15 Brazilians named in Pele's list
LONDON, England -- Pele has named 15 Brazilians, including himself, in his list of the 100 greatest living players -- more than those of any country.
Brazil came out on top of Pele's list, followed by 14 Italians and 14 Frenchmen -- almost all of the French either still playing or just recently retired.
The Brazilians include Ronaldo, who scored both goals in the 2002 World Cup final, and Pele's contemporaries Carlos Alberto, Rivelino, Djalma and Nilton Santos, with whom he won World Cups in 1958 and 1970.
He named 13 Dutchmen, including old master Johan Cruyff and Manchester United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy, and 10 from both Germany and Argentina, including Diego Maradona, arguably the second greatest player ever after Pele himself.
The list, featuring only players who are still alive, includes 1950s greats Alfredo Di Stefano (Argentina) and Ferenc Puskas (Hungary) and France's two great heroes Just Fontaine, whose 13 goals in the 1958 World Cup finals remains a record in one competition, and his old forward partner Raymond Kopa.
Stars of the 1960s include Gordon Banks and Bobby Charlton, who helped England to their only World Cup triumph in 1966, while the list is naturally dominated by those from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and today's top players.
Franz Beckenbauer, the only man to captain and coach a team to success in the World Cup final, is also in the list.
The list includes two American females -- Michelle Akers and Mia Hamm -- who have been at the forefront of the development of the women's game in recent years.
The list has been issued as part of the centenary celebrations for FIFA, which is 100 years old in May.
