Brazil Legend Dies Aged 82 after Battle with Cancer, Interesting Facts About Pele

Pelé: Brazil Legend Dies Aged 82 after Battle with Cancer: Interesting Facts About the Legend

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, is a retired Brazilian professional footballer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.

He is the all-time leading goalscorer for Brazil, and he won three FIFA World Cups with the national team, in 1958, 1962, and 1970.

Pelé was a complete forward who was known for his dribbling skills, speed, and powerful shot. He was also a prolific goalscorer, scoring over 1,000 goals in his career.

Pelé was inducted into the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame and the World Football Hall of Fame, and he was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine.

“Everything that we are, is thanks to you,” his daughter Kely Nascimento wrote in a post on Instagram, under an image of family members holding Pele’s hands. “We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.”

Pelé was admitted to a hospital in São Paulo in late November for a respiratory infection and for complications related to colon cancer. The hospital said his health had worsened as his cancer progressed. He died from multiple organ failure due to the progression of colon cancer, according to a statement from Albert Einstein Hospital.

For more than 60 years, the name Pelé has been synonymous with soccer. He played in four World Cups and is the only player in history to win three, but his legacy stretched far beyond his trophy haul and remarkable goal-scoring record.

“I was born to play football, just like Beethoven was born to write music and Michelangelo was born to paint,” Pelé famously said.

Tributes have been pouring in for the soccer legend. Pelé’s first club, Santos FC, responded to the news on Twitter with the words “eternal” shared next to an image of a crown.

Brazilian footballer Neymar said Pelé “changed everything.” In a post on Instagram, he wrote: “He turned football into art, into entertainment. He gave a voice to the poor, to black people and especially: He gave visibility to Brazil. Football and Brazil have raised their status thanks to the King!” he added.

Credit: Tadexprof