Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, was a legendary player in Brazilian football. He died at the age of 82.
Joe Fraga, his agent, confirmed his demise.
One of soccer’s all-time greats, Pelé spent nearly two decades thrilling supporters and stunning rivals as the sport’s leading scorer for Brazilian club Santos and the Brazil national team.
Pele has been battling cancer for some time, and recently, during a hospital stay to manage his cancer medication, his health condition deteriorated, doctors had reported earlier this week.
Pele’s journey began in the streets of Sao Paulo state, where he would kick a sock filled with rags or newspapers, propelling Brazil to the pinnacles of soccer. Pele later went on to become a global ambassador for his sport.
Only the late Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo are listed with Pelé when discussing the greatest soccer players.
His travels and appearances lessened as his health deteriorated. He frequently used a wheelchair in his latter years and skipped a ceremony to dedicate a statue of him as a member of Brazil’s 1970 World Cup squad. At a beach house, Pelé spent his 80th birthday alone with a small group of family members.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento was taught the game by his father, a semi-professional player whose promising career was derailed by a knee injury. Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born on October 23, 1940, in the small Minas Gerais town of Tres Coraçes, or “Three Hearts.”
He went on to score a record 1,281 goals and is the only player to ever won the World Cup three times with his incredible talents and winning smile.
According to data compiled by FIFA’s website, Pele scored 1,281 goals in 1,366 games, or 0.94 goals per game. He scored 757 goals in 812 games, including some friendlies and contests he played in as part of his military obligations. Nevertheless, he was equally as active in competitive tournaments.
Pelé played for Brazil in 114 games overall, scoring a record 95 goals, including 77 in competitive matches.
