Santos and Brazil legend Pelé would have turned 85 this Thursday | OneFootball

The day October 23 will always be special for football. This Thursday, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, the idol of Santos and the Brazilian National Team, would have turned 85 years old.

The greatest sports figure in the country's history, Pelé collected important titles and achievements as a player and left an immense legacy to Brazilian football after hanging up his boots. With the star, Brazil won its first three World Cups, in 1958, 1962, and 1970, and became a protagonist in the sport.

Besides three world titles in four World Cups played, Pelé scored 77 goals in 92 games with the Brazilian team.

Ultimate Idol of Santos

At Santos, he formed unforgettable teams alongside Dorval, Mengálvio, Coutinho, and Pepe; won two Libertadores, two World Championships, six Brazilian titles, three Rio-São Paulo Tournaments, and ten São Paulo Championships. The King also broke the 1000-goal mark for Santos, scoring 1091 times in 1116 games.

He spent 18 years with the Alvinegro Praiano, from 1956 to 1974.

Challenge in the USA

In the last three years of his career, Pelé, already retired from the Brazilian National Team, accepted the challenge of playing for the New York Cosmos in the United States. He played for the team from 1975 until 1977, when he retired definitively.

Eternal King

In his career, he scored 1283 goals in 1366 matches played, with an average of 0.94 goals per game. Pelé was recognized not only for the goals or titles won but for the enchanting way he played with the ball at his feet.

After hanging up his boots, the King received numerous honors recognizing his career and legacy. In 1981, the French newspaper L’Equipe named the Brazilian as the athlete of the century. In 1998, FIFA awarded the number 10 the title of the best player of the 20th century.

Pelé passed away on December 29, 2022, at 3:27 PM, due to multiple organ failure, a result of the progression of colon cancer.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.