Readers’ Forum

No two greats are alike

Often we compare between Pele and Maradona to determine who is the world’s greatest footballer? Pele’s success is that he helped Brazil to win the soccer’s World Cup in 1958 and 1970, while Maradona piloted Argentina to annex the world title in 1986 and to become runners-up in 1990. Since they did not play against each other, they ethically cannot be compared. Rather, Pele should be compared with teammate Garincha, the part and parcel of the Brazil’s 1958 and 1962 World Cup winning squads.
The word ‘Garincha’ means little bird. It was not his real name but a ‘title’ out of love from the countrymen. His one leg was shorter than the other, and yet he was very fast and had tremendous power of dodging the opponents’ defence.
In 1958, both Garincha and Pele contributed equally, but in 1962, the first name alone steered Brazil to conquer the cup because Pele left the field with injury in the very first match and never returned due to thickness of wound. The little bird was irresistible, vessel of charming skills, shooting power and dedication. But what a painful and sad things are that the Brazilians failed to evaluate his contribution and rather wrapped Pele with what should have been given to Garincha. So, we think that the FIFA and the CBF should take initiative to pay him his due and cap him with the crown of the greatest footballer of his time.

Khurshida Haque
Parbatipur