[LEGEND] Pele

[zudomiriku]

Pele dies aged 82: Legendary Brazilian footballer passes away after battle with colon cancer which left him hospitalised for a month to leave the beautiful game - a phrase he coined - in mourning

* Pele has died aged 82 following a period in hospital, having had a tumour removed from his colon last year
* The Brazilian is widely regarded as the greatest footballer ever to have lived, following an incredible career
* Pele is the only player ever to have won the World Cup three times, including at the age of just 17
* He posted on social media on his his 82nd birthday on October 23, when he said he was 'in good health'
* Pele was one of the most influential people of the 20th Century, and one of the first black global sports icons

The world is mourning Pele, for many the greatest footballer of all, known in Brazil simply as King, who has died at the age of 82. He had been in hospital since late last month.

Daughter Kely Nascimento confirmed his passing with a social media post that said: 'Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.'

There was a message to the three million followers on Pele's official Twitter account, too: 'Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele, who peacefully passed away today. Love, love and love, forever.'

Glowing tributes flowed for the only man to win the World Cup three times, first as a 17-year-old in 1958, again in Chile four years later and then the iconic third win in Mexico in 1970.

In his playing career, he scored 1,282 goals in 1,366 games, which included 77 in 92 appearances for his country.

The Brazilian FA posted a photo of their most famous No 10 celebrating one of those goals and his club Santos posted a sombre image of a golden crown, printing his real name Edson Arantes do Nascimento and the dates of his life.

Earlier this week, Santos added a small crown to their crest, between the stars representing the Intercontinental Cup titles he helped them win in 1962 and 1963.

Neymar, who also emerged at Santos and equalled Pele's record of 77 goals for Brazil during the World Cup in Qatar this month, released an emotional tribute.

'Before Pele, 10 was just a number,' he said. 'I've read this phrase somewhere, at some point in my life, but this sentence, though beautiful, is incomplete.

'I would say before Pele, football was just a sport. Pele changed it all. He turned football into art, into entertainment.

'He gave a voice to the poor, to the blacks and especially gave visibility to Brazil. Soccer and Brazil have raised their status thanks to the King! He's gone but his magic remains. Pele is forever. FOREVER!!'

The pictures of Pele from Mexico '70 still resonate more than half a century on.

He was the outstanding player in an exceptional team, performing with style in their dazzling yellow shirts in the blistering Mexican sun as television beamed the World Cup around the globe for the first time in colour.


Brazil legend Pele - widely considered as one of the greatest players of all time - has passed away at the age of 82

The tournament reinforced his status as a sporting icon of his generation and images from Brazil's 1-0 win against England in the group stage in Guadalajara have become woven into the folklore of football.

The save by Gordon Banks to keep out a fabulous Pele header is regularly cited as the greatest of all-time and the touching exchange of shirts with Bobby Moore at the end of the match was a moment to capture the true meaning of sporting respect.

England were the defending world champions. Moore had lifted the World Cup at Wembley after beating West Germany in the final in 1966, but Pele was kicked out of it, injured during a brutal group game against Portugal when Brazil were eliminated.

Sir Geoff Hurst, England's hat-trick hero of the 1966 final, released a tribute saying: 'I have so many memories of Pele, without doubt the best footballer I ever played against, with Bobby Moore being the best footballer I ever played alongside.

'For me, Pele remains the greatest of all time and I was proud to be on the pitch with him. RIP Pele and thank you.'

When Pele finally moved on from Santos, it was for three years at New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League and, after his retirement in 1977, he became recognised as an international advocate of what he called 'the beautiful game'.

Sir Bobby Charlton, the only other survivor of Sir Alf Ramsey's 1966 winning XI, said: 'Pele was a truly magical footballer and a wonderful human being.

'It was an honour to have shared a pitch with him and I send my sincerest condolences to his family, friends and the Brazilian people.'

Denis Law, another of Pele's contemporaries, said: 'This is very sad news indeed. Pele was an unbelievable footballer. He had style, grace, flair and made everything look so easy.

'The precision in the way he played made him a joy to watch.

'However, more than anything, he was a good man with a great presence and a fantastic smile.'

Pele was admitted to Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo on November 29.

He had suffered from kidney and prostate problems since surgery to remove a tumour from his colon in September 2021.

Even so, the news of his poor health sent shockwaves through the Brazil camp during the World Cup in Qatar.

There were many outpourings of support and defiant messages in reply from the man himself, via his social media platforms and his daughter Kely.

But he suffered a respiratory infection after contracting Covid and learned during care that his cancer had become more advanced. There were other complications and he was kept in hospital over Christmas as his condition deteriorated and he was placed in palliative care.

Mourners will be able to pay their respects at the Estadio Urbano Caldeira, in Vila Belmiro, where he played for Santos. He will be taken there at dawn on Monday and a public wake will begin.

On Tuesday, a parade will take place through the streets of Santos, passing through Canal 6, where Pele's remarkable 100-year-old mother, Celeste, still lives, heading to the Ecumenical Necropolis Memorial, where a private burial will take place for family members.

He will be buried on the ninth floor of the world's tallest cemetary - the Necrepole Ecumentica Memorial in Santos.

Pele chose the floor as homage to his father, who used to wear the No 9 when he played football.

Pele explained: 'I chose [the Necrepole Ecumentica Memorial] because of its organisation and structure. It's a place that transmits spiritual peace and tranquility, where a person doesn't feel depressed, in fact it doesn't even look like a cemetery.'


Pele's daughter Kely Nascimento posted on Instagram with the message: 'We are thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.'

Such was his influence, Pele was included in Time's list of the 100 most important people of the 20th century, along with the likes of Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi and Winston Churchill.

Even in Brazil's 1970 World Cup-winning side, which is famed as the greatest team ever to play international football, he is still viewed as the brightest of all the stars. He won the Ballon d'Or, football's most prestigious annual award for the world's best player, seven times. In Brazil, he is lauded as a god-like figure, while he remains adored the world over.

The feats over the last decade and more of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have led to many hailing them as the greatest footballers ever, while Maradona is also considered a better player than Pele by a huge number of fans.

But many of the other players considered among the best of all time have hailed Pele as the greatest of them all. Johan Cruyff said Pele 'was the only footballer who surpassed the boundaries of logic', while German legend Franz Beckenbauer Pele 'is the greatest player of all time. He reigned supreme for 20 years. There's no one to compare with him'. Ferenc Puskas said: 'The greatest player in history was (Alfredo) Di Stefano. I refuse to classify Pele as a player. He was above that.'

Pele is also famed for his sportsmanship, with his warm embrace of England captain Bobby Moore following their titanic battle at the 1970 World Cup one of the defining images of his career. Moore once said of him: 'Pele was the most complete player I've ever seen, he had everything. Two good feet. Magic in the air. Quick. Powerful. Could beat people with skill. Could outrun people. Only five feet and eight inches tall, yet he seemed a giant of an athlete on the pitch. Perfect balance and impossible vision. He was the greatest because he could do anything and everything on a football pitch.'


The man widely known as the greatest footballer of all time has now passed away, following an extraordinary life. Pele is football's greatest icon, a phenomenon who started his career aged just 15 at Santos in Brazil


He is the only player ever to have won the World Cup three times, in 1958, 1962, and 1970 (right)

Including Kely Nascimento and Edinho, Pele had seven known children, although it is claimed that he fathered more. In a Netflix documentary, Pele admitted that he had so many affairs that he had lost count of them and had no idea how many children he had. He married Marcia Aoki in 2016, having been married twice previously.

When his playing career ended in 1977 following a spell at New York Cosmos, where his superstardom helped to kick-start widespread public awareness of soccer in the United States, Pele earned huge sums endorsing products, and also became involved in ambassadorial work, including for UNESCO. He also played a role in helping Rio de Janeiro win the hosting rights for the 2016 Olympics.

But his legacy remains simple and summed up by his enduring nickname: the King.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9992887/Pele-dead-aged-82-Brazil-legend-dies-colon-cancer-battle.html

RIP 'King' Pele

[Andi Istiabudi]

TEN HAG: PELE CHANGED THE GAME

The football community is mourning the loss of an icon, following the death of Brazilian legend Pele.

The late, great Brazilian remains the only player to ever win three World Cup titles, and is credited with scoring 1,281 goals across his long, successful career.

“It’s really sad news,” he told club media.

“One of the biggest [players], maybe the biggest ever, has passed away and I send my condolences to his family and to the whole community of football.

“We [have] lost a big personality, a great football player, a winner of three World Cup titles which is massive and over 1000 goals.

“He was very elegant and I think he changed the game.

"He was a gentleman in every perspective.”

www.manutd.com

[Andi Istiabudi]

HOW ANTONY PAID TRIBUTE TO PELE

Antony paid tribute to Pele with a special message under his Manchester United shirt at Molineux on Saturday.

Our no.21 lifted his shirt before kick-off as both sets of players took part in a minute's applause for the Brazilian legend, who sadly passed away on Thursday.

On Antony's t-shirt under his United top was a hand-written message in Portuguese saying: "Descanse em paz, Pele", which translates to "Rest in peace, Pele".

A number of United players have paid tribute to the 82-year-old since his sad passing and Erik ten Hag spoke to us about his admiration for Pele on Friday.

“One of the biggest [players], maybe the biggest ever, has passed away and I send my condolences to his family and to the whole community of football," said the boss.

“We [have] lost a big personality, a great football player, a winner of three World Cup titles which is massive and over 1000 goals.

“He was very elegant and I think he changed the game. He was a gentleman in every perspective.”

www.manutd.com

[zudomiriku]

Gianni Infantino reveals FIFA will ask EVERY country in the world to name a stadium after Pele to cement the Brazil icon's legacy following his death last week at the age of 82

* Gianni Infantino has said he wants every country to name a stadium after Pele
* The FIFA president was speaking in Brazil and said it would be to teach children
* Pele died last week aged 82 leaving the whole of the footballing world mourning

Gianni Infantino has revealed FIFA will ask every country in the world to name a stadium after Pele following his death last week.

The Brazilian icon died aged 82 and Infantino will ask countries to honour one of the all-time greats with the gesture.

Speaking as Pele's funeral began in Santos on Monday, Infantino said: 'We are going to ask that all countries in the world have at least one stadium with the name of Pele.'

Infantino continued that the reason behind this idea would be 'so that children know Pele's importance'.

An emotional Brazil began paying its respects to football legend Pele today, as his coffin arrived at the stadium where he first took the world's breath away.


Gianni Infantino said he will ask every country to name a stadium after Pele following his death. The FIFA president was among the mourners as Pele's funeral began in Brazil on Monday

Hundreds of fans began filing into the Vila Belmiro, home to Pele's longtime club Santos, where the open casket bearing the body of 'The King' was displayed at the centre circle this morning.

The casket, which was placed under an awning and surrounded by bouquets of white flowers, will remain there for 24 hours.

Pele is the only player to have won the World Cup three times, lifting the trophy with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

During his more than 20 years as a professional footballer, Pele also amassed over 1,200 career goals.

It is unlikely that Infantino's idea to name all these stadiums after Pele will be particularly well received.

This is the latest public comment from Infantino, who wants to remain president until 2021, to have raised eyebrows.


Pele's casket was carried to the centre of the pitch and fans will be able to pay their respects for 24 hours

Infantino has recently come under fire for his relationship with Salt Bae, who was seen trying to gatecrash Argentina's celebrations on the pitch after they had beaten France in the World Cup final.

FIFA have said that 'internal action will be taken' following the incident which saw the celebrity butcher pose with Lionel Messi and Co.

During the build-up to the World Cup, Infantino also confused fans with a bizarre pre-tournament speech.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11592173/Gianni-Infantino-reveals-FIFA-ask-country-world-stadium-Pele.html