Bochini: "Pelé Was More Complete, Maradona and Messi More Technical" 🇺🇸

May 13, 2014 · Editor · 5 min read

Original source: Daniel Joniaux

This video from Daniel Joniaux covered a lot of ground. Streamed.News selected 8 key moments and summarises them here. Everything below links directly to the timestamp in the original video.

Who was history's greatest footballer? An Argentine legend offers a nuanced answer, distinguishing Pelé's power from Maradona and Messi's technique.

Bochini: "Pelé Was More Complete, Maradona and Messi More Technical"

Ricardo Bochini ranks Pelé, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi as history's top three footballers, each dominating their era. He contrasts their styles: Pelé was physically stronger, with longer dribbles and superior aerial play. Maradona and Messi, he notes, excelled with technical skill in tight spaces. Bochini's analysis avoids the 'greatest of all time' debate, instead valuing each star's unique context and traits, recognizing how football conditions differed through the ages.

"As a complete player, Pelé perhaps had more attributes than Maradona and Messi. The others had more technique, more skill."

▶ Watch this segment — 38:29

Bochini Laments Missed National Team Chances: 'Menotti Preferred Others'

Ricardo Bochini reflects on his limited appearances for the Argentina national team, blaming intense competition and coaching preferences. For the 1978 World Cup, César Luis Menotti chose players like Valencia and Villa, even though Bochini felt his club career was superior at the time. He also noted the challenge of competing in a 1986 squad with stars like Maradona, Burruchaga, and Valdano. Bochini's words highlight how subjective and momentary factors shape World Cup rosters, sidelining even established idols due to tactical choices or coaching preferences.

"At the time of Villa and Valencia, Menotti, who was the coach, preferred them over me then. So I was left out."

▶ Watch this segment — 11:27

Bochini Compares Messi's Barcelona to Pelé's Santos, Identifies with Iniesta

Ricardo Bochini compares Pelé's Santos and Brazil's 1970 national team to Messi's Barcelona, noting both featured a core of the world's best players. However, he argues that current Barcelona shows more marked superiority over rivals than the Brazilian teams did in their era. Bochini also identifies his own playing style with Andrés Iniesta's, highlighting Iniesta's ability to control game tempo, managing pauses and acceleration. This analysis underscores the continuity of team and player archetypes throughout football history, recognizing the sport's evolution while preserving the essence of talent and tactical intelligence.

"When I watch Iniesta, I also played many games holding the ball, waiting for a player to arrive to pass to, or speeding up when needed."

▶ Watch this segment — 14:52

Bochini: "I'd love a Messi; he solves everything in tight spaces."

Ricardo Bochini prefers fast-paced, uninterrupted football, like Barcelona's or the English league's style. He dislikes pauses and players faking fouls; his goal was constant ball-in-play. Bochini admitted he'd have loved playing alongside Lionel Messi. Messi, he said, is the world's best due to his unmatched speed solving plays in tight spaces—a unique talent.

"Messi solves everything in tight spaces, with a speed no one else can match. That's why he's the best player in the world."

▶ Watch this segment — 20:42

Bochini Blames Past Boards for Independiente Crisis

Ricardo Bochini sharply criticized past Independiente boards, blaming them for the club's sporting crisis. He stated years of "doing things wrong," with leaders neglecting to build a competitive team. Bochini said they signed inadequate players and never consulted him on transfers, despite his closeness and willingness to help. His comments suggest a personalized management style, detached from club history, caused the decline. He noted his 1991 youth squad, as coach, fueled later championships.

"Anyone close knew things were going wrong in recent years. The past boards didn't bother to build a competitive team."

▶ Watch this segment — 22:28

Bochini Demands Independiente Stadium Be Named After Him

Ricardo Bochini wants Independiente's stadium renamed after him. He questioned a prior poll under Julio Comparada's presidency that favored "Libertadores de América." Bochini argues his 19-year club career, as their most-capped and titled player, merits the honor, like other club legends. The Independiente icon proposed the current board conduct a new member poll. This request reopens debate on how sports institutions should honor their greatest legends.

"I'd like another poll, for the people to decide. I played here for 19 years, won the most championships, played the most matches... I have many reasons to deserve the name."

▶ Watch this segment — 32:09

Bochini: 'Menotti Changed Argentine Football Dynamics, Matched European Pace'

Ricardo Bochini credits César Luis Menotti with transforming Argentine football. Menotti equalized local players' physical conditioning with European standards. Bochini stated that before Menotti, Argentina had great talent but lacked physical prowess in World Cups. The coach implemented European-paced training. This, combined with Argentine technique, allowed the team to compete equally and win World Cups. Bochini also emphasized Menotti's role in organizing the national team, prioritizing it over clubs. This structural change proved vital for the Albiceleste's subsequent success.

"Menotti took over the national team and began training at the pace European players had. I believe with the technique Argentine players possessed, we matched that pace. That's why we won the World Cup."

▶ Watch this segment — 34:50

Bochini Praises Bilardo's '86 World Cup Management: 'He Picked the Best'

Ricardo Bochini praised Carlos Bilardo's shrewd management as Argentina's coach during the 1986 World Cup. Bochini highlighted Bilardo's ability to select the era's top players and prepare them physically. He emphasized Bilardo's key decision to arrive in Mexico 30 days early, allowing the team to adapt to the altitude. According to Bochini, Bilardo successfully surrounded Diego Maradona with crucial players who helped secure the title. While Maradona was the undisputed star, Bochini stressed the championship was a collective achievement. He cited the fundamental contributions of players like Burruchaga, Valdano, and Olarticoechea. Bilardo's greatest merit, Bochini concluded, was forging a true team.

"A national team coach must choose the best players, those performing optimally at the moment. I believe he got that right, and then he prepared the team well."

▶ Watch this segment — 36:10