Vincent Kompany: ‘Pele is the greatest player of all time’

Who is the greatest footballer of all time?

It’s a loaded question but you’d be challenged to find a football fan without an opinion on it.

In an exclusive interview for CNN Sport, Belgium and Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, picks three-time World Cup winner Pele.

“I think you can always have the debate, Maradona, you add Messi to it now. They won’t be far off each other,” said Kompany, referring to the two past and present Argentine players.

“(Pele) has more than a thousand goals which is difficult to achieve. He was part of great teams but he was also the best player in great teams,” added the 32-year-old Kompany.

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Published 5:55 AM EDT, Tue June 12, 2018

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Diego Maradona and the 'Goal of the Century'

04:33 - Source: CNN

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Kompany’s favorite World Cup memory of the Brazilian great is a moment when he dummied Uruguayan goalkeeper Ladislao Mazurkiewicz in the 1970 finals. However after flummoxing Mazurkiewicz, Pele great was then unable to find the net with his shot.

“He got a long pass on the floor which he kind of faked to take into his stride and therefore beat the goalkeeper and went around the goalkeeper.

“He just narrowly missed the best goal in World Cup history,” added Kompany.

Geoff Hurst, 1966 —

Did it cross the line? With the scores between England and West Germany level at 2-2 in the 1966 World Cup final, striker Geoff Hurst's shot hit the crossbar and deflected downwards. At first a goal wasn't given, but then allowed after consultation between the referee and linesman. The game ended 4-2, securing England's first and only World Cup victory.

Pele, 1970 —

Brazil's 100th World Cup goal, celebrated wildly by Pele, who jumped into the air with joy as his side took the lead in the final against Italy. The game ended 4-1 to Brazil -- their third World Cup victory.

Dutch great Johan Cruyff scored three goals in the 1974 World Cup, twice against Argentina in the second round and then against Brazil in a 2-0 win that sent Holland through to the final.

Harald Schumacher, 1982 —

An ugly moment. German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher clattered into France's Patrick Battiston, who was through on goal, knocking him unconscious at the 1982 semifinal in Spain. Schumacher was unmoved as his opponent was stretchered off the field.

Diego Maradona, 1986 —

"The Hand of God" needs little introduction. England vs. Argentina, the quarterfinal of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. A mis-hit clearance was heading into the hands of goalkeeper Peter Shilton, before a leaping Diego Maradona intercepted it with his hand, punching the ball into the net. The game ended 2-1, with Argentina going on to win the World Cup.

Roger Milla, 1990 —

One of the greatest ever World Cup celebrations. Roger Milla turned on the style at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, which saw his Cameroon team reach the quarterfinals -- the furthest an Africa team has ever gone in the competition.

Andres Escobar, 1994 —

An own-goal by Colombia's Andres Escobar had tragic consequences. Less than a week after seeing his team eliminated from the competition due to his error, Escobar was shot dead on the streets of Medellin, a murder linked to drug lords who lost huge amounts of money on the result.

A Dutch master at work ... Dennis Bergkamp stops Frank de Boer's pass dead, transferring the ball to his left foot as he twists past Argentina's Roberto Ayala. His third touch, again with his right boot, flicks it past Carlos Roa, the keeper. Three perfect touches to take the ball from a speculative punt upfield to what remains one of the ultimate moments of skill ever displayed in a World Cup.

2006, Zinedine Zidane —

A rush of blood to the head. With the 2006 World Cup final moving into extra-time, goalscorer Marco Materazzi muttered a few words to France legend Zinedine Zidane, who returned with a headbutt to the Italian's chest. In his last ever professional match, Zidane was red carded and Italy went on to win on penalties.

Luis Suarez, 2010 —

Another South American -- this time Uruguayan Luis Suarez -- another handball. This one, however, was less subtle. Suarez's hands prevented Ghana from bagging a winner in extra-time. He saw red, and Asamoah Gyan's whacked the resulting penalty against the bar. Uruguay went on to win on penalties.

Brazil vs. Germany, 2014 —

One of the biggest humiliations the World Cup has ever seen. Brazil has struggled for form throughout the tournament, which was being played on home soil for the first time in 64 years, and met an impressive German side in the semifinals. But few could have predicted what was to follow: a 7-1 demolition by the visitors, who went on to lift the World Cup trophy.

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‘The richer I get, the better it is for other people’

Kompany believes the key ingredient to Belgium winning the World Cup in Russia is a hint of luck.

“Let’s not forget that luck plays a big part, you also have to peak at the right time as well.

“A lot of people forget that Germany was nowhere near the level in the beginning of the tournament as opposed to the end when they won it and therefore just peak at the right time and be calm,” he added, referring to Germany’s World Cup success four years ago.

The son of a Congolese political refugee and his mother a trade union leader, Kompany spent his early career with Belgian club Anderlecht.

“I always said to my mother, ‘The richer I get, the better it is for a lot of people, so don’t worry about it.’

“I’ve kept that since I was 17, I’ve always done it. I started looking after my family first and then I moved on to look after people in my neighborhood where I came from, and now I am happy to say that I put more than 1,000 kids out to play football every single week,” he added.

Belgium’s opening World Cup match is against Panama on June 18, though Kompany may miss that game after picking up a groin injury in a friendly against Portugal earlier this month.

Kompany looks on during Belgium's friendly match against the Czech Republic.

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Late last year Kompany graduated with a Master’s in Business Administration after four years part-time study at the Alliance Manchester Business School.