I think Maradona truly deserves the award of the best player of the century just because he played soccer far better and with breathtaking speed as compare to Pele who was just a mere striker who got lots of
open spaces to move, whereas Diego never got free spaces to make a move, as most of the time he was marked with more then 3 players but still he could manage to create goal apportunities for his teammates.
Remember the World Cup of 86 in Mexico where he singe-handedly won the Cup for Argentina despite players continuously marking him. The goal which he scored in semi-final is all time great which still most of the players dream of, and also the famous “ Hand of God “ goal which ended England dream of winning the cup, was master move by Maradona. Most of the people feel that this goal was cheating by Maradona, but I think its was his speed that deceive the Referee and linesman.
In Italy also he was instrumental of Argentina reaching the final, but this time in final he was marked continuously by Germans players.
In the USA when Argentina were thrashing their opponents he was wrongly frame in drug scandal.
I think Pele was very luck to play soccer when the speed and marking were not so important.
Maradona and pele no comparison, the Argentinean is far ahead then the ’Black Pearl’.