After a battle with cancer, Pele, the only player to ever win three World Cups, passed on at 82 at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo.
He gained worldwide recognition in football after defeating Sweden in the 1958 World Cup final with two goals aged 17.
Pele is Brazil’s joint all-time leading scorer with 77 goals in 92 games.
Injuries hindered his participation in Brazil’s victory in 1962 in Chile.
Still, eight years later, when Brazil assembled one of the greatest teams ever and won the Jules Rimet trophy in Mexico thanks to a 4-1 victory over Italy in which Pele scored the opening goal, he was named player of the tournament.
Pele was more than just a playmaker, as illustrated by the fact that he had 14 appearances across the World Cup, totaling 12 goals scored and 10 assists provided.
His incredible scoring abilities established his status as a club icon for Santos.
Throughout a brilliant 18-year career with the club, Pele set the all-time goal-scoring record for his team and led them to two Copa Libertadores championships and six Brazilian league victories.
Pele finished his playing career at New York Cosmos and gave up football in 1977 after amassing 1,281 goals in 1,363 games for club and country.
Pele served as a football ambassador after retiring.
The FIFA Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur was given to him in 2013 in honor of his career and accomplishments.
He was included in the Ballon d’Or Dream Team, an all-time best XI, in 2020.
Rest in peace Legend!
Rest in peace Football’s Greatest Of All Time!
