César Luis Menotti is an authorized word within the world of football. In addition to an outstanding career as a footballer in clubs such as Rosario Central, Racing and Boca, among others, he also marked an era as a coach in Huracán and the Argentine national team, winning the first world title in 1978 for the country.
Within this context, during an interview with Radio Splendid, Flaco was asked about one of the big questions that revolve around this sport: who is the best in history? The Rosario, who shared the playing field with Pelé, directed Diego Armando Maradona and delights with Lionel Messi in his role as director of National Teams in the AFA, he did not hesitate and gave a blunt response.
“There is one who does not, there is one who does not have… No, it cannot be compared, it is impossible. There is one who, if he had played today, would win the games alone. The games 5 to 0, just him against everything. That he fights with Pelé cannot be compared,” his story began. And then, he added: “Then we have Diego. We have Cruyff, who were beautiful, who were great. Say Stéfano, now to Messi. But Pelé was an impossible thing. And I say this with the security of having lived with him for a year, playing every day, being his substitute.”
At that time the Brazilian was already an established star and had won the World Cups in Sweden 1958 and Chile 1962 (he would later lift the World Cup again in Mexico 1970). At Peixe, he had also won six local titles, two Copa Libertadores and two Intercontinental Cups (in 1962 he beat Benfica of Portugal and in 1963 Milan of Italy).
Menotti also recalled an anecdote to reflect on the Brazilian’s legacy. “And one day Pelé jumped, he jumped two meters, and gave a 20-meter pass with his chest that left him only one away. One told me ‘this son of a bitch is not a football player’. And it is not true. A soccer player does not make those passes, he does not make a pass with his chest. No, Pelé was the greatest thing I saw in my life.” And, in case there were any doubts, he remarked: “No, incomparable. Look, he has touched me, I have even played in friendly matches with Di Stéfano, with Sívori, with Diego… But this does not mean that the others have not been phenomena. But Pelé was something impossible and unrepeatable for me.”
On the other hand, Flaco revealed that his favorite Scaloneta player is Ángel Di María: “He is a generous kid… Look, he has been treated disrespectfully without any recognition when for me he was the figure of the Argentine National Team. He played better than everyone, including the greats, with his character and his little face. It is a great joy that they recognize him because he is one of the best players in the history of Argentine soccer in terms of his participation in the world of soccer. Review where he played, how he played and ask his teammates. He never sold smoke.”
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