Football News: Brazil legend Pele dies

Three heartbroken emojis were added by Nascimento, who had previously announced that Pele's family would spend the holiday season with him in the hospital.

At the 1958 World Cup, Pele made his debut on the international stage at 17, helping Brazil to the first of their record-setting five victories in the event.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brazil legend Pelé has died at the age of 82.<br><br>The original GOAT. A trailblazer. One of the finest players to ever lace up.<br><br>He will be missed by millions. <a href="https://t.co/sZiiLLmCYF">pic.twitter.com/sZiiLLmCYF</a></p>&mdash; ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1608539287095590913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

His participation in the finals in 1962, when Brazil defended their championship, and in 1966 was limited by injury. Still, he returned to lead his nation to victory for a third time in Mexico in 1970 as a member of what is arguably the most outstanding line-up in history.

He has struggled with his health recently, and in September 2021, he underwent surgery to remove a colon tumour.

He was brought with a respiratory infection to the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in Sao Paulo this year on November 29 and stayed there till he passed away.

The official FIFA website lists Pele's career total of 1,281 goals as evidence of his remarkable goal-scoring ability.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten. <br>RIP KING 💔👑… <a href="https://t.co/F55PrcM2Ud">pic.twitter.com/F55PrcM2Ud</a></p>&mdash; Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) <a href="https://twitter.com/KMbappe/status/1608544190228750342?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

There was a lot more to his game, too. Because of his extraordinary talent and determination to attempt - and frequently succeed in - the seemingly impossible, many analysts have dubbed him the greatest player of all time.

Others, including fellow Argentinians Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, can legitimately claim that honour. Still, it would be impossible to leave Pele off any shortlist without mentioning him.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. Dondinho, his father, played football professionally.

His scoring prowess for the club in the Sao Paulo state championship drove him into the Brazil squad for the 1958 World Cup in Sweden after his initial tryouts at Santos in June 1956.

Brazil became the first team to win the championship outside of their home continent, joining other luminaries like Garrincha, Mario Zagallo, and Didi in putting behind them the disappointment of losing the 1950 World Cup final on home soil against Uruguay.

He immediately rose to fame and became quite marketable in his native nation, which was a forward-thinking nation at the time.

His participation in the 1962 World Cup was limited by injury when Brazil defended its title in Chile. The player received criticism for being silent during the military coup in Brazil two years later.

Brazil's hold on the 1966 World Cup in England was loosened. Given that the South Americans could not advance past their group, Pele was subjected to cruel abuse from defenders, particularly those from Portugal.

Amazingly, there was discussion in Brazil before the 1970 finals about whether Pele, who was only 29 years old, even belonged on the team.

Spectacularly, he responded to his detractors as Brazil won back the championship in Mexico.

In the championship match against Italy, he headed Brazil in front. His leisurely pass into Carlos Alberto's path finished a magnificent team effort for the game's last goal in a 4-1 victory.

Before his retirement in 1977, he played for the New York Cosmos in the United States but never for a European club.