Great Players Then & Now


For those of you who are wondering who this is, his name is Pele and he is regarded by millions around the world to be the best player to have ever played the game. He was born in Brazil and played for the club Santos in Brazil. He made his mark in the world as he played for his national team in two World Cup tournaments and many other games against the top teams of the world. This picture was taken at Maracana stadium, the biggest soccer stadium in the world. When the Maracana was made before1950 to host the final of the 1950 World Cup, it could hold up to 199,854 spectators. Since then, the stadium has undergone a reduction due to upgrades and now seats 88,992 spectators. But for the 2014 World Cup it will once again be the monumental piece of architecture it once was as Brasil is upgrading it so that it is ready for the World Cup.

As you look at this picture, I want you to keep the following in mind: this man grew up poor, in the poorest part of Brazil ("La Fabela"). During those days, racism was pervasive and people of Pele's colour and background confronted incredible bad treatment in their quest to reach the pinnacle of soccer.

Yet, his passion for the game was so great that he practiced every day, before, during and after school. As he worked hard to be the best, his talent was so undeniable that in 1957, at the young age of 16 years old he was selected to be a member of Brasil's World Cup team for the1958 World Cup in Sweden. With the supreme attacking talent of Pele and another young man called Garrincha, Brazil beat Sweden 5-2 in the Final at the Rasunda Stadium to become the first team to capture the trophy on a different continent. Pele scored in that final and thus became the youngest player to have ever played, scored and won a World Cup final.

The 1958 World Cup marked the beginning of an incredible career arising from undying dedication.  His most noted performance in a World Cup came in Mexico, in 1970, when Brasil dominated the tournament and with the likes of Pele, Tostao and Jaizinho, showed the world what beautiful soccer is all about.

In his career, Pele score760 official goals, 541 in league championships, making him the top scorer of all time. In total he scored 1281 goals in 1363 games. Pele is one perfect example of how perseverance and God-given talent all rolled into one, can help a young man achieve what many deem impossible.

So, keep in mind the following: we all start somewhere and even when the odds may seem to be completely against us, we must persevere to reach those goals we love.

King Pele did - enjoy Fellas!

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The thing about football is that so many great players pass through it's doors and we often only hear of a handful over our lifetime. The man that I am going to tell you a little about was one of Uruguay's top players of all time. He was nicknamed "El Principe" (The prince) by king Pele himself, Zinedine Zidane named his first born son after him and Maradona has stated publically that if he could only keep one jersey of all the ones he has amassed from great players and matches over his career he would keep only this man's. He is the founder and CEO of the 24 hour soccer channel GolTV and continues to be involved in the game by producing a show called 'football aces' in which promising young players compete for a spot in the Atletico Madrid squad also. This man is........

Enzo Fracescoli
  Enzo Francescoli was born in Montevideo, Uruguay on November 12, 1961. He was 10 years older than me and one of my greatest heroes growing up.

His accomplishments on the pitch include:

Enzo Francescoli is a great example of the type of player that, although never he won a world cup, had a phenomenal club and country career and is virtually unknown to most people.  His focus on his academics availed him a career after football in business and that should be a great lesson to you all that although the game is beautiful; the mind will always be more important.

Enzo and Zizou showing River Plate jersey.

Enzo and Pele.

Enzo Zidane

Maradona y Francescoli - great friends.


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