Brazilian legend Pele has backed Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas to win the Ballon d’Or after the Spanish shot-stopper led his national side to victory in the 2010 World Cup along with victories in the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.

 

Pele, who is now working as a spokesperson for a bank which sponsors matches and tournaments in South America, drew a parallel between Spain’s current national team and the Brazilian team of the 1960s.

 

“This Spain team is one of the best ever and can be compared to Brazil’s World Cup-winning teams from ’58, ’62 and ’70. Spain are the best in the world right now”, concluded the legendary Brazilian forward.

 

Yet Pele was quick to assert that his Brazilian national team would have defeated the current Spain line-up as the Brazil side of the 1960s depended on all the players in the squad whereas the Spanish team relies heavily on Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

 

However, the Brazilian attacker asserted that even though Iniesta and Xavi have been the most influential players in Spain’s victories in the World Cup and the European Championship, Spain captain Casillas has played an equally important role in the victories.

 

The 2000 FIFA Player of the Century extended his support for Casillas by saying that the Spaniard should be awarded the Ballon d’Or this year as recognition for the 31-year-old’s services overall for his club and country.

“I think it would be a good time to give it to Casillas to recognise the role goalkeepers play", opined the legendary Brazilian.

 

Casillas has represented Spain 137 times in his career and is surely a front-runner for the Ballon d’Or along with Spanish team-mates Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

 

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