Sao Paulo, Dec. 29 (BNA): Pele, the Brazilian football king who won the World Cup three times and became one of the most leading sports figures of the last century, died today, Thursday. He was 82 years old.
The “beautiful game” standard-bearer has been undergoing colon cancer treatment since 2021. He was hospitalized last month due to multiple ailments. His agent, Joe Fraga, confirmed his death, reports the Associated Press.
Hailed as one of football’s greatest players, Pele spent nearly two decades enchanting fans and dazzling opponents as the most prolific match scorer for Brazilian club Santos and the Brazil national team.
His agility, athleticism and charming moves amazed players and fans. He orchestrated a fast, fluid style that revolutionized the sport with a samba-like style that embodied his country’s elegance on the court.
He carried Brazil to footballing heights and became a global ambassador of his sport with a journey that began in the streets of the state of São Paulo, kicking a sock stuffed with newspaper or rags.
In talking about the greatest footballers, only the late Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are mentioned besides Pele.
Different sources, counting different combinations of games, list Pelé’s total goals as anywhere between 650 (league matches) and 1,281 (all senior matches, some against lower level competition).
The player who would be dubbed ‘The King’ was introduced to the world at the age of 17 at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, the tournament’s youngest player ever.
He walked off the field on the shoulders of his team mates after scoring twice in Brazil’s 5-2 victory over the host country in the final.
Injury limited him to just two matches as Brazil retained the world title in 1962, but Pele was the mantra for his country’s 1970 World Cup victory in Mexico.
He scored in the final and set up an indifferent assist for Carlos Alberto for the final goal in a 4-1 win over Italy.
The image of Pele in a bright yellow Brazilian jersey with the number 10 stamped on the back, remains alive with soccer fans everywhere. As does his celebration of his trademark goal—a leap with a right fist raised high above his head.
Pele’s fame was such that in 1967 the factions of Nigeria’s civil war agreed to a brief cease-fire so that he could play an exhibition match in the country.
He was knighted by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in 1997. When he visited Washington to help popularize the game in North America, it was the US president who reached out first.
“My name is Ronald Reagan,” said the host to his visitor, “I am the President of the United States of America.” “But you don’t need to introduce yourself because everyone knows who Pele is.”
Pele’s life after football took many forms. He was a politician – Brazil’s extraordinary sports minister – a wealthy businessman, and an ambassador for UNESCO and the United Nations.
He’s had roles in movies, TV series, and even songs and mixtapes of popular Brazilian music.
Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, in the small town of Tres Curaco in the interior of Minas Gerais on October 23, 1940, Pele grew up in the gleaming shoes of buying modest soccer equipment.
Pele’s talent attracted attention when he was 11 years old, and a local professional player brought him to Santos’ youth teams. It didn’t take long for him to make it into the first team.
Despite his young age and 5-foot-8 frame, he scored against big men with the same ease he showed against his friends back home. He made his debut for the Brazilian club at the age of 16 in 1956, and the club quickly gained worldwide fame.
He went to the 1958 World Cup as a reserve but became a regular in his country’s national team. His first goal, in which he flicked the ball over the head of a defender and raced around to kick the ball into the net, was voted one of the best goals in World Cup history.
The 1966 World Cup in England – won by the hosts – was bitter for Pele, who at that time was considered the best player in the world. Brazil were knocked out in the group stage and Pele, enraged at the rough treatment, swore that this would be his last World Cup.
He changed his mind and rejuvenated himself at the 1970 World Cup. In a match against England, he headed in a certain score, but great goalkeeper Gordon Banks turned the ball over the crossbar in a stunning move.
Pele likened one of the best defenders in World Cup history to “a salmon climbing a waterfall”. Later, he scored the opening goal in the final match against Italy, his last World Cup match.
In all, Pele played 114 matches for Brazil, scoring 95 goals, including 77 in official matches.
His career with Santos spanned more than three decades until he entered semi-retirement after the 1972 season. Wealthy European clubs tried to sign him, but the Brazilian government intervened to prevent him from being sold, declaring him a national treasure.
On the field, Pele’s energy, vision and imagination have led a talented Brazilian national team with a fast and fluid style of play like “O Jogo Bonito” – Portuguese for “The Beautiful Game”.
His 1977 autobiography, My Life and the Beautiful Game made the phrase part of the soccer lexicon.
In 1975, he joined the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League. Although Pele was 34 and past his prime, he gave soccer a higher profile in North America. He led the Cosmos to the league title in 1977, scoring 64 goals in three seasons.
Pele ended his career on October 1, 1977, at an exhibition between Cosmos and Santos in front of a New Jersey crowd of about 77,000 people. He played half the match with each club. Among the dignitaries on hand was perhaps the only other athlete whose fame has extended to the world, Muhammad Ali.
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