The former soccer player Pelé is dead. He became known above all for his efforts in the Brazilian national team, where he won three World Cup golds in four attempts.
Pelé, who many consider to be the best soccer player of all time, was 82 years old. He has had health problems in recent years and towards the end of the year his health deteriorated. On December 29, he died in the hospital in Sao Paulo.
| WC | Matches | Goal | Brazil |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 4 | 6 | WC gold |
| 1962 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1966 | 2 | 1 | WC gold |
| 1970 | 6 | 4 | WC gold |
Attacker Pelé broke through as a 17-year-old when he was part of Brazil’s World Cup team in 1958 – as the youngest player ever in a world championship.
He started the tournament on the bench and only introduced himself when the playoffs began. It was a goal in the quarter-final against Wales, a hat-trick in the semi-final against France and two goals in the final against Sweden.
In the final at Råsunda, the winning numbers were written 5–2 and Brazil won its first ever World Cup gold.
Pelé gets an injection before the World Cup final in 1958.
Image: ullstein image/ All Over Press
Pele
Brazil also won World Cup gold in Chile in 1962, despite Pelé’s contribution being limited. He scored a goal in the opener against Mexico and went off injured in the second group stage match against Czechoslovakia.
In England in 1966, the World Cup tournament was a gut punch for Brazil. Pelé scored a goal in the group stage, but Brazil did not advance from the group. He was then 25 years old and announced after the tournament that he is putting the national team shoes on the shelf.
Pelé was still back for the WC in 1970, which was a great success. Brazil won the World Cup gold by defeating Italy 4–1 in the final and Pelé scored four goals in total: three in the group stage and one in the final. He was involved in over half of Brazil’s goals in the tournament.
The Brazilian goalscorer was 29 years old when he won his third World Cup gold and the tournament in Mexico was his last championship. In Brazil’s national team, he scored 77 goals in 92 games.
Ten years ago, in August 2012, Pelé visited Råsunda. He was joined by teammates from 1958, Zito (left) and Mazzola (right).
Image: EPA/JONA’S EXTROMS
Pele
Pelé stayed with the club team Santos FC for almost his entire career, from 1956 to 1974. In the 1960s, big European clubs were interested in him, but he chose to stay in Brazil.
He finished his career with three seasons in the United States where he played for the New York Cosmos. Pelé laced up his boots for the last time in October 1977, just before his 37th birthday.
