Pele, one of the greatest footballers of all time, has died at the age of 82.
The former Brazil, Santos and New York Cosmos striker died after being hospitalised at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo since November 29 due to his battle with colon cancer.
Pele is Brazil’s joint all-time leading goalscorer, with 77 goals in 92 internationals. He is the only player to win three FIFA World Cups, in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
Advertisement
A tribute to Pele on his official Instagram page read: “Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele, who peacefully passed away today.
“In his journey, Edson charmed everyone with his brilliance in sport, stopped a war, performed social work around the world, and spread what he most believed to be the cure to all our problems: love.
“Your message in life will become a legacy for generations to come. Love love and love forever. Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele, who peacefully passed away today.
“On his journey, Edson enchanted the world with his genius in sport, stopped a war, carried out social works all over the world and spread what he most believed to be the cure for all our problems: love. His message today becomes a legacy for future generations. Love, love and love, forever.”
Pele’s daughter — Kely Nascimento — shared a picture of several hands touching the Brazil legend along with the caption: “Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.”
View this post on Instagram
Tributes have poured in since Pele’s death was confirmed.
Neymar, who is Brazil’s joint top scorer alongside Pele, said: “Before Pele, 10 was just a number. I’ve read this phrase somewhere, at some point in my life. But this sentence, beautiful, is incomplete. I would say before Pele, football was just a sport. Pele has changed it all.
“He turned football into art, into entertainment He gave voice to the poor, to the blacks and especially: He gave visibility to Brazil. Soccer and Brazil have raised their status thanks to the King! He’s gone but his magic remains. Pele is FOREVER!!”
Kylian Mbappe tweeted: “The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten. RIP KING.”
View this post on Instagram
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
Santos, the Brazilian club he represented from 1956 to 1974, paid tribute to Pele by changing their Twitter display picture to a crown.
They tweeted out the same picture with the word ‘Eterno’ which translates to ‘Eternal’.
Eterno. pic.twitter.com/N912VpCmVK
— Santos FC (@SantosFC) December 29, 2022
In 1999, he was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee and one year later he was voted World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics.
FIFA, world football’s governing body, refers to him as ‘the Greatest’.
Pele was born in 1940 in the municipality of Tres Coracoes, the son of Fluminense footballer Dondinho and Celeste Arantes.
Advertisement
He made his debut for Santos aged just 15 and was handed his first full Brazil cap at 16. He scored on his debut for his nation, and remains the youngest-ever scorer for Brazil 65 years later.
Pele is Santos’ all-time top goalscorer with 643 goals from 659 games and helped the Brazilian side to win multiple trophies, including six league titles, the 1962 and 1963 Copa Libertadores and also 1962 and 1963 Intercontinental Cup.
Later in his career, he moved to the New York Cosmos. Pele became one of the stars of the North American Soccer League. He scored 37 goals in 64 games for the club, and in 2010 he was named their honorary president.
His total of 1,279 goals in 1,363 games — which somewhat controversially includes friendlies — is recognised as a Guinness World Record.
But it is for his feats in the famous yellow shirt of Brazil that Pele will be best remembered.
He became one of the world’s first truly global black sports stars at the 1958 World Cup and is the only player in history to win that tournament three times.
Pele was admired by his peers. Three-time Ballon d’Or winner Michel Platini compared him to “a God” while in 2015 Cristiano Ronaldo said: “Pele is the greatest player in football history, and there will only be one Pele.”
Follow live tributes and reaction to Pele’s passing
GO DEEPER
Celebrating Pele, the greatest player in World Cup history
(Photo: Getty Images)