People will debate whether or not this is true, but I think he is the greatest of all time.

My favorite Lemieux moment was the time he came back from cancer treatments and got a standing ovation from Philly fans. They even cheered when he scored!

His biggest moment wasn't, in my opinion not on the ice. Him buying and saving the Pittsburgh Penguins is even amongst the biggest moments in NHL.

He's a legend. Imagine what he could've done without the injuries?

Rumor has it, to this day Ray bourque still doesn't know where Lemieux is.

The most gifted offensive player to ever play. Gretzky obviously has the records and the stats but he was not as exciting to watch as Mario was. #66 would bring the entire crowd to their feet even in opposing team’s barns. Also he didn’t have an army of goons and refs to protect him, he got hacked, tripped, boarded and slashed more than any player ever and would carry both D men on his ailing back from the blue line in and score every time. And the epitome of class on and off the ice. Long live Le Magnifique!

How does this only have 229,974 views? I've watched it at least 100,000 times myself. He was beautiful!

Greatest player to ever lace up the skates imo. Gretzky was great, but Mario was super. Injuries stopped him from being #1 officially.

Mario was a super strong guy. You can tell with his shot, his skating and his ability to overpower players in tight situations.

Lemieux had the size of an elite power forward, but the hands of a dangler, a shot of a sniper and the vision of a playmaker. He was the most talented player to ever play the game.

This is the guy. He would have beaten Gretzky if he didn’t have those health issues almost easily. My dad told me since the schedules were different back then, they would wait years for a Lemieux vs Gretzky matchup. I was super young when he retired but he will always be The Great One to me. I wear a Adidas Pens Jersey #66 Lemieux every Pens game. My dad has a 1992 Lemieux jersey and my mom has an autographed 2000 Jagr jersey.

Mario “The Best” Lemieux. One of the best centermen in NHL history. Him and Jagr were one of the deadliest duos on NHL history.

Greatest skillset ever in the NHL.

Mario Lemieux is the reason I am a hockey fan I named one of my cats Le Mew "the meow" and Mario 😂😂😂❤

My personal favourite moment is when Mario did the fake shot and let the Chris Pronger pass go through his legs to Paul Kariya. His intelligence was off the charts. That whole 2002 Olympics team had some truly great players on it but nobody questioned Mario Lemieux was the leader.

As a Canadian, I believe his absolutely clutch/inspirational/pivotal performances in the 1987 Canada Cup and the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City top all of these!

The greatest of all time without question. His name literally means The Best in French. He never had the protection that Gretzky had and Gretzky never went through what Lemieux did. I was in attendance the night his jersey was retired the first time and after he returned I finally saw him play and score a goal. I'm originally from Pittsburgh and you'll never convince me that anyone was, is, or ever will be better than Mario Lemieux.

This guy looked like he was playing on "Easy" he just plowed through defenses and made goalies rethink their career choices. I grew up watching that guy and I will always consider him the best skill-wise, period. Definitely my #1 overall pick in a fantasy draft involving every player ever at the height of their game.

That #6 goal going down on Bourque (one of the best defensemen ever) is incredible. And the 5 goals 5 different ways will never be matched. His life is a movie, its simply amazing! He lived up to the biggest moments on the biggest stages!

My all-time favorite player! Love from Finland

He is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime a player and human being. I cannot believe that I've been able to witness this history,I don't think anyone will be ever able to live up to this ever again.

How can a guy that big and strong be that fast and quick? Bobby Orr said that Mario Lemieux was the most talented hockey player he ever saw play. I agree.

5:18 Announcer: "They need a big game from Lemiuex" Lemiuex: *scores 5 goals*

The greatest player of all time period. You forgot his 8 point night vs the Flyers.

His dekes were so subtle and nuanced that you have to breakdown each movement to even notice them. Surely the defenders at the time didn't either. One of the reasons he is still under rated, still considering all the recognition.

It’s how effortless he made it look that really blows my mind.

Best offensive player in hockey history. Pure magic.

Gotta put his 87 Canada Cup goal somewhere on this list.

I have watched A LOT of hockey since about 1990, and even after lymphoma and retiring and coming back in 2005 he was clearly the best player on the ice.

The most artful hockey player who ever lived.

Mario, by far the most dominant hockey player that today's generation will never get to see. You could hook him the entire way on a break away. Heck you could have two people do it and he would still score. His vision, his leadership, his sheer f***** will is unrivaled. This was a guy you traded the next 20 year first round picks for. He was truly unstoppable and clutch. He literally made every franchise caliber defenseman seem like a Pee Wee. He could still do all this in today game and do it even better. Imagine the training and knowledge of today and implement them into Mario. He could easily be McDavid, and Crosby combined. It's scary to think about it, but it's reality. If cancer couldn't beat him, nothing can. The greatest athlete of all time is Mario. On top of that he loves Pittsburgh so much that he bought the entire franchise. Not only the greatest on ice performer but, best ownership. Look at how dominant the Penguins are. These are things that only happen in dreams. Mario, however said hold my beer and about to make dreams and the unthinkable happen. #66 the GOAT

As Marty Brodeur aptly said "He was a man among boys". Says it all.

Goat. Can watch these all day. Thanks Sportsnet

In most of these clips, he had defencemen hooking and hanging of him all the while making it look easy. That impressed me quite a bit!

THE BEST AND MOST TALENTED player to ever play the game of hockey. Mario Lemieux.

Loved when he played the best defenseman in the league like he was a junior.

For me, the absolute GOAT

I watched Mario his entire career...and his brilliance is easily seen when the Pens were on the power play. You could see him "setting it up," using his head as much as his hands. He would put that biscuit right on the tape for his teammates to finish...teammates coming from nowhere. What a delight that was!!

I have no words to say. Mario is the best of the best. Only SuperMario forever.

I ordered a T-Shirt from Pittsburgh of Mario Lemieux and wear it proudly and happy in Germany :) Greetings to all fans

The best player to ever touch the ice.

How can there be three thumbs down for this kind of super talent?

HUGE 66 fan here. Gretzky may have most of the scoring records and the title of 'greatest career' but Lemieux is by far, very far, actually not even an argument can be made as to whether he was the most talented to ever lace up the skates. By far. But in my opinion, the video missed one of his greatest moments, April 93, MSG, a standing ovation by the Rangers fans after Mario scores his 5th that night. Very rare sight to see Rangers fans cheering any visiting team or player but the presence of pure greatness can simply not be denied.

Nobody did it better than 66 and it was a real pleasure being able to see him play.

Best ever in my opinion

Best of all times hats off !!

I got to see Mario play for most of his career. If that's not being blessed, I don't know what is.

Lemieux getting a standing ovation from Philly fans when he came back from fighting cancer was a moment for the ages. Say what you will about the Pens/Flyers rivalry, both teams have some of the best fans in the NHL

how can you NOT to like him? he's a legend! one of the best ones in game.... in any given time. Hats off for Super Mario!

Forget about Gretzky- THIS GUY is the REAL GOAT! Number 66- Mario LEMIEUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUX!!!!!!

1 Guy was a beast. 2 didn’t have a McSorly skating 10 ft away at all times to make sure no one touched him. 3 he lifted the puck. 4 was a loyal team player. I could give 66 or 99 reasons why Mario is greater.

Так играть нельзя-просто фантастика.Марио один на льду.Где все?🤗🇨🇦 Просто Великий и всё😍

There has never been a higher hockey IQ. Nor softer hands. Even his quick release laser beam shot might be the best ever seen.

His last name translated to English is “The best”, which is 100% accurate.

What a special player. I almost get emotional watching these highlights. One of my favorite athletes of all time

Greatest individual to ever play the game PERIOD.

Those pylon defensemen with the blatant hooks just crack me up.

Mario Lemieux was the Michael Jordan of ice hockey.

In a sports town with iconic legends from the baseball diamond to the football field to the ice, Mario has a special place reserved for being the very best and he has to; his name literally translates into THE BEST

what makes mario the greatest is that everything he does seems sooooo easy to do.

Mario Lemieux was alway the best Hockey player when he was playing for Pittsburgh

I got to see him play a few games after he came back from cancer treatment in '93, I've never seen a more dominant player than him in that stretch. When you see McDavid, Crosby, Ovi today they have that aura of dominance about them, but not like Mario did then. He was unreal especially on that run, 51 pts in 16 games. I've never seen anything like it.

I didn’t start watching hockey until about 1987 so I didn’t see Gretzky in the early 80s. I was a Ranger fan and young and hated Lemieux (and Jagr). One night my brother and I snuck down from the nose bleed blue seats to the red seats in the Garden. 4 rows back and watched the most dominant yet graceful player I’d ever seen in hockey. The guy was huge; especially looking at him as a 12 year old. He scored 4 goals in that game. That changed my mind on him and to this day, I have to say he was the most talented hockey player I’ve ever seen. He doesn’t get talked about enough or get the recognition of being one of the 2 greatest players ever. Not going to argue with those who say it’s Gretzky, but I’ll always go with Lemieux.

Gretzky had the team and the skills, Lemieux had the possession of being a lone-man and power along with his determination! Straight power horse that 66

True GOAT.

Can’t dispute the nick name ‘ THE MAGNIFICENT ONE...

Mario was truly a game changer. The comparisons to Gretzky is unfair to both. How about just appreciate greatness for what it was?

chills!! Thanks for posting, never gets old.

The most talented played to ever lace em up

The fact that even Flyers fans were rooting for him shows how much respect in the League Mario had. Man is a legend.

Mario is simply the greatest talent hockey has ever seen!

the goal against the USSR in 87 deserves to be on the list.

Never has a player meant so much to one franchise

Notice the massive amounts of slashes hooks and trips while making the goals. The GOAT

The best of all time!

The GOAT!

The fact that Lemieux is considered a close second or third all time despite Gretzky's numbers advantage tells you all you need to know as to who was the better singular talent.

Best player I ever saw .. ty for sharing the memories

Lemieux would've had over 900 goals if not for injury and illness, maybe 1000. Gretzky's single season goal and point records would've been broken too I believe. Gretzky may have been the greatest but Lemieux nipped at his heels, and no one else has been close.

75 percent of the highlights are against Boston Lmao

better than Gretzky; being hooked, slashed, held and he'd still score

Love how he’s always going top shelf

When your name from French to English translates to" The Best" it's tough to not call him THE BEST

2019 and still missing him

Imagine him playing with todays obstruction rules. He would have loved it.

Mario was the best in every way. If he walked on a team like the Oilers he would have beat Gretzky's records.

To this day, there has never been a player that has matched Lemieux's pure talent. His skating was flawless/perpetually 'poetic' on the ice, his stride was unmatchable, his stick reach was one of a kind, his goals were a thing of pure beauty, his shot was perfect. To me, Lemieux is the best pure, naturally talented goal-scorer in NHL history. Others have & will score more (ie. Gretzky, Jagr, Ovi) But no one will ever do it as effortlessly, beautifully, and perfectly as Mario did. He made opposing defenders look silly & hung goalies 'out to dry' multiple times per game and basically every time he touched the puck.

The greatest all around player ever!!!!

like we said in the 80's-90's : don't let lemieux with the puck more than 1 second, otherwise it's in the back of your net

The crack of a wooden bat, the ping of a driver, the sound of a slap shot off the cross-bar, and the sound of a tape to tape pass on a wooden hockey stick. Great audio on that pass.

Imagine coming back from missing 3 seasons and still being the best player in the game.

Talk about a hockey player with some skills

This is great, if not for illness, he would surpass Gretzky

The absolute GOAT.

In today's NHL, 66 penalties were in this video also..all two handers, trips and hook to try to contain this beautiful beast.

I would say one of the best goals was his goal Lemieux scored off the face off. Mark Madden said he couldn’t do it so Lemieux bet him I think $1000 or something that he could score off the face off. If you see the video of the goal Lemieux points up in the stands right after the goal. He is pointing at Madden.

Boy he really had a thing for crushing Boston

Winning the scoring title after missing time to beat cancer. Playing at his level with a bad back. So bad he had someone tie his skates. Saving the Penguins along with Ron Burkle. Enabling them to stay in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future.

Best or not, no one has ever made things look so effortless.

"Best ever" -Gretzky