Pelé, Legendary Brazilian Soccer Player, Passes Away at 82
The “King of Football” brought the World Cup trophy to Brazil three times and was named “Player of the Century” by FIFA
Pelé’s Career
Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on October 23, 1940, was a Brazilian soccer icon known for bringing the World Cup trophy to his home country three times. He earned the nickname “Pelé” after mispronouncing another soccer player’s name and began his career with the Santos Football Club in Brazil in 1956 at the age of 15. With Santos, Pelé won the São Paulo league championships and both the Libertadores Cup and Intercontinental Club Cup in 1962 and 1963. He made his international debut in 1957 and played in the 1958 World Cup at the age of 17, scoring a hat trick in the semifinals against France and two goals in the championship game against Sweden. Brazil declared Pelé a “national treasure” to prevent him from being recruited by wealthier European teams, and instead Santos went on an international tour so fans could see the star play. Pelé suffered an injury at the 1962 World Cup and was unable to participate in the tournament, but Brazil still won back-to-back titles. He returned to win the World Cup again in 1970, finishing his World Cup career with 12 goals in 14 games. Pelé retired from Santos in 1974 after scoring 643 goals in 659 games.
Pelé’s Legacy
Pelé was widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time and was jointly named “Player of the Century” by FIFA in 2000 along with Argentine star Diego Maradona. The two had a friendly rivalry and Maradona praised Pelé as an icon of the sport. After retiring from Santos, Pelé was coaxed out of retirement to join the New York Cosmos in 1975. He signed a three-year, $7 million deal with the team, making him the highest-paid team athlete in the world at the time. He helped the Cosmos win the North American Soccer League trophy and is credited with increasing the popularity of soccer in the United States. Pelé’s last game was an exhibition match between Santos and the Cosmos in which he played the first half with the Cosmos and the second half with Santos. His teammates lifted him onto their shoulders and paraded him around the field when the game ended.
Pelé’s Health
As Pelé aged, his health began to deteriorate. In late December 2021, doctors at the Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo said he was receiving “elevated care” due to kidney and cardiac dysfunctions related to cancer he had been battling for over a year. He also had a respiratory infection and his family said he would be staying in the hospital over the Christmas holiday. Pelé’s daughter Kely Nascimento announced his death on Instagram on Thursday.
Conclusion:
Pelé was a legendary soccer player who brought the World Cup trophy to Brazil three times and was named “Player of the Century” by FIFA. He had a successful career with the Santos Football Club and the New York Cosmos, and is credited with increasing the popularity of soccer in the United States. Despite his deteriorating health, Pelé’s impact on the sport will be remembered for years to come.
FAQs:
- When was Pelé born? Pelé was born on October 23, 1940.
- How many World Cup trophies did Pelé win? Pelé won the World Cup trophy three times with the Brazilian national team.
- How many goals did Pelé score in his
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