RismadarVoice Reporters
October 11, 2026
American professional wrestling legend and actor John Cena has named Brazilian football icon Pelé as his choice for the greatest footballer of all time.
Cena expressed his preference during a TikTok video shared by talkSPORT, where he was asked to identify the greatest athletes across different sporting disciplines.
When the discussion turned to football, the 49-year-old opted for Pelé, whose achievements continue to feature prominently in debates about the sport’s greatest players.
“I’m just going to go old school and say Pelé,” Cena said.
His selection adds another prominent sporting personality’s perspective to the longstanding debate over football’s greatest player, a discussion that frequently includes Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Maradona.
Pelé, whose full name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, established himself as one of football’s most influential figures during a distinguished career with Santos FC and the Brazilian national team.
Widely celebrated as the King of Football, he remains the only player to have won three FIFA World Cups, helping Brazil secure the prestigious trophy in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
He made his international breakthrough at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, where his performances as a teenager helped Brazil win its first world title.
Beyond his international achievements, Pelé enjoyed an exceptional club career with Santos, becoming a global sporting figure whose influence extended beyond football.
He later played for the New York Cosmos in the United States, contributing to the growth of football’s popularity in the country.
Pelé died on December 29, 2022, at the age of 82, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire footballers and supporters worldwide.
Cena’s choice reflects the enduring recognition of Pelé’s achievements decades after the Brazilian legend retired from professional football.
