Hailed as the king of his sport, Pelé, the Brazilian soccer legend, sadly passed at 82 years old. His sudden passing has sent shockwaves of mourning to the soccer world – especially in Brazil, the nation he proudly represented, and the nation that worshipped him. Deemed the national treasure, Pelé’s world record of 1,281 goals remains unmatched. And by the end of his 21-year run in professional soccer, he had become a global superstar and an international icon.
He is even noted to have popularized the sport of soccer in the United States. The São Paulo bred athlete’s road to legendary status all started on the dirt fields of the city’s slums. His dreams and drive were unmatched, allowing him to come out of the trenches and into the spotlight of the sport he so loved.
From his first World Cup in Sweden to the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, his celebrity had grown tremendously, and rightfully so. It was at this point that even his most competitive rivals were in awe of his undeniable greatness.
We could go on about Pelé, his impact on the game of soccer, his personal triumphs, the adversities he faced, and overcame, as well as his involvement in politics, and more. And just days before his untimely passing, Pelé had lived to witness one of the greatest soccer games in World Cup history. He even told French superstar, Kylian Mbappé: “I’m happy to see you breaking another one of my records.”
Sadly, eleven days later, Pelé passed away with his family by his side; confirmed by his manager.
“Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pelé, who peacefully passed away today. Love, love and love, forever.”
O VIVA O REI. LONG LIVE THE KING.
