Brazilian football legend Pele has passed away at age 82, his daughter Kely Nascimento, announced on Thursday, according to Anadolu Agency.
Seen as the greatest player of all time and even labeled “the greatest” by FIFA, Pele was the quintessential football model for generations of fans and players who followed him.
Pele, who helped Brazil win three FIFA World Cups in 1958, 1962, and 1970, lost his fight against cancer.
Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on October 23, 1940, in Tres Coracoes, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Pele was the son of Fluminense footballer Dondinho.
He was named after famous American inventor Thomas Edison but after a mistake in his birth certificate the “i” was removed and his parents decided to call him “Edson.”
In 1956, Pele joined a tryout for professional club Santos FC and impressed his coaches.
Just one year later, Pele, who was 16 at the time, became the top scorer in the league.
After the 1958 and 1962 World Cups, famous European clubs, including Real Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United, tried to sign him. Inter Milan even managed to sign him in 1958, but the deal was later scrapped due to a revolt by Santos’ Brazilian fans.
In 1961, the Brazilian government declared Pele an “official national treasure” to prevent him from being transferred out of his home country.
Pele became a legend for Santos, where he bagged six Brazilian Serie A (called Taca Brasil at the time) titles in 1961-65 and 1968 and two Copa Libertadores trophies in 1962 and 1963.
He also bagged two Intercontinental Cups with Santos in 1962 and 1963.
He left Santos in 1975 after scoring an amazing 618 goals in 636 appearances to join US club the New York Cosmos.
Pele netted 66 goals in 107 matches for the Cosmos and won the North American Soccer League title in 1977 with them.
On Oct. 1, 1977, Pele hung up his boots after an exhibition match between the two clubs he played for, the Cosmos and Santos.