Pelé, transcendent soccer superstar and Brazilian ‘national treasure,’ dies at 82

[Sylvia]

December 29, 2022:

Pelé, transcendent soccer superstar and Brazilian ‘national treasure,’ dies at 82

By the end of his 21-year professional career, Pelé had become an international icon, perhaps sport’s first truly global superstar.

sports.yahoo.com

NYT obituary by Lawrie Mifflin:

Pelé, the Global Face of Soccer, Dies at 82 (Published 2022)

Pelé, who was declared a national treasure in his native Brazil, achieved worldwide celebrity and helped popularize the sport in the United States.

www.nytimes.com

Pelé, one of soccer’s greatest players and a transformative figure in 20th-century sports who achieved a level of global celebrity few athletes have known, died on Thursday in São Paulo. He was 82.
His death, in a hospital, was confirmed by his manager, Joe Fraga.
A national hero in his native Brazil, Pelé was beloved around the world — by the very poor, among whom he was raised; the very rich, in whose circles he traveled; and just about everyone who ever saw him play.
“Pelé is one of the few who contradicted my theory,” Andy Warhol once said. “Instead of 15 minutes of fame, he will have 15 centuries.”

In his 21-year career, Pelé — born Edson Arantes do Nascimento — scored 1,283 goals in 1,367 professional matches, including 77 goals for the Brazilian national team.
Many of those goals became legendary, but Pelé’s influence on the sport went well beyond scoring. He helped create and promote what he later called “o jogo bonito” — the beautiful game — a style that valued clever ball control, inventive pinpoint passing and a voracious appetite for attacking. Pelé not only played it better than anyone; he also championed it around the world.

Among his athletic assets was a remarkable center of gravity; as he ran, swerved, sprinted or backpedaled, his midriff seemed never to move, while his hips and his upper body swiveled around it.
He could accelerate, decelerate or pivot in a flash. Off-balance or not, he could lash the ball accurately with either foot. Relatively small, at 5 feet 8 inches, he could nevertheless leap exceptionally high, often seeming to hang in the air to put power behind a header.
Like other sports, soccer has evolved. Today, many of its stars can execute acrobatic shots or rapid-fire passing sequences. But in his day, Pelé’s playmaking and scoring skills were stunning.

 

[Buzz]

Arguably the greatest footballer to have ever lived. Love the story of him after Brazil’s 1950 loss at home, promising his dad to win the World Cup for him. Pele won three times 1958, 1962, and 1970. Gone but his Legend will live on forever! R.I.P.

 

[Cachoo]

I wouldn’t recognize Messi or any other current player if they walked by me. But I’d know Pele. Some people transcend the sport. RIP

 

[skatingguy]

I wouldn’t recognize Messi or any other current player if they walked by me. But I’d know Pele. Some people transcend the sport. RIP

You might recognize Messi after you tripped over him.

 

[Lacey]

YES, PELE WAS AND WILL ALWAYS REMAIN A LEGEND!

 

[Sylvia]

His daughter shared this photo 3 hours ago ("Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace "): https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmw0NoRJEUm/