Legendary Brazilian football player, Pele, dies at 82

Pele, the legendary Brazilian footballer who was once named by FIFA as the greatest player of the 20th century, passed away on Thursday. He was 82.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, who came to be known as Pele, died after a long battle with cp;pn cancer.

Born in Tres Coracoes, in the state of Minas Gerais, in 1940, Pele grew up in poverty. His parents could not even afford a football.

A funeral was planned for Monday and Tuesday, with his casket to be carried through the streets of Santos, the coastal city where his storied career began, before burial.

Widely regarded as one of soccer’s greatest players, Pelé spent nearly two decades enchanting fans and dazzling opponents as the game’s most prolific scorer with Brazilian club Santos and the Brazil national team.

His grace, athleticism and mesmerizing moves transfixed players and fans. He orchestrated a fast, fluid style that revolutionized the sport

His unmatched skill ensured that he scored two goals in the 1958 World Cup final to lead Brazil to victory over Sweden. He was just 17, the youngest world champion of all time.

Pele, who is credited with coining the phrase “the beautiful game” to refer to football, helped his Brazil win the World Cup also in 1962 and 1970.

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