Pele's great players list angers Brazilians

Brazil legend Pele has upset his fellow countrymen with his choice of the 120 best living players in the world for FIFA.

Only 12 Brazilians are on the list and the surprise omissions have infuriated the country’s media.

“According to Pele, Italy and France have more stars than Brazil,” said the Folha do Sao Paulo newspaper.

“In the list of the best 120 living players made by FIFA and Pele, the five-time World champions have only 12 names.”

“Pele’s list forgets Brazilian stars,” exclaimed sports newspaper Lance!. “It surprises us that names like Rivelino, Gerson or Tostao are out of it, while Senegal’s Diouf is there together with Korea’s Hong and Ghana’s Abedi Pele.”

The newspaper is also furious that many names from the glorious Brazil World Cup-winning team of 1970 are not included, while eight members of the France team which won the 1998 World Cup are in.

Among the Brazilians on the list are 2002 World Cup-winners Cafu, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo, who had an argument with Pele after the tournament.

The players were upset with Pele’s criticism during the tournament and accused him of being opportunistic because he was part of the awards ceremony that crowned them.