The fabulous birthday boys

SO happy birthday Maradona, 50 today. And a belated happy birthday to Pelé, who turned 70 this day last week.

Of course, rather more than 20 years and one calendar week separate two of the leading candidates for the title of greatest footballer the world has ever seen, not least the curious but inescapable fact that Maradona is the one who looks 70, and Pele more like a chap hitting the half-century mark.

And then there’s the little matter of the long running and long raging personality clash which has kept us all royally entertained for years now.