Pelé and Maradona were one of the best players of all time, and the rivalry between the two marked an entire generation.

With Pelé's death, the two met again in the heavens, and the football gods now have Diego Maradona and Pele in their company. Also check out the greatest contributions that the king of football left for the next generations.

Even without having faced each other on the field, everyone considers this to be one of the greatest rivalries in history.

Despite the conflict, a great friendship emerged, as like great players, each recognized the great talent and importance of the other.

Pelé and Maradona, two very different characters with remarkable football skills, competed against each other in a rivalry that captivated the world. 

They were born years apart, with Pelé born in Brazil in 1940 and Maradona born in Argentina in 1960. 

From an early age, both athletes demonstrated an extraordinary talent for football, being great prodigies from an early age.

Everyone always expected very big things from both players, who tried to live up to expectations.

They were two giants of football, each in their own way, and in different ways. 

Pelé was World Cup champion three times, a feat that no one to date has managed to replicate. 

Maradona only won once, yet he became one of the most idolized players of all time.

However, Maradona's title is that he was “the guy” at the 1986 World Cup, and won the competition alone.

In other words, each of them is a giant in the sport, but with big differences on the way to the top.

Due to the age difference, the two never played against each other, as when Maradona started playing football, Pelé was already retiring.

So how can there be such a big rivalry if the two have never played against each other, not even in the same season?

This is what you will see below:

Pelé and Diego Maradona, two of the greatest football players of all time, were rivals for the title of 'Greatest Player in the World'.

 The rivalry captivated football fans around the world and helped elevate both players to legendary status.

But how did this rivalry start if they didn't even play against each other?

Until 1998 this rivalry did not exist, and Pelé was treated as the best in the world even by the Argentine press.

The first trace of these comparisons began in 1982, but nothing directly related to Pele and Maradona, but rather between Brazil and Argentina.

The real rivalry began to gain strength in the 2000s, when FIFA added fuel to the fire.

Holding an election regarding who would be the best player of the century, where Pelé was chosen by experts, and Maradona chosen by popular votes.

So far, no problems, however, what was proposed was that the only award would be for the best player of the century, elected by the public.

But FIFA thought it was absurd for Pelé to not receive an award either, and decided to award both of them with the title.

Maradona was outraged and left the award early because of this.

After the incident, the players exchanged barbs in interviews and newspaper columns, but over time they ended up sorting things out and becoming good friends.

The two players' distinct cultural backgrounds are often seen as one of the main elements that drove their rivalry.

Pelé grew up in a poor Brazilian family, and his abilities were recognized from an early age, allowing him to become a professional football player when he was just fifteen years old. 

On the other hand, Maradona had a troubled past, growing up in extreme poverty and having to survive with the little money he had. 

Despite their contrasting backgrounds, it was evident that both players were incredibly skilled and talented when it came to football.

However, Pelé had a more stable career, without as many lows as in Maradona's career.

The Argentine went through several problems with drugs and doping that prevented the player from reaching further.

Here, even with Maradona's greatness in sport, it will be evident that in football, Pelé was the best player of all time.

Starting with winning the World Cup titles, the biggest competition in the world of football. 

Pelé, at 17 years old, has already become a reference for his team, and won the unprecedented title for his country.

While Maradona, aged 17, did not get his World Cup call-up.

The king was a complete player: dribbling, shooting with both legs, heading, speed, a true goalscorer.

Maradona, on the other hand, was brilliant, but he only had great skill with his left leg, he wasn't as complete in other roles as Pelé, and he was far from reaching 1000 goals.

But as it is never just football, Maradona is probably much more beloved in Argentina than Pelé in Brazil.

In football, the Argentine was not as great as the king, but what he represents for his country surpasses Pelé's importance for Brazilians.

Maradona was more than a football player, he was a hero for his nation, always taking a stand in favor of the disadvantaged.

Pelé has always been highly criticized for his lack of positioning in relation to major political issues, which, in this matter of affection, leaves him behind Maradona.

Even with the mutual criticism between the two players, in the end, their great friendship became clear to everyone. 

The two recognized each other as football giants, each in their own way.

A very notable episode of this rivalry was when Pelé went to a program presented by none other than Maradona.

Where the great affection they both felt for each other was evident, on the program, the two praised each other and talked about their achievements.

The two also played tricks and played with the ball during the talkshow, to put an end to the rumors that they didn't like each other.

The issue between the two was less personal than everyone thought, it was something much more up to the fans of Brazil and Argentina.