Pelé

I have known about Pele since I was a young woman. I have even used his photo on cards to my Brazilian friends. Brazilian soccer legend Pelé, winner of record 3 World Cups, dead at 82 Standard-bearer of 'beautiful game' had undergone cancer treatment since 2021 Mauricio Savarese, Tales Azzoni · The Associated Press · Posted: Dec 29, 2022 1:59 PM ET | Last Updated: 42 minutes ago Pele, wearing a suit, is seen holding the shinny and golden World Cup trophy in 1991. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, Brazil's three-time World Cup winner (1958, 1962, 1970), died Thursday at 82 years old. (Helayne Seidman/AFP via Getty Images) Pele, the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died Thursday. He was 82. The standard-bearer of "the beautiful game" had undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021. The medical centre where he had been hospitalized for the last month said he died of multiple organ failure as a result of the cancer. "Pele changed everything. He transformed football into art, entertainment," Neymar, a fellow Brazilian soccer star, said on Instagram. "Football and Brazil elevated their standing thanks to the King! He is gone, but his magic will endure. Pele is eternal!" A funeral was planned for Monday and Tuesday, with his casket to be carried through the streets of Santos, the coastal city where his storied career began, before burial. Widely regarded as one of soccer's greatest players, Pele spent nearly two decades enchanting fans and dazzling opponents as the game's most prolific scorer with Brazilian club Santos and the Brazil national team. His grace, athleticism and mesmerizing moves transfixed players and fans. He orchestrated a fast, fluid style that revolutionized the sport — a samba-like flair that personified his country's elegance on the field.