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SPORTS Friday 30 december 2022
Pelé, Brazil’s mighty king of ‘beautiful game,’ has died

By TALES AZZONI and MAU- flipped the ball over the
RICIO SAVARESE bar in an astonishing move.
Associated Press Pelé likened the save one
SAO PAULO (AP) — Pelé, of the best in World Cup his-
the Brazilian king of soccer tory to a “salmon climbing
who won a record three up a waterfall.”
World Cups and became Later, he scored the open-
one of the most command- ing goal in the final against
ing sports figures of the last Italy, his last World Cup
century, died Thursday. He match.
was 82. In all, Pelé played 114
The standard-bearer of matches with Brazil, scoring
“the beautiful game” had a record 95 goals, including
undergone treatment for 77 in official matches.
colon cancer since 2021. His run with Santos stretched
He had been hospitalized over three decades until he
for the last month with mul- went into semi-retirement
tiple ailments. after the 1972 season.
His agent Joe Fraga con- Wealthy European clubs
firmed his death. tried to sign him, but the
Widely regarded as one Brazilian government inter-
of soccer’s greatest play- vened to keep him from
ers, Pelé spent nearly two being sold, declaring him a
decades enchanting fans Brazil’s Pele is hoisted on the shoulders of his teammates after Brazil won the World Cup final national treasure.
against Italy, 4-1, in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, June 21, 1970.
and dazzling opponents Associated Press On the field, Pelé’s ener-
as the game’s most prolific gy, vision and imagination
scorer with Brazilian club the world title in 1962, but Pelé with monkey chants a local professional player drove a gifted Brazilian na-
Santos and the Brazil na- Pelé was the emblem of at home and all over the brought him to Santos’ tional team with a fast, fluid
tional team. his country’s World Cup tri- world. youth squads. It didn’t take style of play that exempli-
His grace, athleticism and umph of 1970 in Mexico. “He said that he would long for him to make it to fied “O Jogo Bonito” -- Por-
mesmerizing moves trans- He scored in the final and never play if he had to stop the senior squad. tuguese for “The Beautiful
fixed players and fans. He set up Carlos Alberto with a every time he heard those Despite his youth and Game.”
orchestrated a fast, fluid nonchalant pass for the last chants,” said Angelica 5-foot-8 frame, he scored His 1977 autobiography,
style that revolutionized the goal in a 4-1 victory over Basthi, one of Pelé’s biog- against grown men with the “My Life and the Beautiful
sport — a samba-like flair Italy. raphers. “He is key for Black same ease he displayed Game,” made the phrase
that personified his coun- The image of Pelé in a people’s pride in Brazil, but against friends back home. part of soccer’s lexicon.
try’s elegance on the field. bright, yellow Brazil jersey, never wanted to be a flag- He debuted with the Brazil- In 1975, he joined the New
He carried Brazil to soc- with the No. 10 stamped on bearer.” ian club at 16 in 1956, and York Cosmos of the North
cer’s heights and became the back, remains alive with Pelé’s life after soccer took the club quickly gained American Soccer League.
a global ambassador for soccer fans everywhere. As many forms. He was a poli- worldwide recognition. Although 34 and past his
his sport in a journey that does his trademark goal tician Brazil’s Extraordinary The name Pelé came from prime, Pelé gave soccer
began on the streets of celebration a leap with a Minister for Sport a wealthy him mispronouncing the a higher profile in North
Sao Paulo state, where he right fist thrust high above businessman, and an am- name of a player called America.
would kick a sock stuffed his head. bassador for UNESCO and Bilé. He led the Cosmos to
with newspapers or rags. Pelé’s fame was such that the United Nations. He went to the 1958 World the 1977 league title and
In the conversation about in 1967 factions of a civil He had roles in movies, Cup as a reserve but be- scored 64 goals in three
soccer’s greatest players, war in Nigeria agreed to a soap operas and even came a key player for his seasons.
only the late Diego Mara- brief cease-fire so he could composed songs and re- country’s championship Pelé ended his career on
dona, Lionel Messi and play an exhibition match in corded CDs of popular Bra- team. His first goal, in which Oct. 1, 1977, in an exhibition
Cristiano Ronaldo are men- the country. He was knight- zilian music. he flicked the ball over the between the Cosmos and
tioned alongside Pelé. ed by Britain’s Queen Eliza- As his health deteriorated, head of a defender and Santos before a crowd in
Different sources, counting beth II in 1997. When he his travels and appearanc- raced around him to volley New Jersey of some 77,000.
different sets of games, list visited Washington to help es became less frequent. it home, was voted as one He played half the game
Pelé’s goal totals anywhere popularize the game in He was often seen in a of the best in World Cup his- with each club. Among
between 650 (league North America, it was the wheelchair during his final tory. the dignitaries on hand
matches) and 1,281 (all se- U.S. president who stuck years and did not attend a The 1966 World Cup in Eng- was perhaps the only oth-
nior matches, some against out his hand first. ceremony to unveil a stat- land won by the hosts was er athlete whose renown
low-level competition.) “My name is Ronald Rea- ue of him representing Bra- a bitter one for Pelé, by spanned the globe Mu-
The player who would be gan, I’m the president of zil’s 1970 World Cup team. then already considered hammad Ali.
dubbed “The King” was the United States of Amer- Pelé spent his 80th birthday the world’s top player. Bra- Pelé would endure difficult
introduced to the world at ica,” the host said to his visi- isolated with a few fam- zil was knocked out in the times in his personal life,
17 at the 1958 World Cup tor. “But you don’t need to ily members at a beach group stage and Pelé, an- especially when his son
in Sweden, the youngest introduce yourself because home. gry at the rough treatment, Edinho was arrested on
player ever at the tourna- everyone knows who Pelé Born Edson Arantes do Nas- swore it was his last World drug-related charges. Pelé
ment. He was carried off is.” cimento, in the small city Cup. had two daughters out of
the field on teammates’ Pelé was Brazil’s first mod- of Tres Coracoes in the in- He changed his mind wedlock and five children
shoulders after scoring two ern Black national hero but terior of Minas Gerais state and was rejuvenated in from his first two marriages,
goals in Brazil’s 5-2 victory rarely spoke about racism on Oct. 23, 1940, Pelé grew the 1970 World Cup. In a to Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi
over the host country in the in a country where the rich up shining shoes to buy his game against England, he and Assiria Seixas Lemos.
final. and powerful tend to hail modest soccer gear. struck a header for a cer- He later married business-
Injury limited him to just two from the white minority. Pelé’s talent drew atten- tain score, but the great woman Marcia Cibele
games when Brazil retained Opposing fans taunted tion when he was 11, and goalkeeper Gordon Banks Aoki.q