When the final whistle has been blown, the last two men standing are invariably a Brazilian giant and an Argentinian genius...

MARADONA

Name: Diego Armando Maradona.

Date of birth: October 30, 1960.

Nickname: El Pibe de Oro (The Golden Boy), Barrilete Cosmico (Cosmic Kite).

Height: 5 ft 5.

Played for: Argentina, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell’s Old Boys.

World Cup record: Saw red as a 22-year-old and ended his 1982 Cup campaign in a huff. Came back in 1986 to captain his country to the trophy with the single-most influential performance by a player in a World Cup. Clawed his way to the final in 1990 with a poor team. Was looking good in 1994 till a failed dope test ended his Cup career in ignominy.

Claim to fame: The 1986 World Cup, with the “hand of a devil” and “feet of god”. His second goal against England was named FIFA Goal of the Century.

t2 verdict: For the post-’70s generation, Maradona is the best.

PELE

Name: Edson Arantes do Nascimento.

Date of birth: October 23, 1940.

Nickname: The Black Pearl, Rei (The King).

Height: 5 ft 8.

Played for: Brazil, Santos, New York Cosmos (USA)

World Cup record: The Phenomenon, all of 17, was born in World Cup 1958; he scored six goals (two in the final against Sweden) in Brazil’s triumph. With defenders targeting Pele for special treatment and injuries taking a toll, he sat out most of the 1962 Cup and was stretchered out of the 1966 Cup. Was back to full fitness and form in 1970 to put up a memorable show of supreme skill and poise in Brazil’s third victory in four Cups.

Claim to fame: Scored a mind-boggling 1,281 goals in his career, 77 of them for Brazil. Was named FIFA Player of the Century.

t2 verdict: For most veteran watchers of the game, Pele is the best. Period

BECKENBAUER ON PELE

“Pele is the greatest player of all time. He reigned supreme for 20 years. All the others — Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini — rank beneath him. There’s no one to compare with Pele.”

ZICO ON PELE

“This debate about the player of the century is absurd. There’s only one possible answer: Pele. He’s the greatest player of all time, and by some distance I might add.”

PLATINI ON MARADONA

“Diego was capable of things no one else could match. The things I could do with a football, he could do with an orange.”

LINEKAR ON MARADONA

“He’s the greatest player of all time, by a long way. A genuine phenomenon.”

SPECIAL MENTION

“I think I’ve found you a genius” — letter posted by the Manchester United talent scout Bob Bishop, after he spotted a 15-year-old called George Best bending it at the Cregagh Boys’ Club in 1961. Best never played a World Cup, but was regarded by many as the best player ever to touch a football.

TODAY’S GREATS

PELE ON KAKA

“Kaka is the best player in the world, without a doubt.”

MARADONA ON MESSI

“(Lionel) Messi is the best player in the world… I see him as very similar to me… He is offering lessons in beautiful football. He has something different to any other player in the world.”

EUSEBIO ON RONALDO

“He might not become the best player of all time, but I think… (Cristiano) Ronaldo will be recognised as the best footballer in the world.”