Peter,

Obviously, you haven't seen or read a lot of Maradona or Pele. For instance, you don't know what 'the hand of god' means.

At certain point, it is a matter of taste. Compare them is fruitless, they played in different times, with different teammates and against different opponents.

Johan Cruyff was one of the greatest soccer players I’ve ever seen, but is also true he was always surrounded by other great players, the same applies to Pele. Many people can name at least 4 players who played in the same National Teams, because they were also sacred monsters like both of them. Now, go get people that can name 4 players, off the top of their heads, who played along with Maradona and were considered stars.

Unfortunately Cruyff only participated in one World Cup (the most important event in soccer), where great players arise leading their teams to victory and are remembered for world wide. That’s something that he couldn't finally get, despite the fabulous Dutch National team of 1974 in Germany, unlike Maradona or Pele.

Anyway, can you explain how can a country so small in territory as Holland, was able to ‘produce’ so many wonderful players over the last 30+ years? I could explain why Brazil or Argentina could.