Legendary Brazilian Footballer Pele Dead at 82
Brazilian football icon Pele, who shot to fame as a teenager thanks to his prolific goal scoring, passed away on Thursday at the age of 82. Pele captained his country to a record three World Cup victories.
He was admitted to the hospital in late November, and by December, doctors had diagnosed him with advanced cancer, kidney failure, and heart issues. An operation to remove a tumour from his colon was performed in September 2021.
Pele died of multiple organ failure, according to a statement released by the Albert Einstein hospital where he was being treated.
“Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace,” Kely Nascimento, the daughter, shared a post on Instagram.
Pele, one of the greatest football players of all time, lit up the field for Brazil at the World Cup, as well as in club games and international tours with his team Santos, before spending the latter part of his career with the New York Cosmos and helping to generate a surge of excitement around the sport in the United States.
Pele, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on October 23, 1940 in Tres Coracoes, roughly 250 kilometres northwest of Rio de Janeiro, signed with Santos at the age of 15.
He was playing for Brazil’s national team by the time he was 16, and he made his World Cup debut in 1958, at the tender age of 17. He scored three goals in Brazil’s second game of the tournament, making him the youngest player to ever do so at the men’s World Cup.
Pele scored twice in the tournament’s deciding match to help Brazil win the title. In 1962 and 1970, he led Brazil to another World Cup victory.
He scored 77 times in 92 games for his country’s national team and was named a co-player of the century by FIFA alongside Diego Maradona of Argentina.
Pele played for the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League for three seasons after retiring from Santos and international duty in 1975.