Fighting against a bowel cancer, the maximum idol of world sports, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé, “O Rei”, passed away this thursday at age 82, at the Albert Einstein Hospital, in São Paulo.
As a player, he was three times a World Cup champion with Brazil, and in two occasions, he lifted the Libertadores Cup with Santos in 1956 and 1974, the club where he began his career. Afterwards, he was a top player in the rising professional league in the United States with the New York Cosmos.
His legend went beyond the popular sport, and extended over all the others, becoming the most recognized athlete on the planet. Even though he did not participate in any Olympic Games or Pan American Games, he received in 2016 the highest award given by the IOC: The Olympic Order.
“It is the highest award given to people that dedicated their lives and values to Sport, he proved time and time again what it means to unite people to celebrate sports and the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect”, stated Thomas Bach on the occasion, president of the Olympic Movement.
Pelé playing against Czechoslovakia in Viña del Mar. It was his early farewell for the Chile 1962 World Cup (picture: Revista Estadio)
PELÉ AND CHILE: INJURY AT THE WORLD CUP AND SUMMER STAR
The idol arrived at age 21 to play at the Chile 1962 World Cup, revolutionizing the small Quilpué town where the Brazilian team was lodged. Unfortunately, he was only able to play friendly matches against Wanderers and Everton, Chilean teams, and two matches at the World Cup: he scored a goal against Mexico and suffered an injury against Czechoslovakia, which prevented him from playing the rest of the tournament.
Both matches were played at the Sausalito stadium in Viña del Mar, venue that will host the Male Football Soccer at Santiago 2023. Furthermore, while playing for Santos, the star participated in several friendly matches in national territory up to 1971, being a point of interest in the summer tournaments at Estadio Nacional.
You will be greatly missed, O Rei!
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