Pele, the King
Pele, real name – Edson Arantes do Nascimento – has kicked the final ball at 82 after battling with colon cancer.
A hospital statement read: “The Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein regretfully confirms the death of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele, today, December 29, 2022, at 3:27 pm, due to the failure of multiple organs, a result of the progression of cancer of colon associated with his previous clinical condition.
“Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein sympathizes with the family and everyone who suffers from the loss of our dear King of Football.”
Below is Pele’s career in numbers as captured by PA news agency:
3 – the record number of World Cups won by Pele, in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
17 – Pele’s age in the 1958 tournament – he remains the youngest man to play in a World Cup final and to score a World Cup hat-trick.
3 – goals in World Cup finals – two against Sweden in 1958 and one against Italy in 1970.
77 – goals for Brazil, a record that was recently matched by Neymar.
1,281 – Pele’s career goal tally, according to FIFA’s official website. The disputed total includes friendly games.
767 – his goals in official matches, as tracked by the Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation. Those goals came in 831 games.
1,089 – goals for his long-time Brazilian club Santos – though again, friendlies are included. The RSSSF lists his competitive record as 643 in 659 games, the most by a player for any one club until surpassed by Lionel Messi’s 672 for Barcelona.
2 – clubs represented in his career – Santos and the New York Cosmos.
6 – Brazilian league titles won with Santos – every year from 1961 to 1965, plus 1968. He added the 1977 North American Soccer League title with the Cosmos.
A hospital statement read: “The Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein regretfully confirms the death of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele, today, December 29, 2022, at 3:27 pm, due to the failure of multiple organs, a result of the progression of cancer of colon associated with his previous clinical condition.
“Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein sympathizes with the family and everyone who suffers from the loss of our dear King of Football.”
