Pelé, the Brazilian football legend, died at the age of 82, leaving behind a legacy of 1,280 goals and three World Cup victories.
He was football’s “first global superstar”, and by common consensus its greatest player.
What made Pelé great?
Pelé was blessed with extraordinary skill in every aspect of the game, both physically powerful and graced with a feline speed.
He could shoot from distance, or simply walk the ball into the net after dribbling past an entire defence.
Early life and career
Christened Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé was born in the small city of Três Corações, in southeastern Brazil, in 1940.
He picked up the nickname Pelé in early childhood, a name some think was derived from his mispronouncing the name of a local goalkeeper, Bilé.
Rise to fame
At the age of 15, Pelé joined Santos FC, the club he was to represent for the next 18 years.
He scored four goals in his very first appearance, and in his first full season became the club’s top scorer, a feat that earned him a call-up to the national team.
World Cup victories
Pelé propelled his country to three World Cup victories, scoring six times in Brazil’s final three games in the 1958 World Cup.
He scored a hat-trick against France in the semi-final and a further two goals in the final against Sweden.
Pelé’s father, himself a gifted footballer, moved the family to São Paulo state when his son was small, in the hope of reviving his career.
Instead, he suffered a career-ending knee injury and the family fell into poverty.
Unable to afford a football, Pelé was forced to hone his skills kicking around a grapefruit, or a sock stuffed with newspapers.
He would practise for hours on end – often watched by gawping neighbours.
Pelé’s mother, Celeste, was adamant that Pelé shouldn’t follow in her husband’s footsteps, but his prodigious success as a junior attracted the attention of the big clubs in Rio and São Paulo.
By the time he was a teenager, scouts were queuing up to sign him.
When a reporter suggested he was as famous as the Son of God, Pelé, without any sense of boastfulness, agreed that might be so, noting there were parts of the world “where Jesus Christ isn’t so well known”.
Pelé became a hero to millions, inspiring quasi-religious adoration wherever he went.
In a career spanning three decades and 1,363 matches, Pelé scored 1,280 goals, a feat that remains unmatched to this day.
His brilliance on the field earned him numerous accolades, including three World Cup victories and multiple league titles with Santos FC.
Pelé’s legacy extends far beyond his playing career, inspiring generations of footballers and fans around the world.
He will be remembered as one of the greatest footballers of all time, a true legend of the sport.
Pelé died on December 29, 2022, at the age of 82, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire and delight football fans for generations to come.
His impact on the sport will never be forgotten, and his memory will live on through the countless lives he touched throughout his career.