Pele, probably the greatest player in football history, has passed away at the age of 82.
During the course of a 21-year career, he is credited with scoring a total of 1,281 goals, a world record, in 1,363 games played, including 77 goals in 92 international games.
Pele, the only player to have won the World Cup three times, in 1958, 1962, and 1970, was honored as Fifa’s Player of the Century in 2000.
In recent years, he has experienced renal and prostate issues.
In September 2021, the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo performed surgery to remove a colon tumor that had been found during routine tests. In the latter days of November 2022, he was readmitted to the hospital.
Kely Nascimento, his daughter, often posted updates on social media from the hospital to inform her followers of her father’s status.
On Thursday she posted a picture of what appeared to be Pele’s family’s hands on his body in hospital and wrote: “Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.”
The hospital confirmed that Pele died “due to the failure of multiple organs, a result of the progression of colon cancer associated with his previous clinical condition”.
Pele’s Twitter account posted: “Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele, who peacefully passed away today. Love, love and love, forever.”
The Brazilian Football Confederation said: “Pele was much more than the greatest sportsperson of all time. “Our king of football was the greatest exponent of a victorious Brazil, who was never afraid when faced with difficulty. He promised his father a World Cup and he presented us with three.
“The King gave us a new Brazil and we are so thankful for his legacy. Thank you, Pele.”
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele, rose to fame when, at the age of 17, he assisted Brazil in winning the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. By the knockout rounds, he had forced his way into the starting lineup.
He scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Wales in the quarterfinals, three goals in a comeback victory over France in the semifinals, and two goals in a 5-2 victory over the hosts in the championship game.
At the age of 15, Pele made his club debut for Santos, scoring in a 7-1 victory over Corinthians de Santo Andre.
It was the first of 643 goals he would score for the club in official tournaments over the course of 19 years, although Santos claims the number is really more than 1,000 when exhibition matches are included, many of which were against renowned European opponents.
Pele reportedly scored 1,283 goals in 1,367 games, according to the Brazilian Football Confederation and Santos, while Fifa believes it was 1,281 goals in 1,366 games.
He finished his club career as part of a star-studded New York Cosmos side, playing alongside German legend Franz Beckenbauer and fellow 1970 World Cup winner Carlos Alberto.
“In music there is Beethoven and the rest. In football, there is Pele and the rest,” he said in 2000.
Pele won the title of best player in a BBC Sport poll in 2020, beating out Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona, and Johan Cruyff.
