Former Brazilian international Edson Arantes do Nascimento, popularly known as Pele, has died. Arguably the greatest player ever, the legend did not survive a severe illness.
In the media-crazy world we live today, the average fan is an adrenaline addict. The search for the next high is endless, and there is constant fervour to make gods of mere mortals. The media is commercially driven and has kept up the job of ensuring a steady supply. It is why tales of old hold little sway in the eyes of the modern-day football fan. The present is king, and the past – a stash of made-up fables.
Like the Jews of old, the average football fan has left their true football gods, clamouring for new deities. They have ascribed powers to their new gods and made nonsense of the past. The excitement of the old is gone, while the new is nothing but diagonals and strange statistics. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have for long reigned as gods instead of apostles of the king.
The king is dead – long live the king. The greatest footballer that ever played the game has died. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, AKA Pele, is no more, but his legacies are still alive.
Pele dies at 82
Brazilian football legend Pele has died at the age of 82. The king died in a Brazilian hospital after suffering from kidney and prostate problems in recent years. With the illness taking a toll on him, he had surgery to remove a tumour from his colon in September 2021. The situation didn’t improve, with Pele returning to the hospital in late November 2022.
Through the illness and hospital visits, Pele’s daughter Kely Nascimento kept fans updated on her father’s condition. She kept a steady stream of social media updates from the hospital.
She posted a picture on Thursday of what seemed to be his family with hands on his body and wrote: Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.
According to the hospital, Pele’s death was due to the failure of multiple organs in his body, a result of the progression of colon cancer associated with his previous clinical condition.
Records and commiserations for Pele
It is on record that Pele scored a world record 1,281 goals in 1,363 appearances during a 21-year career. It included 77 goals in 92 matches for Brazil.
Pele is the only player to win the World Cup three times. He was the star of the Brazilian teams that won the World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970. The exploits of the great man earned him Fifa’s Player of the Century in 2000.
Pele became a global star when at age 17, he helped Brazil win the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. By the knockout stages of the World Cup in 1958, Pele had become a regular in the team.
Amid commiserations from different quarters, the president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, has declared three days of national mourning.
The Brazilian Football Confederation said Pele was much more than the greatest sportsperson of all time.
A poll conducted in 2020 by BBC voted Pele as the greatest player ahead of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona and Johan Cruyff.
