The king is dead.
Edson Arantes Do Nascimento, 82, bowed out Thursday afternoon at Albert-Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo.
But the footballer Pelé will remain immortal.
From generation to generation.
Present in the memories of the oldest, who were able to see his incredible arabesques one day.
And in the imagination of the youngest, who have forged their knowledge in the fiery speeches of the elders.
From the mid-1950s with his club Santos and the selection of Brazil until 1977 and his retirement in the New York Cosmos jersey, Pelé lit up the stadiums with his genius and elevated his sport to the rank of art.
Designated athlete of the century by the International Olympic Committee or player of the 20th century by FIFA, the inside left striker of "Three Hearts", north of Rio de Janeiro, won the Sao Paulo championship eleven times, the championship six times of Brazil or twice the Copa Libertadores or the Intercontinental Cup.
But he is above all the only player in history to have won three stars by winning the World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970. Counting the official matches and those which were not, Pelé scored nearly 1,300 goals …
After his prolific career, the Brazilian became ambassador for the UN and UNESCO for Education, Ecology and the Environment, then Minister of Sports of Brazil between 1995 and 1998 or icon for major events concerned with lean against a part of eternity…
1. A Star Is Born
1958 World Cup in Sweden.
In the final, against the host country, Brazil became the first nation to win the Jules-Rimet trophy outside their continent (5-2).
A match marked by two doubles: that of Vava and especially that of a young prodigy, congratulated here by Garrincha (on the left) and Gilmar.
At 17, Pelé is the youngest winner of a World Cup…
Sports Press
2. Do we do it again?
There is no image of Pelé on the field during Brazil's final victory against the USSR (3-1) in the final of the 1962 World Cup in Chile.
And for good reason.
Injured during a pool match against Czechoslovakia, the future King will watch Garrincha lead the Seleção to victory.
Proshots / Icon Sport
3. For eternity
This is arguably the most iconic image of Pelé.
On June 21, 1970, for his last international competition with Brazil, Pelé won the Grail against Italy (4-1).
After his assist to Carlos Alberto for the last goal, he rises in the air to celebrate his triumph in the arms of Jairzinho.
Becoming the only three-star footballer…
Ferguson Agency / Icon Sport
4. Farewell to the top
The crowd at the Mexico City stadium is not mistaken and carries the King, shirtless, fist raised.
Pelé savors his last final in the Brazilian jersey.
A year later, despite the pleas of an entire nation, he retired from international football.
Picture Alliance / Icon Sport
5. Santos, the club of a lifetime
Pelé's career, here in a friendly match with his club in 1972, will remain linked to Santos, whom he led to the pinnacle of South American football.
Between 1956 and 1974, he scored 643 goals in 660 games for the Sao Paulo State club.
PA Images / Icon Sports
6. Goodbye New York
On October 1, 1977, a few days before his 37th birthday, Pelé hung up his boots with the New York Cosmos club.
On the right of the image, applauding the legend, we recognize Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto and Mohamed Ali.
All is said…
PA Images / Icon Sports
7. Between legends
Diego Maradona left first.
A little over two years later, Pelé joined him.
The two great football stars have long lived a love-hate relationship against a background of jealousy before establishing much more peaceful relations.
“I lost a friend, had written the Brazilian at the time of the disappearance of the Argentinian.
One day, I hope we can play football together in paradise…”
8. Minister
The King, solicited from all sides, had a busy post-career.
He was even Minister of Sports just before the 1998 World Cup before leaving his post to devote himself to his advertising contracts.
He poses here with his descendants Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos, beaten by Les Bleus in the final at the Stade de France a few months later.
AFP or licensors
9. Among the greatest
Pelé's aura goes far beyond the world of sport.
The mythical attacker has almost met the whole earth and his disappearance has aroused an incredible number of reactions.
He poses here in Pretoria with Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela.
10. A busy life
On the private side, Pelé has also multiplied the dribbles.
The Brazilian has been married three times and acknowledged seven children.
In 2016, at age 75, he married Marcia Aoki, a businesswoman 25 years his junior.
His “definitive love”…
Estadao Conteudo / Icon Sport
