you can't dismiss old legends just because the game was slower back then. yes, football was different. it was not that physical, this is one of the biggest differences. gentile was considered a butcher and the toughest defender of all times, but in a direct comparison, he was a nice guy compared to say materazzi or montero. if gentile was playing today, he'd probably be tougher than anyone else.
it's like tennis: any recent player would beat the hell out of rod laver, connors or lendl. but if lendl was born 20 years later, he'd still become a top player, using modern rackets, training methods, balls and surfaces. talent, motivation and workrate always finds its way.
regardless of how the game evolved and what they told recently, pelé is an obvious legend, just like maradona, beckenbauer, cruyff and puskás.