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Alfredo Di Stefano will be honored by Real Madrid on Sunday in a tribute at the Bernabeu Stadium. His statue will be unveiled at Real’s training ground Valdebebas, graced by FIFA president Sepp Blatter, UEFA President Michel Platini, and football luminaries Franz Beckenbauer, Bobby Charlton and Eusebio.

Platini will also present a UEFA President’s prize to di Stefano and open an exhibition dedicated to him. Di Stefano said: “I will receive the tribute with warmth and enthusiasm, this is a very big honour for me.”

Many have acknowledged the 81-year-old Argentine, or the “blond arrow” as he is affectionately known, as the greatest player. If we look at his track record, there is no doubt he deserves the accolades.

Throughout his professional career, Di Stefano is regarded as a complete player, espousing the “total football” concept well ahead of his time. He can be shoring up the defense in one moment while blazing through the midfield in the next, supplying assists and helping himself to the goals all in the same game.

In spite of his ability to play anywhere on the pitch, his most eye-catching achievements stem from his striking prowess, with highly sought qualities like power, pace, stamina, positioning and vision.

Over a decade of service at Real Madrid spanning from 1953 to 1963, following a stint with Argentine giants River Plate, he has written a glorious chapter for himself. He is the La Liga all-time goalscorer with 216 goals in 282 league matches.

Real Madrid’s dominance in the continent was also due to an immense effort on his part - he guided them to victory in five successive European Cups (now known as the UEFA Champions League) between 1956 and 1960, scoring in each of the finals. His campaign in the European Cup for Real stood at 49 goals, a record now eclipsed by Raul but the latter took twice as many matches.

The crowning glory in Europe, which really cemented his position as a legend was the magnificent night at Hampden Park, Glasgow, 1960, when he inspired Real’s 7-3 European Cup victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. Such was the exquisite display of football, that 150,000 fans, mostly Scots, remained after the final whistle to give Real Madrid team a standing ovation.

In 1957 and 1959, Di Stefano was rightfully named European Footballer of the Year. Before he left Real Madrid, he had won the Spanish title eight times and was five times top scorer in the domestic league.

However, Di Stefano’s international accomplishment was uninspiring or to put it bluntly, ziltch. With six outings for Argentina, four with Colombia (not recognized then by FIFA), and 31 with the Spanish national squad, he never had the chance to lift the World Cup trophy.

Argentina did not participate in the 1950 and 1954 World Cup finals which were won by Uruguay and West Germany respectively. In 1956, after securing Spanish citizenship, Di Stefano figured in four Spanish qualifying games but they failed to qualify for Sweden ‘58. He propelled Spain into the 1962 finals in Chile but a muscle injury ruled him out and he retired from the game.

The lack of achievement at the world stage was a blight to his illustrious career. How does he measure up to Maradona or Pele?

I feel that, at club level and on the premise that European leagues are superior, Di Stefano is indeed without peers. It is not easy for a foreigner to set foot on European soil; he not only adapted well but created a name for himself.

During that era, Real Madrid had another clinical poacher in Puskas but he joined in 1958, by then, Di Stefano had already won 4 consecutive European cup titles and established the previously unknown Spanish team into a footballing power.

Pele, highly successful for his national team (three World Cup medals) and in Brazilian leagues, never took up the challenge in Europe. That was no fault of his as the political pressure back home did not permit him to move aboard. Without any statistics, it is questionable if the King of Football can be equally successful in that environment.

As for Maradona, he had won many trophies with Boca Juniors, FC Barcelona and SSC Napoli over the course of his career. His effect on Napoli was nothing short of spectacular. The club enjoyed its most successful era when Maradona wore their jersey - their only Italian Championships, a Coppa Italia, a UEFA Cup and an Italian Supercup.

Maradona captained the Argentine national team to victory in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, winning the final in Mexico against West Germany. In terms of technical abilities, it is fair to say that Maradona has more tricks in his bag but he was never as versatile as Di Stefano.

Who do you guys think is the best player among the three icons? I know it is a tough choice as all three are legends in their own right but whatever your opinion, come Sunday, the glory is all Di Stefano’s and nobody should take anything away from him.

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