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Pelé, who was considered one of the best athletes in history, passed away at the age of 82. The Brazilian soccer player was battling colon cancer. The news came Thursday, and his daughter Kely Nascimento confirmed the news on Instagram, sharing a photo of the athlete surrounded by his loved ones, holding his hands. Read more about his legacy below.
© GettyImagesPelé passes away at 82
Pelé, who was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, debuted for the Brazilian national soccer team when he was just 17 in 1958. Brazil won their first World Cup against Sweden in a 5-2 win, with Pelé scoring two goals in the final, a hat trick in the semi-final, and 1 in the quarter-final. He was the youngest player ever at the tournament, and the youngest to score a hat trick. His team carried him off the field on their shoulders, and he would be respected for the rest of his career. He went on to win a record three World Cups.
© GettyImagesPelé passes away at 82
According to BBC, he is credited with six five-goal hauls, scored four in a game on 30 occasions, and netted 92 hat-tricks to finish his career with 1,281 goals, including 77 for the Brazilian national side.
© GettyImagesPelé passes away at 82
Considered the “King of the beautiful game” he played for nearly two decades, with the Brazilian club Santos and the Brazil national team.
© GettyImagesPelé passes away at 82
Pelé was also known for his ambassadorial work. In 1992 he was appointed a UN ambassador for ecology and the environment. In 2012, he was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh for “significant contribution to humanitarian and environmental causes, as well as his sporting achievements.”
© GettyImagesPelé passes away at 82
He also supported charitable causes, like Action for Brazil’s Children, Gols Pela Vida, SOS Children’s Villages, and more. In 2018, Pelé founded his charitable organization, the Pelé Foundation, which strives to empower impoverished and disenfranchised children from around the globe.
