After its “God”, football has lost its “King”.
Pelé is no more.
This Thursday, December 29, 2022, Pelé went to join Diego Maradona, who disappeared on November 25, 2020.
Always compared, often associated, Pelé and Diego Maradona have never faced each other in an official match.
The Brazilian was ending his career in the United States, at the New York Cosmos (1975-1977), when the Argentinian, 16 at the time, started his career in Buenos Aires.
The two footballers, among the best of all time, have walked the lawns for almost 40 years between them.
Pelé started at Santos in 1956 when Maradona stopped at Boca Juniors in 1997. Almost half a century later.
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If they often found themselves during friendly or charity matches, trophy presentations or other sporting events, the two legendary No. 10s also exchanged a few balls on … a TV set.
In August 2005, Diego Armando Maradona improvised as a TV host.
And for his premiere, he made the choice of the “King”!
The two South Americans face each other.
“
I still have a dream to realize with you, or with you, unless you allow me to address you,
stammers Diego Maradona, impressed as a kid.
My dream would be to exchange a few headers with you.
»
Pelé agrees immediately.
Here are the two men who get up to do a "Brazilian", an exchange of juggling between partners, without the ball touching the only one.
The two men then manage to exchange the ball 25 times before embracing.
May they do the same in the hereafter.
