A tragic news for every football fan in the world came last night when Pele was announced dead after a long battle with Cancer. His health was degrading day by day and one of the most decorated sports personalities in the world has passed away at the age of 82.
Pele has been battling Colon Cancer since 2021 and was undergoing treatment for the last one year. His agent Joe Fraga confirmed his death. He is widely known as one of the greatest players to ever play the game of football and inspired tons of generations to take up the sport professionally.
In case anyone from his era did not know about players like Ferenc Puskas, Johann Cruyff, Alfredo Di Stefano etc. people will know of the name Pele. He was the only footballer to win the World cup thrice and is one the youngest players to score at FIFA World Cup knockout stages and the Final.
The Brazilian was one of the innovators who invented a creative style of play, something that present day Brazilians are famous for. From playing the sport at the streets of Sao Paulo to becoming the global ambassador, Pele revolutionized the game.
When we talk about the greatest of all times, Pele will always be named alongside his counterpart at that Era Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi–Cristiano Ronaldo of this era. If we go by the reports, Pele scored around 650-1281 goals including senior matches as well as low-level competitions.
As the legend has passed away, the world mourns his death. Although there were some regrets that he died with. First was that he could never score a Bicycle kick at World cups. He mentioned it in his autobiography which came into light when Brazil’s current number 9 Richarlison scored a bicycle kick at the World cup 2022 against Serbia.
Another regret was that his favorite goal was never recorded on camera. But due to technological advancements, Pele’s own description and other witnesses helped us understand what the goal was all about. While he was playing for Santos against Atletico Juventus in a Brazilian league match, Pele’s side were rushing towards the opponents’ goal.
The man himself received the ball just outside the box. He would then lift the ball over the head of a defender and does the same with other two incoming defenders as well. While the ball was in the air, he fools another defender as he feints by indicating that he is moving to the left and before the Goalkeeper came to make a save, Pele found the back of the net.
When he retired, reports suggested that the USA wanted Pele to be a part of their national team. Hi enigma was such that even former US president Ronald Regan said – “My name is Ronald Reagan, I’m the president of the United States of America. But you don’t need to introduce yourself because everyone knows who Pelé is.”
He came from nothing to become the legend we all know of. He was Brazil’s first Black person who rose into prominence from poor conditions, in a country where rich and powerful people tend to get successful before the poor could even think of.
Pele was present day’s Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka, who became subject of racism. There are reports which says that Pele was often taunted with Monkey chants. He is the pride for Brazilian blacks who always ignored those chants to create magic on the pitch.
Pelé was one of the greatest to ever play the beautiful game. And as one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, he understood the power of sports to bring people together. Our thoughts are with his family and everyone who loved and admired him. pic.twitter.com/urGRDePaPv
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 29, 2022
In total, Pele won 14 trophies with club and country. the 14 trophies included – 3 World cups with Brazil, 6 Brazilian league trophies, 2 Copa Libertadores and 2 Intercontinental Cups with Santos alongside 1 NASL Soccer Bowl Championship with New York Cosmos.
He became the FIFA World Cup’s Player of the Tournament during the 1970 World cup when he also became a World champion with Brazil for the first time. Despite becoming a 3-time FIFA WC winner, Pele never won the Copa America and the closest he reached was the final in 1958/59 where La Selecao crashed out against Argentina.
“One day, I hope we can play football together in the sky” – Pele’s message after Diego Maradona died in 2020.
Enjoy your game, legends 🙏 pic.twitter.com/t0l88bpILD
— GOAL (@goal) December 29, 2022
Condolences to his family, friends and each one of us. The Footballing fraternity will never forget him. OBRIGADO PELE.
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