Pelé, Maradona, and... Ronaldo

Suddenly, the names of Pelé and Maradona are back in conversation. Both legends, both gone. Both footballing deities. Both South American. Both World Cup winners. Both graced the hallowed Azteca Stadium. That famous arena has hosted many other footballing greats during World Cup finals. In 1970, for instance, stars like Uruguay's Mazurkiewicz; Italy's Facchetti, Mazzola, Riva, and Rivera; Peru's Cubillas; Germany's Maier, Schnellinger, Beckenbauer, Seeler, and Mueller; England's Moore, Charlton, and Hurst; and Brazil's Carlos Alberto, Jairzinho, Tostão, and Rivellino all shone on that 7,140 square meter pitch.

Sixteen years later, in 1986, it was the turn of another generation of footballing giants to light up the iconic Azteca: Italy's Bergomi, Cabrini, Scirea, Conti, Altobelli, and Vialli; South Korea's Bum-kun Cha; Argentina's Valdano; Belgium's Pfaff, Gerets, Van der Elst, Vercauteren, Scifo, and Ceulemans; Mexico's Hugo Sánchez and Negrete; Paraguay's Romero; England's Shilton, Hoddle, Beardsley, and Lineker; and Germany's Schumacher, Magath, Matthaus, Rummenigge, Voeller, and Littbarski.

We've deliberately left out the two greatest: Pelé and Maradona. On June 21, 1970, in the World Cup final at the Azteca, Pelé provided the assist for what is widely considered the most perfect team goal in football history. The ball was recovered by Tostão, Clodoaldo then dribbled past four Italian players in a tight space before passing to Rivelino, who played a deep ball for Jairzinho's run down the flank. Jairzinho drew the defense in by cutting inside and then passed to Pelé. The genius of geniuses stood still. He waited for a few moments (which must have felt like an eternity live) and, without looking to his right, gently let the ball roll into the path of Carlos Alberto. The Brazilian captain appeared unmarked on the right and unleashed a powerful, low, cross-shot, leaving Albertosi with no chance: 28 touches and 30 seconds for eternity. A magnificent goal, a truly magnificent goal. Even today, 56 years later, it's still talked about – the goal, the build-up, the shot, and the almost Buddhist calm of Mr. Edson Arantes do Nascimento.

Sixteen years later, it was the turn of another genius among geniuses: Maradona. On June 22, in the World Cup quarter-finals at the Azteca, during an Argentina-England match, Maradona scored two historic goals. First, in a play where he tried to pass the ball to Valdano at the edge of the box, it ended up reaching Hodge, who looped it back into his own penalty area. Shilton came out of his goal and, as we all know, Maradona jumped and, with his left fist, scored. There was no VAR – and it was a goal. Shortly after, Maradona received the ball from Héctor Enrique (which today would be considered an assist) and embarked on a run of over 50 meters where, like a "cosmic kite," he weaved past four English players (twice past Butcher) and, as Shilton came out, he nudged the ball with his left foot into the back of the net: a magnificent goal, a truly magnificent goal.

In the 1970 World Cup, it was June 21; in the 1986 World Cup, June 22; and in the 2026 World Cup, there will be a Portugal-Uzbekistan match on June 23. I expect nothing less than a collective masterpiece from Portugal or an individual effort where the ball travels over 50 meters. João Neves recovers the ball, passes it to Vitinha, who dribbles past four opponents and lays it off to Bruno Fernandes. A long pass launches Bernardo Silva's run, a moment of anticipation, and the ball finds Cristiano Ronaldo. The genius of geniuses stands still. He waits for a few moments (live, it will feel like an eternity) and, without looking to his right, gently lets the ball roll into Cancelo's path: a magnificent goal, a truly magnificent goal. Another possibility is Vitinha receiving a pass from Gonçalo Inácio (which counts as an assist) before the center circle, dribbling past four opponents, and scoring as the goalkeeper comes out. A third possibility would be CR7 scoring with his left fist, but unfortunately, VAR exists in Hostoun.