RIP Pelé (October 23, 1940 – December 29, 2022)
Pelé (born Edson Arantes do Nascimento), the Brazilian soccer legend who won three World Cups and became the sport’s first global icon, has died at the age of 82 from complications related to colon cancer.
For more than 60 years, the name Pelé has been synonymous with soccer. He played in four World Cups and is the only player in history to win three, but his legacy stretched far beyond his trophy haul and remarkable goal-scoring record.
“I was born to play football, just like Beethoven was born to write music and Michelangelo was born to paint,” He once said.
Averaging almost a goal per game throughout his career, Pelé was adept at striking the ball with either foot in addition to anticipating his opponents' movements on the field. His dribbling skills were on a higher level, and the best and most experienced defenses were rarely able to stop him. In all, Pele's pro career totaled 1,280 goals (a Guinness world record) and he scored 77 goals for Brasil in World Cup games, also a record.
He won many titles with his Brazilian club, Santos FC, and is their all-time goals leader. He also represented Brasil in four World Cups starting at the age of 17, winning in 1958, 1962, and 1970. FIFA then dubbed him simply, “The Greatest”; Brazilians called him O Rei (”The King”).
After retiring from Brazilian (and International World Cup Play) soccer in 1974, he signed on with the New York Cosmos and wowed American fans for three years. Pelé finished his official playing career by leading the Cosmos to their second championship in 1977. He then enjoyed his international celebrity status, including a starring role in the film “Victory”, shown above.
