The worst has been confirmed. Football is in mourning. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele, died at the age of 82 on December 29, 2022.
Today is a sad day that will be remembered as a watershed moment in football history. At the age of 82, one of the sport's greatest legends passed away. Pele, a Brazilian football legend widely regarded as the greatest player in history, died of colon cancer.
Pele reportedly spent time in intensive care because his chemotherapy treatment for colon cancer, for which he underwent surgery in September of last year, was no longer working. The Brazilian was receiving intensive care to "alleviate the pain and the lack of oxygen without having to go through invasive therapy" despite having metastases in his intestine, lung, and liver and no longer receiving chemotherapy.
Pele started his professional career in 1956 with Santos, where he stayed until 1974 and won ten Campeonato Paulista titles, six Brasileiro titles, four Rio-Sao Paulo Tournament titles, two Intercontinental Cups, and two Copa Libertadores de América titles.
At the age of 16, he made his international debut for Brazil in 1957, and he currently holds the record for most goals scored by the 'Selecao with 77. He founded the "jogo bonito," participated in four World Cups, and became the youngest and most successful player to win them all in 1958, 1962, and 1970.
Pele has scored 765 goals in just 812 games played, making him the fourth-highest goal scorer in football history. Only Cristiano Ronaldo (819), Josef Bican (805) and Lionel Messi (802) are ahead of him.
Pele had football in mind. Pele stood for goals. Pele stood for the idea that dreams are achievable with effort. One of the greatest figures in sporting history will be missed by all of us.
