There is no question over the status of a select few players in football. One such case is Pele, one of the greatest football players in history, who was perhaps the game’s first global star. While his goal record and what his actual career tally of goals was have been called into question, it has never been doubted that Pele scored a staggering amount.
Pele spent the bulk of his career with Santos in his native Brazil, but it was his time on international duty that brought him to the attention of the wider globe. Pele won the World Cup on three occasions, his first coming in 1958 when the forward was just 17 years old. Such was his calibre that, despite being a teenager, the nickname “The King” was bestowed upon Pele.
From there, Pele only developed as a player. He was a lethal finisher, with a mesmerising ability on the ball. He won two consecutive Copa Libertadores trophies with Santos, the first of which came in 1962, the same year he retained the World Cup with Brazil, a trophy he would lift for a third time in 1970.
Credited with dubbing football “The Beautiful Game,” Pele spent the final two years of his career in America, playing for the New York Cosmos until retiring in 1977, over 20 years after his debut for Santos. Despite only spending two years in America, it was here that Pele shared the pitch with a player that, besides himself, was his favourite.
Speaking to GQ as per Tribuna back in 2018, the Brazilian legend shone a light on which player captivated one of football’s most iconic stars.
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Pele Liked George Best ‘Very Much’
Nothing but praise for Northern Ireland great
When asked about who his favourite player, aside from himself, had been over the years, Pele named George Best. The Northern Irishman is often regarded as the greatest-ever player to come from his country and while he played for a number of clubs, he is best remembered for his brilliant tenure with Manchester United.
Best departed Old Trafford in 1974 and soon enough, found himself in America, playing in Los Angeles at around the same time that Pele moved to the States. Speaking about the winger, Pele said:
''Oh, there were so many (potential favourite players)… but Georgie Best I liked very much. When I was in New York, George was in LA and I tried to get him to come to the Cosmos, but he said, "No way!" He was having too much fun in the sunshine.
''I also liked Cruyff and (Alfredo) Di Stefano. Both Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore. And I played with (Franz) Beckenbauer in the Cosmos and he was a very good player also.''
Best signed for Man United as a youngster in 1961, famously being brought to the attention of the great Sir Matt Busby by a telegraph, part of which read: “I think I’ve found you a genius.” Best progressed to the senior team just two years later while still a teenager and quickly became an established first-team player.
George Best Manchester United Stats
Tenure
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Honours Won
Across his career, Best won two First Division titles with the Red Devils, but no accomplishment was sweeter than the 1968 European Cup, which Best helped Man United win by beating Benfica. The winger was a mercurial dribbler, capable of beating the best defenders with absolute ease and in the same year he won the European Cup, Best won his first and only Ballon d'Or.
Since his career ended, many have praised Best for what he was capable of. For Pele to hold a similar opinion, however, carries significant weight, given the impact that the Brazilian had on the sport as a whole.
( All stats are from theManchester United websiteand are correct as of 14/05/2025 )
Brazilian former soccer star Edson Arantes Do Nascimento, better known as Pele, gestures as he holds the FIFA World Cup soccer ball Related
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