>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.

World Cup 1986, England - Argentina. He made a goal by using his hand (not seen by the referee) and later called it 'the hand of God'. My reply: doesn't matter, hands is hands. :)

>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.

Taste and time dependent, sure. Comparing them is indeed fruitless. That's why I opposed. Pelé is all to easy considered the number one by many.

>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.

Those other players were regarded great too, but I think that it was Cruyff's influence. If Cruyff wouldn't have been there, they would have been less wellknown or perhaps even unknown.


>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.

After 1974 he further refused to participate.

>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.

It all started with Cruyff. He is the sole person responsible for what is called the Dutch School. He demands attractive, technical and offensive soccer. Central here is Ajax.