Pelé dies aged 82 | OneFootball

Footballing icon Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé has died in his native Brazil aged 82.

Born in Três Corações, on October 23, 1940, Edson Arantes do Nascimento grew up in Bauru, São Paulo.

He would go on to become one of the most well-known sports people on the planet and is widely considered one of the greatest footballers of all time

The Brazilian was named the International Olympic Committee’s Athlete of the Century in 1999 despite never having played at an Olympic games. He was also named him the Best Player of the 20th Century by FIFA.

Santos

At just 15, in June 1956, Pelé signed his first professional contract with Santos. He made his debut just three months later.

The following year, 1957, Pelé finished as the top scorer in Brazil. In 1958, the teenager scored 58 league goals as Santos won the title. No player has ever scored more in a single season in Brazil.

Pelé remained at Santos until 1974, with records showing he scored over 1000 times for the club, winning 10 league titles and two Copa Libertadores.

Brazil

Called up to the national team for the first time in 1957, Pelé scored Brazil’s only goal on his debut, a 2-1 defeat to Argentina.

A year later, at just 17, Pelé scored six times in the 1958 World Cup, including twice in the 5-2 final win over Sweden. Brazil’s success was their first ever World Cup win. Pelé remains the youngest player to feature in a World Cup final, score in World Cup final, and the youngest player to ever win the World Cup.

The forward would go on to play at four World Cups in total, scoring 12 goals across the tournaments and winning the trophy three times: 1958, 1962 and 1970.

However, injury in the 1962 tournament and only featured twice meant Pelé featured just twice.

The Brazilian’s crowning glory came in the 1970 World Cup. After Mário Zagallo threatened to leave Pelé out of his team, the forward responded with one of the greatest World Cups ever seen.

Aged 29, Pelé was at the peak of his powers, scoring the opener in the final before teeing up Carlos Alberto’s iconic goal to seal a 4-1 win over Italy.

A year on he bid farewell to the Seleção as 138,575 fans packed into the Maracanã to watch a 2-2 draw against Yugoslavia.

Goal record

Pelé netted a record 77 goals in 92 games for Brazil.

He was even more prolific at club level, scoring 1,282 goals in 1,364 appearances across his career, though these numbers include unofficial matches and have been disputed as a result.

According to FIFA, Pelé netted 767 official goals for club and country.

Honours

Brazil

Santos

New York Cosmos