Goodbye to Pele, the football legend was 82 years old
He had been suffering from colon cancer for some time. The only footballer in the world to have won three World Cups, he holds the record for career goals: 1,281 in 1,363 games. His Santos performed twice in CagliariPer restare aggiornato entra nel nostro canale Whatsapp
«All that we are is because of you, we love you infinitely, rest in peace».
With these words, Pele's daughter, Kely Nascimento, announced her father's death to the world, with a photo on Instagram of her hands intertwined with those of her brothers (a total of seven) and grandchildren.
The Brazilian football legend was 82 years old : unreachable for so many generations, he had long been suffering from colon cancer.
O Rei had been operated on in September 2021 and hospitalized several times: since last November 29 he was at the Albert Einstein in San Paolo for a new cycle of treatments.
The death, the structure specifies, occurred "due to the failure of several organs, following the progression of colon cancer associated with his previous medical condition". "The Albert Einstein Israelite hospital - finally reads - joins the pain of the family and all those who suffer for the loss of our dear King of Football".
IN SARDINIA – His Santos performed twice in Cagliari : once in 1968 at the Amsicora, another in 1972 at the Sant'Elia. on both occasions the Brazilians won. But on the first occasion, 2-1, on 10 June 1968, Riva wasn't there because he was called up for the national team. In the second, on May 1, 1972, both Riva and Pelé were on the field. Santos prevailed 3-2 but the two champions scored two goals each. Previously Thunderclap and Pelé had met only once, in the 1970 World Cup final.
Even Cagliari Calcio joins in condolences for the passing of Pelé: «One of the greatest to ever walk on a football field, a hero of entire generations. Goodbye O Rei, eternal legend».
THE KING OF RECORDS – Footballer of the Century for Fifa, for the International Olympic Committee and for the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (Iffhs), Fifa Ballon d'Or as best player of the last century, and also Ballon d'Or Honorary Fifa, he has won the Paulista championship ten times, the Rio-São Paulo Tournament four times, and the "Taça Brasil", or Brazilian Cup, five times . And also two Libertadores, two Intercontinental Cups and a Super Cup.
He is the only footballer in the world to have won three World Cups (1958, 1962 and 1970) . Fifa recognizes his record for career goals, 1,281 in 1,363 games ; in official matches he scored 757 goals in 816 matches, with an average of 0.93 goals per game. In the green-gold national team he played 92 games and scored 77 goals.
The first race on September 7, 1956, almost sixteen, in the first team of Santos, in a friendly match against Corinthians of Santo André, when he scored the first goal immediately. The last one was on October 1, 1977, at the Giants Stadium in New York, once with the Cosmos shirt and once with that of Santos; victory for the US team and his goal, the last one, in the first half.
For many the best footballer of all time, for many others not. What is certain is that for decades, according to insiders and sportsmen , the only ones who could compete for the prize of the best ever were him and Maradona . A few days ago, after winning the World Cup, Messi also joined this small elite.
(Unioneonline/vf-D)