RIP to the greatest!

Rest in peace,Legend of the Beautiful game

Rest Well Legend.

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Pele's greatest career moments: 1,000th goal, 1970 World Cup and stopping a civil war
Matt O'Connor-Simpson
29 Dec 2022 20:14+01:00

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Brazil and Santos legend Pele died on Thursday. GOAL remembers the greatest moments of his incredible career.

No player did more to popularise football's reputation as the beautiful game than the immortal Pele.

The only male or female player to win three World Cups, the free-scoring forward also spearheaded one of the greatest club side's footballing history.

His death leaves a devastating void in global sport, and below, GOAL recalls some of the standout moments of a once-in-a-lifetime career.

Pele 1958Getty Images
A goal on his debut... twice
Pele made his professional debut all the way back in 1956. Aged just 15, the legendary forward lined up for Santos - he had only signed a few months earlier following a successful trial - against rivals Corinthians.

Pele scored in the 7-1 victory, kickstarting a golden era at the club that would span 18 years. It wasn't his best strike, with the teenager simply tapping home a rebound in the box.

Then, in July 1957, Pele opened his international scoring account - against Argentina no less. He was far from an established name in the Santos side at this stage, but impressed Brazil manager Sylvio Pirillo in a friendly organised to raise money for Sao Paulo's new stadium.

A baby-faced Pele still managed to find the net at the Maracana, making it 2-1 to the Selecao.

Pele 1958 World Cup Getty Images
Birth of a superstar
Pele introduced himself to a global football audience at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. After featuring just once in the group stage, his tournament exploded in the quarter-final stage, when he burst through the Wales backline to secure a 1-0 win and his side's progression.

Things got even better in the semi-finals when Pele's hat trick helped Brazil down the free-scoring Just Fontaine and France.

And his legend was secured in the final when he grabbed a brace as the Selecao smashed hosts Sweden 5-2. His first goal in that game was typical of his brilliance. After taking down a deep cross in the box he dinked the ball over brutish Swedish defender Bengt Gustavsson, before watching it drop down from a great height and finding the bottom corner on the volley.

Pele Santos Getty Images
Continental champion
While Pele's relentless touring schedule prevented him from winning the Copa America with Brazil - he only appeared in one tournament (1959) and managed to secure the Golden Boot - the forward did taste continental glory at club level.

In 1962, with the scores level after two legs in the Copa Libertadores final against Penarol, Pele carried Santos to victory in a Playoff contested on neutral ground at Estadio Monumental. He grabbed a brace, including a game-changing strike just after half time, as Santos earned their first ever South American title.

A year later, the Alvinegro retained their crown, with Pele scoring in the final against Boca Juniors.

Victory in these two games booked Santos a place in the Intercontinental Cup against European opposition. They made light work of their opponents both years, first beating Benfica - Pele scored five goals over the two legs - and then getting the better of AC Milan in another playoff.

Five in a row
Throughout the 1960s Pele spearheaded Santos' greatest ever side, appropriately nicknamed Os Santasticos.

The Dream Team's list of accomplishments is endless, and their diminutive attacking fulcrum was always at the centre of things.

Winning five Serie A titles in a row between 1961 and 1965 was one of Santos' crowning achievements, with Pele securing the top scorer award in three of these seasons.

1962 also saw Lula's charges secure the 'first treble in the world'. During this whirlwind year, Pele and Co. won the Copa Libertadores, Campeonato Paulista and Taca Brasil. Not bad.

Pele fansGetty Images
Stopping a civil war?
As Pele's star rose, Santos began to prioritise lucrative international tours over silverware, a strange concept to get your head around from a modern perspective.

On one of these overseas trips, the Santasticos found themselves in Nigeria when the country was in the midst of a brutal civil war with secessionist state Biafra.

When Pele and his teammates rolled into Lagos, legend has it that the guns stopped for 48 hours, so both sides of the conflict could witness the Super Eagles play out a 2-2 draw with the touring side. Needless to say, Pele scored both goals.

RIP legend, send my regards to maradona.

RIP legend sleep well

kendological:

Millions didn't die today.

Whatever
If this message touched you, cry and be productive starting tomorrow

Shalom

dontrulee:


What's the point?
Since we will all die and legacy wouldn't bring anyone back to life.

You can waste away your life for all I care

FM19addict:
RIP to the greatest of all time
Brazilian soccer legend Pelé, winner of record 3 World Cups and standard-bearer for ‘the beautiful game,’ has died at 82

RIP to the football legend.

May God comfort the family he left behind.

faithfull18:

Doesn't change anything, heaven is the goal.

What are you waiting for?
If it's such a great place why are you postponing? Go ahead and die now

You too can waste away your life for all I care

May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen

obembet:

You have abandoned Pendu lol. He has been relegated, he is not the greatest anymore right?

Nwachi1:
May almighty God grant him eternal rest
Please guys, am pleading, if you have a little kindly share with me. I haven't eaten anything since yesterday and am very hungry and sick please. Am having typhod fever but due to lack of money I can't buy drugs. I live with my mom who is retired and my Dad is late. pls help me with any little you can please I beg you in the name of God. May God's show you mercy as you have shown me, amen. Thank you
Acct num: Angela

067801

6041
G.T.Bank

if u too die u wont complain bout food.

Online begger

RIP first goat of the world of football, this make Messi the only living goat of football.

The King is dead.
God save the king.

What a man, what a legend.
What a time to witness the greatest ever footballer.

RIP.

GOAT RIP

Exit of a Legend. Rest in peace.

[quote author=sukkot post=119530476][/quote]

Baba you wicked ooo…this mischievous look make the guy sharply go modify him post

R.I.P LEGEND

jojothaiv:
Some folks still manage to smuggle the Messi-Ronaldo talks into this sober thread.
People still take sentiments to thread that ordinary should be dedicated to a dead sportsman.


Totally unrelated, the poem To An Athlete Dying Young refers to most people on this thread.

Anyway, this is humanity, in all her glory, gory, splendor and sentiments. You can't take that away from them.[/b]
in my few years of life i have come to realize that there's no football without debate, anywhere two or three fans gather in the name of footcall stuff there must be argument. and no visal debate dies unless another football related topic replace it.
*it may not be totally true thou, but that's what i've observed*



[b]Not weird, this is you, this is the life your soul want and I'm glad you found meaning in it.

you are one of the few who have find it cool.

thanks for sharing in my joy

RIP GOAT!

Rip to the legend.

TinubuShet:
Now Messi is the only GOATALIVE

It's a great sin to compare Messi to Pele. If you know you know

RIP Pele the great.
Undisputable greatest footballer of all time

Your autobiography is one of best book I ever read while growing up.


We love you but can't stop your transition to great beyond.... Sleep on the only true legend.

Overated player.. quote me anywhere...

RIP legard, Nymar couldn't bring the world cup home

King

Richy4:

You like reading.. cool.. it's equally a hobby...
Soccer relieves tensions especially when you support a particular team.. it unites people.., create team spirit etc..

i've tried several times to blend into football but... it didn't work.
i've also tried to support a club but my heart is far from there,
thou sometimes i do read commentaries of any match that becomes the talk of the neighborhood

southsouthking:
Try and leave this world a little better than you found it, and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate, you have not wasted your time but have done your best.

Goodbye Edson Arantes do Nascimento A.K.A Pele, You left the world better
than you found it and you died a happy death.
Goodnight Legend.

Walahi I no know say Pele no be im real name.