Was Pelé better than Ronaldo? Comparing two legends

Was Pele better than Ronaldo? In the world of football, comparing legends is always a never-ending topic. The two names that are often put on the scale are Pelé and Cristiano Ronaldo. Pelé, known as the “King of Football”, is a symbol of world football in the 20th century. Meanwhile, Ronaldo, one of the best players of the 21st century, has set a series of records at the club and national team level. Is Pelé really better than Ronaldo? This question not only reveals the talent of each individual but also reflects the changes in football over time. Let’s analyze with Premiumsoccertips based on many aspects to find the answer.

Compare and Analyze 2 Legends

Personal Achievements and Records

Pelé’s achievements

Pelé is an icon of the Brazilian national team and Santos club. In a career spanning more than two decades, he won numerous titles, including:

Winning the World Cup three times (1958, 1962, 1970), a record that has yet to be broken by any other player.
Scoring 1,283 goals in 1,366 matches (including friendlies), which earned him a place in the Guinness Book of Records.
Won FIFA’s Player of the Century.

Pelé was not only a great scorer but also a maestro on the pitch, with excellent ability to create and control the game.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s achievements

Ronaldo, in contrast to Pelé, played in the modern era of highly professionalized football. Some of his notable achievements include:

5 Ballon d’Ors, one of the most prestigious individual awards in world football.
7 domestic championships in England (Premier League), Spain (La Liga), and Italy (Serie A).
Top scorer in Champions League history with over 140 goals.
2 major titles with the Portuguese national team, including EURO 2016 and Nations League 2019.

In addition, Ronaldo is also known for his extraordinary ability to maintain his physical fitness, helping him maintain peak performance even after the age of 35.

Playing Style

Pelé – Versatility and Creativity: Pelé is renowned for his creative and spontaneous style of play. He was a versatile player, able to play in a variety of positions, from centre-forward, second striker to midfielder. Pelé’s game was characterised by his ball control, superb technique and quickness in the penalty area. He was not only a goalscorer but also a great creator, creating chances for his teammates. Pelé played in an era where football was more about technique and artistry, with less pressure from complex tactics than it is today.

Was Pele better than Ronaldo? Comparing two legends

Ronaldo – Power and Efficiency: Ronaldo, on the other hand, embodies modern football with his combination of power, speed and efficiency. Ronaldo’s style of play was highly pragmatic, focused on scoring goals and creating decisive moments. He could shoot from distance, head the ball, take free kicks and finish with both feet. One notable point is that Ronaldo has always improved himself year after year, from a quick winger at Manchester United to a penalty box killer at Real Madrid and Juventus.

Impact on World Football

Pelé – Cultural and Political Icon

Pelé was not only a football player but also a cultural and political icon. During a period of instability in Brazil, he became a source of national pride, bringing a positive image of the country to the world. Pelé also played a major role in putting Brazilian football on the world map, helping South American football become a center of creativity and art.

In addition, Pelé also contributed to promoting football in the United States when he joined the New York Cosmos, a strategic move that helped popularize the sport in a country that loves rugby.

Ronaldo – Global Icon

Ronaldo is a typical player of the social media era, where his every move is closely monitored. He is a big influencer on social media platforms, with hundreds of millions of followers. Ronaldo also plays an important role in promoting the European football brand globally.

Off the pitch, Ronaldo is also a successful businessman with projects such as hotels, fashion brands and huge advertising contracts. He has become the ideal model of a modern athlete.

Era and context

Football in the time of Pelé: Pelé played in a time when football was simple, with little intervention from technology and complex tactics. This was both an advantage and a challenge. Players at that time did not face the harsh pressure from the media and the high frequency of matches like today. However, the downside was that they did not have the same medical conditions and good nutrition as modern players.

Football in the time of Ronaldo: Ronaldo played in an era of modern football, where every detail on the pitch was carefully analyzed. The high frequency of matches, high physical requirements and pressure from public opinion were factors that made football in this era more severe. However, Ronaldo still maintained stability and maintained his top level for more than 15 years.

Difficult factors to compare

While Pelé and Ronaldo are both legends, the differences in eras, playing styles and football conditions make comparisons difficult. Some factors to consider include:

Level of opposition: Pelé played mainly in South America, where the leagues were not as tough as those in Europe. Meanwhile, Ronaldo played in Europe’s top leagues throughout his career.
Evolution of football: Factors such as tactics, assistive technology and medical conditions have completely changed the face of football in the past 50 years.

Conclusion

Was Pele better than Ronaldo? Determining whether Pelé is better than Ronaldo or not is something that cannot be answered absolutely. Pelé is a great symbol of 20th century football, with records that are hard to match. Meanwhile, Ronaldo is a living proof of the professionalism and development of modern football. In the end, instead of comparing, we should appreciate both of them for the great contributions they have brought to world football. Pelé and Ronaldo, each is a legend in their own way.