Football Legend Pele Dies At 82 After A Battle With Cancer

Pele, who was 82 years old and was widely recognized as the best football player ever, has kicked the bucket.

The news of the three-time World Cup champion’s passing was verified by his agent on Thursday, sending Brazil, a country in South America, into sadness.

Earlier this month, Pele, who was undergoing chemotherapy for colon cancer, was taken to a hospital in Sao Paulo after developing a respiratory infection as a result of a Covid-19 infection.

It was recently reported that the athletic legend would spend Christmas in the hospital due to his cancer’s increasing condition and the necessity for treatment for his heart and kidney issues.

Pele remains Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 77 goals, tied with Neymar following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He is the only player to have won the World Cup three times, in 1958, 1962, and 1970.

The official count for Pele’s incredible career, which spanned from 1957 to 1977, is 757 goals in 831 games, but his club Santos says the number is closer to 1,000.

Pele underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his colon last year and has been receiving treatment since September 2021. His condition worsened, and more recent reports indicated that his cancer cells had expanded.

Pele was raised in squalor in the state of Sao Paulo where he was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento. While learning the craft of shoemaking as an apprentice, he discovered his talent for football by kicking a rolled-up sock filled with rags through the streets.

Pele made his professional debut with Santos in 1956 at the age of 15, and he didn’t even reach 16 before scoring his first goal for Brazil in 1957. His six goals at the 1958 World Cup, including two in the championship match as Brazil defeated hosts Sweden 5-2 to win their first ever world championship, catapulted him to international stardom at the age of 17.

However, Pele solidified his reputation in Mexico 1970 by playing for what is regarded as the greatest international squad in history. In the team with Jairzinho and Tostao, Pele wowed like never before with his speed, skill, intelligence, and strength.

Brazil defeated defending champions England in a group-stage match in which Pele was part of two now-iconic scenes: Gordon Banks’ amazing save from his header and a topless embrace with Bobby Moore after the two switched shirts at full-time.

After defeating Peru and Uruguay, Brazil defeated Italy 4-1 in the championship game. Pele had scored the game’s first goal and had set up Carlos Alberto to score one of the tournament’s all-time great goals. Pele finished the World Cup finals with a total of 12 goals.

Argentine superstar Diego Maradona and Pele shared the FIFA Player of the Century honor in 2000.

Pele declared after Maradona’s passing in 2020: “I lost a wonderful friend and the world lost a legend. I hope we’ll be able to play baseball together in the sky someday.

A recent tweet featuring Pele and Maradona nodding the ball together went viral and excited many users.

More About Football Legend Pele

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

He is widely known simply as “Pelé,” and is considered a national hero in Brazil. Pelé is widely recognized as one of the most successful and influential players in the history of football, and is considered one of the greatest sportsmen of all time.

He is famous for his exceptional technical skills, speed, and ability to score goals, and he helped lead Brazil to three World Cup victories. Pelé began his professional career at the age of 16 and played for several clubs during his career, including Santos Futebol Clube, New York Cosmos, and the Brazilian national team. After retiring from professional football in 1977, Pelé became active in various public and charitable endeavors, and he remains a beloved and respected figure in the world of football.