Football, perhaps the most famous game to be played all across the globe, has seen several talented players take the field. There are players and then, there are legends, but few players can stand tall and be given the moniker of being a God. Among these legends stands the Argentinian footballer, Diego Maradona.
Despite being among the greatest players of all time such as Pele, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, and Zinedine Zidane, who have scored more goals than Maradona, there is no denying the awe he instilled in football fans when he had possession of the ball. He was a true magician on the pitch, with his unmatched dribbling skills and ability to weave past defenders leaving spectators in amazement.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, also known as Pele, was born on October 23, 1940. He is also known as the God of football. For many, when asked who is known as God of Football, they answer with Lionel Messi, another Argentine football star who has won almost all the accolades out there in the football world.
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Contenders for the GOAT of Football
Lionel Messi
Messi hailed as “The King of Football,” has taken up the mantle as Argentina’s best player after Maradona. With numerous FIFA World Player awards, Messi’s exceptional passing and ability to navigate through tough defenses have solidified his status. He achieved remarkable feats like scoring 73 goals in a single season and leading Argentina to their first World Cup triumph in 36 years.
Read More: Lionel Messi Net Worth and Sources of Income
Diego Maradona
Diego Maradone known as “The Golden Boy,” was an immensely talented and skilled football player who made his mark as a leader on the field. He debuted at just 14 years old, representing Argentina and ultimately leading them to victory in the 1986 World Cup.
Pele
Pele, whose real name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is considered to be one of the greatest footballers to have ever graced the football field. He was also called “the greatest” by FIFA and people also referred to him as God of Football in the world. And he was irresistible when it came to goal scoring and started his career at the raw age of 16 years.
He shot to popularity when he slammed a hat trick against France in the World Cup semifinal in 1958. And after this performance, he was also declared as a national treasure by the Brazil government.
Johan Cruyff
Former Netherlands football player and coach Johan Cruyff had a glorious career and he won the Ballon d’Or award on three occasions: in 1971, 1973, and 1974. Apart from these accolades, he was also voted the European Player of the Century in 1999. Many consider him to be football god.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo a true football legend, has overcome humble beginnings to become one of the greatest players of all time. With unwavering determination, passion, and ambition, Ronaldo’s goal-scoring prowess is evident in his remarkable tally of 712 club goals across various teams and 122 goals for the Portugal National Team.
Suggested Read: Cristiano Ronaldo Net Worth and Expensive Possessions
Although numbers do not paint the picture, they do scream out a trend, a story that cannot be denied:
Diego Maradona Record:
| Competitions | Games | Goals | Assists |
| Serie A | 187 | 81 | 42 |
| La Liga | 62 | 27 | 12 |
| Italy Cup | 44 | 29 | 9 |
| UEFA Cup | 19 | 3 | 8 |
| Cup Winners’ Cup | 7 | 8 | 5 |
| European Cup | 6 | 2 | – |
| Copa de la Liga | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Total | 331 | 154 | 77 |
Despite his physical limitations, Maradona was absolutely unstoppable when he had the ball at his feet. I mean, just take a look at his time playing for Serie A team Napoli. During his stint there, he managed to score an incredible 115 goals and also provided 59 assists! It just goes to show how truly talented he was as a footballer.
Read More: Football Rules: A Comprehensive Guide for Players and Fans
Club career goals of Diego Maradona
| Club | Games | Goals | Assists |
| SSC Napoli | 257 | 115 | 59 |
| FC Barcelona | 51 | 34 | 18 |
| Sevilla FC | 27 | 5 | – |
| Total | 335 | 154 | 77 |
While Diego Maradona made several fans during his club career in Europe, it was his international career that truly immortalized him across the globe. No one will ever forget the “hand of god” goal.
Maradona had a total of 29 goals and 13 assists for the Argentina senior team, and even led them to a FIFA World Cup victory as captain!
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International Goals of Diego Maradona
| Competitions | Games | Goals | Assists |
| International Friendlies | 36 | 14 | 4 |
| World Cup | 21 | 8 | 8 |
| Copa América | 12 | 4 | – |
| World Cup qualification | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| Artemio Franchi Trophy | 1 | – | – |
Quotes on ‘God of Football’
“Some say Pele was the greatest player of all time, but not me. Maradona will always be the greatest. He won World Cup in 1986, narrowly lost in the final in 1990 and then in 1994 maybe would have won it again had he not been banned. The crucial difference with Pele is that Maradona wasn’t surrounded by great players; he had to carry the team himself. If you took Maradona out of Argentina they would not win the World Cup, but I think Brazil without Pele would still have won.” — Eric Cantona
A genius, a real artist, one of the greatest players in the world. He could win a match on his own. On his own.” — Sir Bobby Robson
“The best player there has ever been, better than Pele. I watched him closely in Italy every week and he was at a different level to everyone else. Some of the things he did were unbelievable. He could control the ball without looking, which meant if the pass was on, he would take it.” — Ruud Gullit
Suggested Read: Who is the GOAT of football ?
Frequently Asked Questions about God of Football
There is no one definitive answer to this question, as there have been many great footballers throughout history. However, some of the most commonly cited contenders for the title of “god of football” include Pele, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi.
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest footballers of all time, and he has certainly earned the nickname “CR7”. However, he is not universally considered to be the “god of football”. Some people believe that other players, such as Messi or Pele, are more deserving of this title.
Lionel Messi is widely considered to be one of the greatest footballers of all time. He has won numerous individual and team awards, including the Ballon d’Or a record 7 times. He is also the all-time leading scorer for Barcelona and Argentina.
The “Hand of God” is a controversial goal that was scored by Diego Maradona in the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-final against England. The goal is considered to be one of the most iconic moments in football history.
Ronaldinho is one of the most popular and entertaining footballers of all time. He is known for his incredible dribbling skills and his ability to score goals from anywhere on the pitch.
There is no one definitive answer to this question, as there have been many great footballers throughout history. However, some of the most commonly cited contenders for the title of “all time best footballer” include Pele, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi.
Lionel Messi is often called ‘King of football,’. He is well known for his dribbling skills, tricks, incredible goals, and determination to win.
Pele, the legendary Brazilian footballer, is called the football God of all time.
Sunil Chhetri is often considered to be the God of football in India.
