Pele Brazilian football legend Pele passed away in a hospital in Sao Paulo on Thursday, according to his agent. He was 82.
The iconic footballer, who won three World Cups during his career, was admitted at the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital in Sao Paulo since Nov 29.
His agent, Joe Fraga, confirmed his death: “The king has passed.”
His Twitter handle said: "Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pelé, who peacefully passed away today. Love, love and love, forever."
A inspiração e o amor marcaram a jornada de Rei Pelé, que faleceu no dia de hoje.
— Pelé (@Pele) December 29, 2022
Amor, amor e amor, para sempre.
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Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pelé, who peacefully passed away today.
Love, love and love, forever. pic.twitter.com/CP9syIdL3i
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Edson Arantes do Nascimento was popularly known as Pele. He was regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. He was a forward.
Pele began playing for Santos FC at the age of 15 and the Brazilian national team a year later.
He went on to be a soccer superstar as a 17-year-old in the 1958 World Cup.
Brazil won three World Cups during his career- in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
“All that we are is thanks to you,” his daughter Kely Nascimento posted on Instagram. “We love you endlessly. Rest in peace.”
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Pele was nicknamed O Rei (The King) following the 1958 tournament. Pelé is the joint-top goalscorer for Brazil with 77 goals in 92 games.
At the club level, he is Santos' all-time top goalscorer with 643 goals in 659 games. He had led the club to the 1962 and 1963 Copa Libertadores, and to the 1962 and 1963 Intercontinental Cup.
Credited with connecting the phrase "The Beautiful Game" with football, Pelé's "electrifying play and penchant for spectacular goals" made him a star around the world, and his teams toured internationally to take full advantage of his popularity.
During his playing days, Pelé was for a period the best-paid athlete in the world. After retiring in 1977, Pelé was a worldwide ambassador for football and made many acting and commercial ventures. In 2010, he was named the honorary president of the New York Cosmos.
He was bestowed with an honorary knighthood by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in 1997.
Pelé has published several autobiographies besides dabbling in films and music, including the soundtrack for the film Pelé in 1977.
He was seen in the 1981 film Escape to Victory, about a World War II-era football match between Allied prisoners of war and a German team.
Pelé starred alongside other footballers of the 1960s and 1970s, with actors Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone.
In 1969, Pelé starred in a telenovela called Os Estranhos, about first contact with aliens. It was created to drum up interest in the Apollo missions.
Pelé married three times and had several children.
Image: Wikipedia Creative Commons / Peakpx Wallpaper
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