The Crown Is Vacated: KING Pele Dies At 82

The king is gone. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, died on Thursday at Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, at the age of 82. 3 times crowned World champion, a true icon in Brazil far beyond just his status as a football legend, was considered one of the best players of all time. Otherwise the best.

the former iconic number 10 of the Seleçao, aa first huge planetary star of the football, and the first and only three-time world cup winner; 1958, 1962, and 1970, had been in hospital for several weeks for a colon tumor which had turned into generalized cancer. His death was announced by one of his daughters, Kely Nascimento. “We love you so much, rest in peace,” she wrote on Instagram. The legend died but remains more than ever immortal.

Appearing in the world stage at the right time, when television coupled with worldview, which was colored, made him the game’s star. A precocious genius, Pelé, whose origin of the nickname keeps a part of mystery, became someone at the time when others thought they could be in the future. Pelé’s future was his present.

Pele’, a kid born in Três Corações on October 21 1940, and a son of an amateur footballer, quickly showed some football skills.

He left for Santos at 16, where he remained until his 34th birthday, with number 10, as good a striker as an attacking midfielder. As skilful with his right foot as with his left, endowed with remarkable heading and vertical expansion, Pelé scored in his first official match. At 17, he was selected by Brazil for the World Cup. In 1957. His first matches saw him score two goals. The story went on. Less than a year later, Pelé gave Brazil its first planetary crown, eight years after the Maracanazo.

After missing the start of the World Cup through injury, the Brazil became indispensable to Zagallo, Garrincha and company: a goal against Wales in the quarter, three in the second half against France, two in the final against the hosts Sweden, made Pelé a populous lad.

The 1962 edition, won by Brazil, and 1966, by England, saw Pele’ javey remarkable Performances.

1970 was the peak of his footballing life. Color TVs, came to play in Mexico, and its light and stadium settings were like no other for the Auriverde genius.

During the Mexico World Cup, he paradoxically established his definitive superiority over mortals through a unique but unfinished gesture.

A lob of more than fifty meters on Viktor, a header taken out by Banks and, finally, a great bridge without touching the ball on Mazurkiewicz. But his inspirations will remain in the annals, like gestures that only he could imagine, and no one else.

Pelé took his “revenge” in the final against Italy. His header opened the scoring and a blind pass for Carlos Alberto closed it. 1958, 1962, 1970. Pelé, 29, was a three time world champion. He had moved away from the Seleçao after the carnage of 1966. He left it definitively in 1971, with 92 selections and 77 goals on the clock (including 12 in the World Cup).

Pelé is Brazil. And Brazil is Pelé. Never, in the time of his splendor, did he monetize his talent elsewhere. Because Pelé, even approached by the most prestigious clubs of the Old Continent, didn’t want to cross the Atlantic. Probably, the legend would have been more beautiful if Edson Arantes Do Nascimento had worn another jersey from that of Santos, before leaving for early retirement at the Cosmos in New York? Maybe not. With a gloss of 1284 career goals, it is now near-impossible for anyone to achieve. Maybe post-football wouldn’t have been so exhilarating without Pele.

Pelé touched a lot. But Pelé remained Pelé. The kid who was carried in triumph one day in June 1958 when he was not 18, turned to become a man. He then became a legend. He would never leave us. Even if he died, Pelé is forever alive.