Pele was known as the greatest player of all time and even labeled "the greatest" by FIFA.
BRAZILIAN football legend Pele has passed away at age 82, his daughter Kely Nascimento announced on Thursday.
Seen as the greatest player of all time and even labeled “the greatest” by FIFA, Pele was the quintessential football model for generations of fans and players who followed him.
Pele, who helped Brazil win three FIFA World Cups in 1958, 1962, and 1970, lost his fight against cancer.
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Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on Oct. 23, 1940 in Tres Coracoes, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Pele was the son of Fluminense footballer Dondinho.
He was named after famous American inventor Thomas Edison but after a mistake in his birth certificate the “i” was removed and his parents decided to call him “Edson.”
In 1956, Pele joined a tryout for the professional club Santos FC and impressed his coaches.
Just one year later, Pele, who was 16 at the time, became the top scorer in the league.
After the 1958 and 1962 World Cups, famous European clubs, including Real Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United, tried to sign him.
Inter Milan even managed to sign him in 1958, but the deal was later scrapped due to a revolt by Santos’ Brazilian fans.
In 1961, the Brazilian government declared Pele an “official national treasure” to prevent him from being transferred out of his home country.
Pele became a legend for Santos, where he bagged six Brazilian Serie A (called Taca Brasil at the time) titles in 1961-1965 and 1968 and two Copa Libertadores trophies in 1962 and 1963.
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