GERRY FRANCIS: Playing against Pele was one of the proudest moments of my career... the Brazilian icon made football a global sport through talent and personality, and that's why he's still my greatest of all time
- Gerry Francis, 71, was captain of the last England team that Pele played against
- The Brazil legend passed away aged 82 last week after battle with colon cancer
- Pele is widely regarded as the greatest footballer ever following a superb career
- The three-time World Cup winner helped evolve football into a worldwide sport
If captaining England was my proudest moment, sharing a pitch with Pele came a close second.
Like many players of my generation, he was my idol growing up, I'd fallen in love with him and Brazil as a seven-year-old watching the 1958 World Cup and wanted one of their shirts, much to my grand-dad's annoyance being a proud Englishman.
Pele was 35 when I finally got the chance to play against him for England against Team America in Philadelphia in 1976 and he was still some player even then; two brilliant feet, quick as lighting, great balance and outstanding in the air.
![Pele - widely considered as one of the best players of all time - passed away aged 82 last week](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/01/06/65829193-11589697-Brazil_legend_Pele_widely_considered_as_one_of_the_greatest_play-a-21_1672555624577.jpg)
Pele - widely considered as one of the best players of all time - passed away aged 82 last week
![Former captain Gerry Francis (C) starred in the last England team that Pele (R) played against](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/01/08/66093023-11589697-image-a-6_1672562191606.jpg)
Former captain Gerry Francis (C) starred in the last England team that Pele (R) played against
I'd have to say he was the best I'd played against. I walked away from that particular game thinking he was still capable of playing in our First Division in his thirties. Though we won the game 3-1 – and I managed to score! - he was their biggest threat and forced Ray Clemence into some good saves.
When you think of the protection skilful players get today added to the better pitches and sports science, I think he would have earned billions in the modern game.
I'm not often starstruck but when I met him a few years later at the Sky Sports studios, I asked him to sign a picture I had taken with him and Bobby Moore before our match in 1976 and it's still on display in my study at home.
![The Brazilian legend claimed three World Cups and helped develop football into a global sport](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/01/06/37964336-11589697-Pele_is_carried_shoulder_high_from_the_field_after_Brazil_s_triu-a-24_1672555917339.jpg)
The Brazilian legend claimed three World Cups and helped develop football into a global sport
Even getting the English national team to play in the USA was down to Pele. Though lots of Americans played 'soccer', it wasn't regarded as a big spectator sport until he went over there to spread the word.
Through his talent and personality, he became a household name like all their American Football and basketball stars. Today football is a truly global game and that's down to Pele.
It's impossible to definitively compare different eras of the game but I was in football for more than 50 years as a player, coach and manager so I have seen most of the greats and I'd say he was the greatest.
Most watched Sport videos
- Giants fans burn quarterback Daniel Jones' jersey after loss
- Montenegro fans create distraction from football with fireworks
- Las Vegas Raiders fan body slams a woman during brawl
- Awkward moment footy great can't pronounce NRL player's name
- Johnny Gaudreau's wife Meredith announces she is pregnant
- Moment Miami Dolphin's Tyreek Hill is arrested by police
- Jason Kelce bares all with ex-Eagles teammate in revealing beer ad
- Shocking bodycam of Tyreek Hill arrest released by Miami-Dade PD
- Woman exposes NRL boyfriend for leaving her for another
- Ireland fans mock Queen's death aiming chants at England fans
- John Hunt makes a poignant return to the commentary box at Brighton
- Tyreek Hill speeds by police before cops aggressively pull him over