Who's better than Maradona and Pele?

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published

When FourFourTwo wanted to finally settle the argument over whether Maradona or Pele was the best ever South American player, they went to one of the continent’s most respected journalists.

Enrique Macaya Marquez is one of the best-equipped men on the planet to judge the two against each other.

Having covered every World Cup since 1958, he has also fronted Futbol de Primera – Argentina’s most-watched football show – for 20 years, while lecturing on football at the Universidad de Palermo in Buenos Aires. This guy knows his onions.

Which is why it came as a complete surprise that, after expertly analysing the comparative values of the two most talked-about players in football history, Marquez came up with a completely different name who trumped both of them.

“He dominated the game,” said the professor. “He played all over the pitch, he had no zones, no position. He had a rare ability to make other footballers better.”

Who could he mean? Well you’ll have to find out on Wednesday, the day the magazine comes out…

FourFourTwo’s April issue, out Wednesday March 4, is a South America special.

It features the 10 best new wonderkids from that continent, including exclusive interviews with Manchester United’s twins Fabio and Rafael Da Silva plus Sao Paolo’s £100m-rated “new Kaka” Hernanes.

There are also interviews with Zico and Socrates; a look at the Boca Juniors academy responsible for Tevez, Burdisso, Gago, Banega et al; and the Lord of the Rings star so dedicated to Argentine outfit San Lorenzo that he bunked off a film set to see them play.

Gary Parkinson

Gary Parkinson is a freelance writer, editor, trainer, muso, singer, actor and coach. He spent 14 years at FourFourTwo as the Global Digital Editor and continues to regularly contribute to the magazine and website, including major features on Euro 96, Subbuteo, Robert Maxwell and the inside story of Liverpool's 1990 title win. He is also a Bolton Wanderers fan.