Pele, the Brazilian soccer player who rose to fame and became a household name, passed away in his home land on December 29, 2022. Pele was able to transcend the realm of athletics thanks to his unique combination of soccer prowess, bright grin, and faith in the transforming potential of the game he cherished. He was 82.
Pelé, byname of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, (born October 23, 1940, Três Corações, Brazil—died December 29, 2022, São Paolo, Brazil), Brazilian football (soccer) player, in his time probably the most famous and possibly the best-paid athlete in the world. He was part of the Brazilian national teams that won three World Cup championships (1958, 1962, and 1970).
Brazil players hold a banner showing support for former Brazil player Pele after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Brazil and South Korea on December 5.
Pelé (whose nickname appears to be meaningless) was turned down by important club teams in the city of So Paulo after playing for a lower league club in Bauru, So Paulo state. He eventually joined the Santos Football Club in 1956, and with Pelé playing inside left forward, the team won nine So Paulo league titles as well as the Libertadores Cup and the Intercontinental Club Cup in 1962 and 1963. He was given the nickname “Pérola Negra” (Latin for “Black Pearl”) and became a national hero in Brazil. He was an exceptional kicker who also had a great ability to read the movements of other players. After the 1958 World Cup, Pelé was declared a national treasure by the Brazilian government in order to ward off large offers from European clubs and ensure that he would remain in Brazil. On November 19, 1969, in his 909th first-class match, he scored his 1,000th goal.
