Who is better, Pelé or Maradona?
Pelé leads with a GOAT score of 94.2 against 92.0 for Diego Maradona — a gap of 2.2 points on GOAT Rank's weighted model.
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Pelé vs Maradona
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Quick answer
GOAT Rank currently ranks Pelé above Diego Maradona: 94.2 vs 92.0. Pelé leads on Longevity, Honours, Dominance. Diego Maradona leads on Peak.
How the GOAT Score is calculated →GOAT verdictgoatrank.world
PeléWinner
94.2Pelé wins: Dominance, Longevity, Honours, Statistics
Maradona
92.0Maradona wins: Peak
Time range
Showing full careers. Pick a window to recalculate the selected period.
Category radar
Verdict
Weighted GOAT score
🇧🇷 Pelé
94.2
Pelé leads in 4 of 5 weighted categories.
1. Pelé
2. Diego Maradona
Category breakdown
Season form · Form index per season
Career timeline · Form index per season
Cumulative output season by season — the shape of each career against the other.
GOAT pace tracker
Through age 21 · Form index per season
1. 🇧🇷 Pelé248 goals
5 seasons by age 21 · 49.6 per season
Setting the pace at age 21
2. 🇦🇷 Diego Maradona114 goals
5 seasons by age 21 · 22.8 per season
Maradona is -54.0% behind Pelé's pace at age 21
Every career is cut at the season the athlete turned 21, so a rookie today is measured against exactly what a legend had banked by the same birthday.
Fan vote — data vs the people
GOAT Rank · the data
Pelé94.2
Maradona92.0
FAQ
Where does Maradona beat Pelé?
Maradona scores higher on peak. Pelé leads on dominance, honours, statistics, longevity.
How is the Pelé vs Maradona score calculated?
Both are scored on peak, dominance, honours, statistics, longevity within their sport. Pelé: 94.2, Maradona: 92.0.
What do you think?
0 commentsMake your case for Pelé vs Maradona. The scoring is published in full — if you can point at the pillar or the weight you disagree with, we read it. Read the methodology paper.