Santos mark Pelé’s 85th birthday: “Greatest athlete in history” | OneFootball

Santos used its social media to salute Pelé. The idol of Peixe would have turned 85 years old this Thursday.

The team from São Paulo published a text exalting the history of the King of Football, who died on December 29, 2022, at 3:27 PM (Brasília time), due to multiple organ failure, a result of the progression of colon cancer.

“Time passes, generations change, but there is something that remains unshakable: the legacy of the eternal and infinite King Pelé, the greatest athlete in history. The greatest player of all time. The man who transformed football. 85 years ago, in Três Corações (MG), Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born, son of Dona Celeste and Dondinho, who came into the world to change the sport forever,” wrote the Alvinegro Praiano.

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

He spent 18 years with the Alvinegro Praiano, between 1956 and 1974.

“Pelé's Santos enchanted the planet. With a star-studded squad, it made history and took the art of football to all continents. There were remarkable victories and even wars stopped to watch him play. Pelé made football look simple. He kicked with both feet, dribbled naturally, headed perfectly. He combined strength, technique, and intelligence like no one else. He was the complete athlete, the ultimate example of what sport can be,” says the note from Santos.

Eternal Numbers

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

After hanging up his boots, the King received numerous accolades 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.

“Recognition came from all sides. He was named Athlete of the Century by L’Équipe magazine and Best Player of the Century by FIFA. No other player gathered so many achievements, titles, and admiration. Pelé is past, present, future. He is eternal,” declared Peixe.

See the full text from Santos

“PELÉ ETERNAL! 👑⚪⚫

Time passes, generations change, but there is something that remains unshakable: the legacy of the eternal and infinite King Pelé, the greatest athlete in history. The greatest player of all time. The man who transformed football. 85 years ago, in Três Corações (MG), Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born, son of Dona Celeste and Dondinho, who came into the world to change the sport forever.

From an early age, the talent was already evident. At six years old, the boy was called a genius. At 13, he was the highlight of Baquinho, from Bauru. And at 15, he was brought by Waldemar de Brito to Santos Futebol Clube, where the greatest story in sports began to be written. It was a 21-year career, with 18 years dedicated to Santos, the club that made him the King of Football. Pelé scored 1,091 goals with the #MantoSagrado, won two World Cups, two Libertadores, six Brazilian Championships, ten São Paulo Championships, and numerous international titles. With the Brazilian National Team, he won three World Cups and became the only three-time world champion in history.

Pelé's Santos enchanted the planet. With a star-studded squad, it made history and took the art of football to all continents. There were remarkable victories and even wars stopped to watch him play. Pelé made football look simple. He kicked with both feet, dribbled naturally, headed perfectly. He combined strength, technique, and intelligence like no one else. He was the complete athlete, the ultimate example of what sport can be.

Recognition came from all sides. He was named Athlete of the Century by L’Équipe magazine and Best Player of the Century by FIFA. No other player gathered so many achievements, titles, and admiration. Pelé is past, present, future. He is eternal.

Today, Santos FC celebrates the life of the greatest in history. Being his home is a pride that not everyone can have, King.”

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