Global soccer icon and Brazilian sports legend Pelé has died. The football maestro died on Thursday after battling colon cancer. He was 82 years old.
Brazil’s former Minister of Sports is also remembered as the man who coined the phrase “The beautiful game”. Although the exact origin of the phrase is often disputed, Pele owned it and bestowed it on the game of soccer like no other player ever did in the history of football.
A inspiração e o amor marcaram a jornada de Rei Pelé, que faleceu no dia de hoje.
Amor, amor e amor, para sempre.
.
Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pelé, who peacefully passed away today.Love, love and love, forever. pic.twitter.com/CP9syIdL3i
— Pelé (@Pele) December 29, 2022
Having been the only player to win the Fifa World Cup three times, lifting the trophy with A Selecao in 1958, 1962 and 1970, Pelé is widely regarded as the best player in the world to have played the game of football.
In recent years, the former Santos FC goal-machine had been in and out of hospital getting treatment for cancer. Shortly after his passing, his daughter Kely Nascimento paid tribute to her father on Instagram: “We are, thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.”
Originally named Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé started his football career at Santos FC at the age of 15.
The following year, at only 16, he played for the Brazil national team and a year later, he took the World Cup by storm as a 17-year-old in the 1958 tournament. He was the youngest player at that time to have played at a soccer World Cup tournament.
To date, his record of winning the World Cup three times has never been broken, and not likely to be broken any time soon.
His impressive career, which spanned over 20 years, saw him score more than 700 goals in 831 games. But Santos claims that he scored more than 1 000 goals.
According to the Independent of UK, Pelé led his only major Brazilian club, Santos, to six Campeonato Brasileiro Série A titles, two Copa Libertadores crowns, two Intercontinental Cups and one Intercontinental Supercup.
He then moved to the US to play for New York Cosmos and helped them win the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1977, and was named in the NASL all-star team on three occasions during his stay.
In the US, Pelé played with or against South African icons such as Jomo Sono, Kaizer Motaung and Walter Rautmann.
England legend Gary Lineker sent his condolences on Twitter: “The most divine of footballers and joyous of men. He played a game only a few chosen ones have come close to.”
England World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst said: “I have so many memories of Pele, without doubt the best footballer I ever played against (with Bobby Moore being the best footballer I ever played alongside). For me Pele remains the greatest of all time and I was proud to be on the the pitch with him. RIP Pele and thank you.”
More tributes for the fallen legend have started pouring in:
The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten.
RIP KING 💔👑… pic.twitter.com/F55PrcM2Ud— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) December 29, 2022
Brazilian legend Pelé has passed away at 82, one of the greatest of all time who changed the game.
A man with a god-given talent, one of the names who will remain forever in the memory.
All thoughts with the family.
RIP, legend 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/xxndio7gmM
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 29, 2022
Pelé’s message to Maradona after the Argentine passed away in 2020.
RIP legends 🙏 pic.twitter.com/GzJf6v2tnQ
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 29, 2022
Rest in peace, Pele.
Thank you for the joy you brought to football fans around the world ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Ypo6NGxdqS
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 29, 2022
Farewell to the King. The master of the beautiful game.
Rest in peace, Pelé. 💙 pic.twitter.com/Cd7xccxX9B
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 29, 2022
As a child in Brasil, Pele couldn’t pronounce the name of his favorite player, a goalkeeper named Bilé. He kept saying “Pilé” instead.
To make fun of him, kids in school would call him Pele.
His went on to become a football legend with one of the most famous names in the world. pic.twitter.com/sfyNh731gA
— Goodable (@Goodable) December 29, 2022
The WBC mourns the passing of the Brazilian legend and worldwide icon of football, Edson Arantes Do Nascinento @Pele .
May he rest in peace and his family finds prompt resignation with the love of millions of people who followed his extraordinary life. pic.twitter.com/C2kFcz7pYl
— World Boxing Council (@WBCBoxing) December 29, 2022
Was an honour to meet THE GREATEST!!!
Thank you @Pele for your genius and humanity!!#Pele
🙏🏽💔🙏🏽🕊 pic.twitter.com/93Z6fthh4K
— robertmarawa (@robertmarawa) December 29, 2022
🎙Neymar on Instagram:
“Before Pele, 10 was just a number. Before Pele, football was just a sport. He turned football into art, into entertainment. He gave a voice to the poor, to blacks, and visibility to Brazil. He is gone, but his magic remains. Pele is FOREVER.” pic.twitter.com/5I97KPQ3vU
— Brasil Football 🇧🇷 (@BrasilEdition) December 29, 2022
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