer 5

Pele. Sure, don't get me wrong. Maradona was an awesome player. One of the best footballers in the history of the sport. But Pele just owns soccer or football or whatever you prefer. He is the king. Keep your eye on Lionel Messi. He is the best in the world currently IMO, and he still has a big future ahead of him. He could very well be the next Maradona or The New Pele.

Answer 6

Zinedine Zidane would definately be remembered for a while, and if France wins this world cup then that would definately be a stamp on his illustrious carrier. Maradona was a cheat, the next great player is the kid from the Adidas commercial Jose + 10, Eric Cantona should be considered too, and how about Pavel Nedved the midfield General for the Czech republic, ask the americans?

Answer 7

Maradona is a joke and must not be put in the same sentence of greatness with Pelee. However greater players have been emerging in the past 8 years and I will not speculate who is to be said as the best but one to make it clear: Maradona is no champion and should remain lest conspicuous.

Answer 8

i think ronaldinho is already in the making, he is definitely the world greatest footballer and shows it in nearly every match he plays without a doubt. The thing is that his mentality is superb and his technique is undoubtedly outstanding but all he has to do is work as hard as possible. He already has the skills and has defiantly passed the potential stage by far he is only in his mid twenties and is not scared to attack at all.he is very pacey and unpredictable and that's what you need in a team to win world cups. ronaldinho is the sort of player that will try and learn and makes a massive amount of difference to a team, for example look what he did with Barcelona, he completely changed the game-play and spirit. from a scale from1 to 100 id give him 100 he will light the world cup and be the most talked about.

Answer 9

Beckham already is. Wayne Rooney is definitly next. We've all seen what he's accomplished. He was MVP on the team when he was just 18! 20 now, imagine what he has learned even since then! I see a bright future for Rooney. As for Beckham, who doesnt know his name? He's an outstanding athlete and is an idol to young soccer players around the world. So there's your answer. Wayne Rooney is the next shining icon, and Beckham is already an international inspiration and icon. Then end.

Answer 10

Lionel Messi became the toast of Argentina when, just days after his 18th birthday, he inspired his country's U-20 side to a fifth world title with a series of masterful displays at the FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005. Such was the impression made by the prodigious midfielder that in addition to taking home a gold medal he also picked up the adidas Golden Shoe award as top scorer, and the adidas Golden Ball as best player. At 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, the 18-year-old could well be in the running to pick up a brand new award - the Gillette Best Young Player Award. With his extraordinary vision, darting runs and impeccable technical skills, Messi strides about midfield like it is his natural habitat, engineering openings where none appear to exist. Endowed with an explosive turn of pace and the ability to majestically dribble his way through the sturdiest of rearguards, he is a constant threat to opposing defences, who seem incapable of containing him.