According to his family, Pele Dies At 82, a three-time World Cup champion and widely considered as the greatest player of all time who invented the “beautiful game,” passed away on Thursday.
“Thanks to you, we are everything we are. You have our undying love. My daughter Kely Nascimento commented on Instagram, “Rest in peace.
Pele is the only player in history to have won the World Cup three times (1958, 1962, and 1970), earning him the title of athlete of the century from the International Olympic Committee in 1999.
Before retiring in 1977, he amassed more than 1,000 goals over one of the most legendary careers in sports, earning the moniker “O Rei” (The King).
He had been fighting colon cancer and renal issues, and the latter required surgery in September 2021 and chemotherapy. His health had been deteriorating. later last year another heartbreak story of afghan football who died in US plane.
Pele, actual name Edson Arantes do Nascimento, was born on October 23, 1940, in the city of Tres Coracoes, in the southeast of Brazil. He grew up selling peanuts on the street to support his struggling family.
Thomas Edison, a famous American inventor, inspired his parents to name him.
However, because to his mispronunciation of Bile, a goalie of Vasco de Sao Lourenco, where his footballer father previously played, he was quickly given the moniker Pele.
Pele wowed audiences as soon as he was 15 and began playing professionally for Santos. In 1962 and 1963, he defeated Benfica and AC Milan to win back-to-back Intercontinental Cups for the team.
He was recognised as a “national treasure” in Brazil for embodying the magnificent “samba football” style of play and was renowned for his skill with the ball. He played for Santos (1956–1974), the Brazilian national team, and the New York Cosmos, scoring 1,281 goals total in 1,363 games (1975-77).
Beyond his accomplishments, he will be known for redefining the sport while still wearing the number 10.
The first international football star, he was instrumental in turning the sport into a major force in both sports and business. Despite being just 1.70 metres tall, he had supernatural athletic ability (just under five-foot-seven).
He also shown emotion in his play, as seen by the classic black-and-white film of the 17-year-old sensation sobbing after helping Brazil win the 1958 World Cup.
He had vowed to bring the World Cup trophy home one day after witnessing his father sob eight years earlier as Brazil fell to Uruguay at home in the 1950 World Cup final.
The 1970 World Cup in Mexico, the first to be aired in colour, was when Pele attained the height of his brilliance. He played on what many believe to be the best squad in history, which included players like Rivellino, Tostao, and Jairzinho.
When he travelled overseas with Santos or the national team, he was frequently greeted like a king or queen. According to legend, the terrible Biafra conflict was put on hold for 48 hours in 1969 as a result of his entrance in Nigeria.
Pele turned down invitations to play in Europe, but near the conclusion of his career, he signed for a quick, lucrative farewell tour with the Cosmos, returning his star power to the home of “soccer.”
He had positions as a movie star, musician, and then sports minister (1995–1998)—one of the country’s first black cabinet members. His influence stretched beyond the field of play.
Pele Dies At 82
Pele’s public appearances had become less regular, and he typically sat in a wheelchair or walker.
He underwent multiple hospitalisations for urinary infections before being readmitted in 2021 and 2022 due to the colon cancer that signalled the beginning of his demise.
But he handled his health issues with his characteristic style.
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