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Tag: Pele

  • Video: Brazilians upset at CR7 over alleged jab at Pele over 1000 goals claim

    Video: Brazilians upset at CR7 over alleged jab at Pele over 1000 goals claim

    Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo has sparked a backlash from Brazilians on social media following his comments about Brazil’s football legend Pelé and his record of 1,000 career goals.

    In a recent conversation with former teammate Rio Ferdinand, Ronaldo revealed that his goal is to score 900 career goals, with the ambition of reaching 1,000 if he surpasses the 900-goal mark.

    He emphasised that, unlike previous players who have claimed to reach the 1,000-goal milestone, he intends to have video evidence to substantiate his achievement.

    Ronaldo’s remarks have been interpreted by many as a subtle jab at Pelé’s legendary record, leading to a wave of criticism from fans in Brazil.

    “The best mark that I reach is first reaching 900 goals. After, my challenge is to reach 1000 goals with one difference: all the goals I have scored have videos. So I can prove that I have scored 1000 goals,” he said on his YouTube channel UR Cristiano.

    “I respect all of them, but there are videos of my goals, and if you have a problem, I can bring videos from training too. And I will prove to the people. After they prefer this or that player as the best, I don’t care about that.”

    Pelé remains the only footballer officially recognised for scoring 1,000 career goals, making Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent comments a point of contention among Brazilian fans.

    Ronaldo’s remarks, made during a chat with former teammate Rio Ferdinand, seemed to suggest a challenge to this historic milestone.

    Many in Brazil have taken offence, interpreting Ronaldo’s statements as dismissive of Pelé’s achievement.

    Some critics argue that his comments were unnecessary and have fuelled animosity towards him.

    However, Ronaldo’s supporters contend that his remarks were meant to be taken with a sense of humour and sarcasm rather than as a direct challenge to Pelé’s legendary record.

    Cristiano is always the first to complain about how the media hates him yet he throws shade like this towards greats of the past who achieved more than him.

Very hypocritical & childish - won’t say that I didn’t expect this from him as he’s made a career of degrading others. https://t.co/WwEwnFGlVs
— Solo (@Z9Priv_) August 28, 2024

Claiming Pelé didn’t score 1000+ goals because there isn’t video evidence is awful reasoning.

We have journalists reports, newspapers, eye witness accounts & radio commentary of them all. All verified through multiple sources.
— All Things Brazil™ 🇧🇷 (@SelecaoTalk) August 28, 2024

Theres footage of Pelé winning 3 World Cups if Cristiano Ronaldo wants to see it 🤷🏻‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/kNKRVH6kjG
— Ginga Bonito 🇧🇷 (@GingaBonitoHub) August 28, 2024

This is why Messi will always be respected & more loved than Cristiano Ronaldo.

He’s not insecure. He doesn’t need to diminish the achievements of other all-time greats to stand out. pic.twitter.com/mPz8wVjVtD
— Ginga Bonito 🇧🇷 (@GingaBonitoHub) August 28, 2024

Tears man
The only thing keeping this cry baby relevant is his YouTube channel pic.twitter.com/Y1fyWzUR5v
— Marcus (@Mheracle3) August 28, 2024

The official Brasileirão account fires back at Cristiano Ronaldo who mocked Pelé & other older legends of the game for not having all their goals on video.

“🎶 Only Pelé, only Pelé
📹 On video!”

This is a video of when he officially scored his 1000th goal. https://t.co/7m1fmtSufa
— Ginga Bonito 🇧🇷 (@GingaBonitoHub) August 28, 2024

Sem polêmica.
Sem indireta.
Sem egocentrismo.
Sem desmerecer ninguém.

A diferença é muito clara: de um lado, o frustrado que vive fazendo marketing pessoal para se autoafirmar. Do outro, quem sempre preferiu falar com a bola nos pés.

Abismo como jogador.
Abismo como ser humano. https://t.co/QS31Gy7Q6e pic.twitter.com/ECWJiaFrTY
  • Pele’s mother dies at 101

    Pele’s mother dies at 101

    Mother of the iconic Brazilian footballer Pele, Celeste Arantes, passed away at the age of 101 on Friday.

    She had been in a vegetative state for the past five years and was unaware of her son’s death in 2022.


    Pele’s former club Santos released a statement, which read: “Santos Futebol Clube is deeply sorry about the death of Celeste Arantes do Nascimento, the mother of our eternal king.


    “She had 101 years of an inspiring life story. A black woman who faced endless adversities in life for the good of her family.”

    The legendary Brazilian passed away in December 2022 at the age of 82 after a prolonged fight against cancer.

    Prior to his death, he had struggled with kidney and prostate issues, undergoing surgery to address a colon tumor in 2021.

    Pele was one of her three children, and initially, she opposed her son pursuing a career in professional football.

    However, her stance evolved over time as he achieved greater success in the sport.

  • Brazilian Super Cup changes name to SuperCopa Rei in honour of Pele

    Brazilian Super Cup changes name to SuperCopa Rei in honour of Pele

    Brazil’s Super Cup has been renamed the “SuperCopa Rei” in honour of Pele, the country’s Football Confederation (CBF) announced on Wednesday.

    The Super Cup is the curtain-raiser for the Brazilian season and pits together the Brazilian Serie A winners and the Copa do Brasil champions.

    League champions Palmeiras will take on Cup winners São Paulo in Sunday’s Super Cup in Belo Horizonte.

    Often referred to as “O Rei” (The King), Pele scored 77 goals for Brazil in 92 appearances and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.

    The three-time World Cup winner died at the age of 82 in 2022.

    “Pele deserves all the tributes,” CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues said.

    “His legacy will always be revered by the CBF. The Supercopa Rei is a way of giving even more importance to the competition…The idea of calling the competition Supercopa Rei is within the context of utmost importance for the CBF, which is to preserve the memory of Brazilian football and ensure that new generations do not lose the reference of the great football idols, in this case, the greatest reference of all time.

    “This game is yet another way that we, our subjects, have to eternally pay homage to the King of football.”

  • One more to go, and I break the Pele record – Neymar

    One more to go, and I break the Pele record – Neymar

    Neymar has been reflecting on the significance of becoming Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, needing just one more goal to surpass Pele’s record.

    Currently, the Al-Hilal forward is tied with his legendary compatriot, both having scored 77 goals for their country.

    It seems inevitable that Neymar will soon score his 78th goal, surpassing Pele, who won the World Cup three times.

    This historic achievement could potentially occur during a 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Bolivia. Additionally, Brazil is scheduled to face Peru next Tuesday.

    Neymar has said of potentially rewriting the record books: “It is hard to know what that record means, but it does mean a lot. No-one ever thought about overcoming that. It is something I will respond to after it is done.”


    Neymar’s last outing for Brazil came in their 2022 World Cup quarterfinal defeat to Croatia, with the 31-year-old hinting after that penalty shootout setback that he could bow out with 124 caps to his name.

    He has said of carrying on with the Selecao: “After a lot of pressure from family and friends [to return to the national team], you start giving value to everything you did.

    “When you are with your people, your family, they put you in your place and make you see it is worth it to continue being happy by wearing Brazil’s shirt.”


    Neymar’s debut for Brazil dates back to 2010.

    The CBF is hesitant to overly celebrate his achievement of reaching 78 goals, as their records, which vary slightly from the official ones, indicate that Pele has scored 95 goals for the South American nation when considering all of his international appearances.

  • Football Legend Pelé’s name added to dictionary

    Football Legend Pelé’s name added to dictionary

    Brazilian and world football star, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, also known as Pele has been honored for his contributions to the game by having his name added to the dictionary as an adjective.

    This was done after a campaign led by the Pelé Foundation and SporTV dubbed “Pelé in the dictionary”.

    The Michaelis dictionary defines “Pele” as: “What or who is out of the ordinary, what or who by virtue of their quality, value or superiority cannot be equaled to anything or anyone, just like Pelé, nickname of Edson Arantes do Nascimento (1940-2022), considered to be the greatest athlete of all time; exceptional, incomparable, unique.

    “Examples: He is the Pelé of basketball, she is the Pelé of tennis, she is the Pelé of Brazilian dramaturgy.”

    Pele sadly passed away on December 29, 2022, following a long battle with colon cancer.

    A three-time FIFA World Cup winner, he scored over 1000 goals in his career and is regarded by many as the greatest footballer of all time.

  • Pele, ‘great’ now regarded as adjective in Portuguese dictionary

    Pele, ‘great’ now regarded as adjective in Portuguese dictionary

    The football player “Pele,” who is regarded as the best in history, is now an adjective.

    The term “pele” was added to the more than 167,000 words in the Brazilian-printed Michaelis Portuguese dictionary on Wednesday.

    The 265 million or more Portuguese speakers around the world can now use the word “pele” to refer to something or someone outstanding, the same way in which it is currently used colloquially in Brazil.

    “The expression already used to refer to someone who is the best at what they do has been eternalized on the pages of the dictionary!” the Pele Foundation said on Instagram.

    Under the new entry, the word is defined as “exceptional, incomparable, unique” — qualities associated with “The King” of football who died in December at the age of 82.

    The online version of the Michaelis also provides useful examples: “He is the pele of basketball… She is the pele of Brazilian drama.”

    For now, the word has been included only in the Michaelis online version, though it will be added to printed dictionaries in future.

    It is the result of a campaign by the Pele Foundation, the sports channel SporTV and the Sao Paulo football club Santos where Pele played for much of his career.

    Pele scored a world record 1,281 goals during his more than two decades playing with Santos (1956-74), the Brazilian national team, and the New York Cosmos (1975-77).

  • Endrick nip in the bud comparisons to Brazilian legend Pele

    Endrick nip in the bud comparisons to Brazilian legend Pele

    Endrick, a Brazilian forward, criticised the negative publicity that had been written about him and denied comparisons to Pele.

    When he turns 18 in July 2024, the 16-year-old will go to LaLiga after Real Madrid announced a contract to sign him from Palmeiras in December.

    After it was revealed that he would be moving to the Santiago Bernabeu, Endrick has battled with his form, scoring just once in 13 games across all competitions, and the heightened media attention he has been subjected to.

    “Sometimes I ask myself: Why are there so many stories about me? I didn’t ask for this. There are situations that cross a line,” he told GQ.

    “‘Ah, he’s the new Pele.’ Man, nobody is going to be Pele, he’s the king of football.

    “But there’s nothing I can do, I can’t ask people not to talk about my life.

    I always said I’d like all Brazilians to be able to be close to me, but I understand more and more that that’s not possible, there will always be people who attack me.”

    Endrick also criticised the false stories that have been published about him, adding: “I used to be aware of what people were saying about me. But not anymore.

    “I like TikTok, but when I see something about me, I move on quickly.

    “Recently a story came out saying that I was in therapy, but that’s a lie. The press don’t know what’s happening, and they publish it. But I can’t do anything.

    If I come out and contradict everything they say, I’d spend all my time doing it.”

  • Pele, George Weah,other players who became politicians after retirement

    Pele, George Weah,other players who became politicians after retirement

    Footballers rarely work in politics after they retire because the field hasn’t historically been known as a place where footballers could thrive.

    They frequently have a tendency to stick with the game that made them, so immediately following retirement, they begin a new football-related career.

    But while some have tried their hand at politics and were successful, others are still looking for a way to make a bigger difference in how their nation develops.

    Here are five footballers who turned politicians after retirement

    George Weah

    George Weah is arguably the greatest African player ever, considering the career he had playing for some great clubs like AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-German, and a few others.

    He is a three-time African player of the year and the only African footballer to have won the Balon d’Or.

    George Weah announced his intention to run for President in 2005, two years after his retirement.

    The AC Milan Hall of Famer engaged in several humanitarian activities during his playing career.

    “Baby in the woods” Weah lost on his first attempt in 2005 to the experienced Johnson Sirleaf.

    He went on to beat Sirleaf’s son Robert to become Liberian Senate from Montserrado County in 2014.

    He finally landed his desired presidential seat in 2017 when he amassed 61.54% of the vote to defeat Joseph Boakai in a run-off on the ticket of Coalition for Democratic Change.

    George Weah is now the 25th Liberian President in the country’s history.

    Pele

    Widely touted as the King of Football, Edson Ariantes Edson Arantes do Nascimento has a great legacy in football.

    He won three World Cup trophies, the most by a footballer and is the youngest player to score in the tournament as well as the first player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.

    After retirement, he served as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and a UN ambassador for ecology and the environment before becoming Brazil’s Extraordinary Minister for Sport. He left office in 2021.

    Pele passed on in 2022 at age 82.

    Sol Campbell

    Sol Campbell after retirement joined the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party in 2014. He immediately announced his intention to run for office in hopes of securing ‘black votes’ for his party.

    He was up for the party’s nomination for Mayor of London for the election in 2016 to replace Boris Johnson.

    Campbell, however, failed to make the shortlist.

    Sol Campbell was a highly-rated defender who spent all his career in England. He played for Tottenham, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Portsmouth, and Notts County.

    He also played for the Three Lions, making 73 appearances in his 11 years international career.


    Roman Pavlyuchenko

    Former Tottenham Hotspur, unlike the other players on the list, tried to juggle politics and football.

    A year before he secured his move to Tottenham in 2008, he helped current Russian president Vladimir Putin’s party secure a seat in his hometown Stavropol.

    Romario

    Romario de Souza Faria is a Brazilian great who had a successful career winning the World Cup, Copa America, FIFA Confederations Cup, and a host of club trophies playing for Barcelona, PSV, Flamengo, Vasco Da Gama, and a few others.

    Just like his career in football, the ex-striker has had a successful career path in politics.

    He was elected to the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Congress, during the general election in 2010.

    While in office, he lobbied against Brazil’s hosting of the 2014 World Cup, claiming that an event is an event for corruption and money laundering.
    In 2014, he was elected to the Brazilian senate after accumulating the most votes ever by a candidate.

    He switched parties to contest for governor of Rio de Janeiro during the general elections in 2018 but came fourth.

  • Pele names ‘secret’ daughter in his will

    Pele names ‘secret’ daughter in his will

    Late Brazilian football icon, Edson Arantes do Nascimento known popularly as Pele named a daughter he denied throughout his life in his will, the Mirror UK reports.

    The Mirror reports that despite a DNA test confirming that the three-time World Cup winner was the father of Sandra Regina, Pele never acknowledged it publicly whiles he was alive.

    But in his will, Sandra Regina who was born in 1964 and died in 2006 was mentioned as a beneficiary of Pele’s millions of dollars.

    The report claims that Sandra Regina who left behind two sons was one of seven children Pele named in his will.

    Sandra’s part of the estate, as per the report will pass on to the two grandchildren of Pele who met him whiles he was in the hospital.

    According to the report, meeting Octavio Felinto Neto and Gabriel Arantes do Nascimento was Pele’s final wish and it was granted as they visited him on December 28.

    Gabriel said: “I thank God for providing this moment, it was what my mother dreamed of most. I spoke to my aunts, and they said that our grandfather wanted to see us.

    “We were very excited, it was an opportunity we had been waiting for. Every family has fights and rows, ours is no different, but there are moments when union and love are more important than anything else. We are extremely happy.”

    Pele died on December 29, 2022, a day after meeting his grandchildren.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Cape Verde to rename national stadium after Pele

    Cape Verde to rename national stadium after Pele

    Due to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s stated wish for every country to rename a site after the late forward, Cape Verde has decided to rename its national stadium after Pele.

    The 82-year-old Brazilian legend, who won the World Cup three times, is still widely regarded as the best player in football history.

    Infantino urged each member of the federation to honor Pele by naming a stadium for him when he spoke at the attacker’s memorial earlier this week.

    According to the nation’s prime minister Ulisses Correia e Silva, Cape Verde will now rename its 15,000-seat Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde, which is situated just outside the capital Praia, as the Pele Stadium.

    “As a tribute and recognition to this figure that makes us all great, I manifest the intention of naming our national stadium as Pele Stadium,” he said in a statement on Facebook.

    http://tigpost.co/brazil-legend-pele-lying-in-state-in-santos-stadium/

    “[This is] an initiative that, I believe, will be followed by several countries around the world.

    “With the physical disappearance of Edson Arantes de Nascimento, King Pele, who soon became a planetary figure, it is now our wish to pay tribute to him.

    “Cape Verde and Brazil have a history and culture that go hand in hand, considering they are two sister countries, linked by language and very similar identities.

    “Pele was and always will be a reference in Brazil, in our Portuguese-speaking countries and in the rest of the world, being an idol that links several generations.”

    Pele was laid to rest on Tuesday after a procession. His 77 goals for Brazil remain a joint-record for the men’s national team.

  • Brazil legend, Pele, lying in state in Santos’ stadium

    Brazil legend, Pele, lying in state in Santos’ stadium

    Throughout the night, thousands of mourners lined up to pay their respects to Pele, a legend of Brazil who is buried at the site of his old team Santos.

    Fans lined the streets to enter the stadium as Pele’s coffin was positioned in the middle of the field at the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Sao Paulo.

    The three-time World Cup champion passed away on December 29th at the age of 82.

    At 12:00 GMT on Tuesday, there will be a parade through Santos’ streets to a private family burial.

    “We’re going to ask every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums with the name of Pele,” said Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who attended the memorial.

    Following Pele’s passing, the Brazilian government proclaimed three days of national mourning.

    As the 24-hour vigil comes to an end, the newly elected president of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, will go to Santos, a city in the state of Sao Paulo, to pay his respects.

    The greatest footballer in history, Pele, had been receiving treatment for colon cancer since 2021.

    ‘There will be no one else like Pele’ – fans pay tribute

    Thousands of fans gathered on the streets as the hearse arrived at the stadium on Monday morning, with some queuing overnight to see the coffin.

    Former Brazil midfielder Ze Roberto and Pele’s son Edinho helped carry his coffin while floral wreaths were sent by Neymar, Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid.

    Beatrice woke up at six in the morning to travel with her husband from the city of Soracaba to Santos, and had been waiting for more than two hours in the queue.

    “I’m determined to pay my final respects to him,” the 56-year-old told the BBC.

    Pele fan Beatrice holding a rose as she queues to see Pele lying in state
    Beatrice queued for more than three hours to see Pele lying in state

    When asked what Pele meant to Brazilians aside from football, Beatrice said he had helped unite modern Brazil, breaking through racist standards in Brazilian society to open the world of football and wider society to black Brazilians.

    Wilson Genio queued with his 13 year old son Miguel, carrying white roses and a family treasure: a Santos Football Club flag personally signed by the legend himself.

    The flag reads: “To the family Genio, your friend Pele”.

    The Genio men had travelled overnight with the hearse carrying Pele’s body from Sao Paolo. “We followed him all the way. We’ve been here since 3.30am,” they said.

    “We could pass another 1,000, 2,000 years and there will no one like Pele. He’s the one and only legend.”

    Santos fans Wilson Genio and his son Miguel proudly pose with their signed Santos flag from Pele
    Wilson Genio and his son Miguel queued to pay their respects with a signed flag from Pele himself

    ‘The whole city is drawn to the stadium’

    The BBC’s Frances Mao in Santos

    It is baking hot- about 30 degrees in Santos, but it feels like the whole city is drawn to the heart of Vila Belmiro stadium where Pele’s coffin lies.

    A steady stream of mourners pass through the centre to pay their final respects – sometimes a smattering of applause breaks out as they pass his coffin. People from all over Brazil – and the outside world – have come. I spot a Mexican flag, a Dutch pin.

    There are several news helicopters buzzing overhead. People are dressed in the striped black-and-white jerseys of the Santos Football Club – Pele’s team – or in Brazilian national team yellow jersey.

    Pele’s voice blasts over the stands in the stadium – his 2006 song “Meu Legado”, meaning My Legacy, is playing on repeat.

    Outside the stadium, a queue of thousands snakes for kilometres across half a dozen city blocks. It is a two-hour wait in the midday sun.

    Men have taken off their shirts to wrap around their heads like bandanas. Others are fanning themselves with the tribute newspaper printed just for the day. Some have come prepared with hats, umbrellas and their tributes.

    Sometimes a Mexican wave ripples through. There are occasional chants of Pele! Rei! But mostly, the crowds are patient in the heat, waiting for their turn to say goodbye.

    The hearse carrying Pele's coffin arrives to Santos as a firework goes off in the early morning
    Hundreds of fireworks were set off on Monday as Pele arrived at Santos’ stadium
    Shirts with Pele's face and number 10 are hung up in the Santos FC stadium
    The city of Santos prepares to say goodbye to its hero Pele, who played 656 competitive matches for the club
    Pele's coffin is carried in front of a Brazilian flag
    Several authorities are expected to attend the memorial, including newly sworn-in Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
    Fans queuing outside Santos football stadium
    Pele’s body will lie in state at Santos’ stadium for 24 hours for the public to pay their respects
    FIFA President Gianni Infantino with Pele's son Edinho
    Fifa president Gianni Infantino attended the memorial
    Mourners stand in line outside Vila Belmiro stadium as they wait to pay their respects to Pele
    Thousands of mourners from all around the world are expected to gather in Santos
  • Fans pay last respect to Pele in stadium at Brazil

    Fans pay last respect to Pele in stadium at Brazil

    On Monday, mourners gathered in line to view Pele’s casket at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium, the longtime home of the Brazilian football legend’s team, Santos.

    The three-time World Cup champion’s coffin left Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo early on Monday and was taken to the stadium, where he played some of the best matches of his career for the Santos soccer club.

    The club said in a statement that the public would be able to pay their last respects at the stadium in the coastal city outside Sao Paulo.

    Visiting hours were expected to start at 10 am local time and it’s expected to close same time on Tuesday when a private burial ceremony would be held.

    Pele died on Thursday, December 29 at age 82 after a long battle with cancer.

    Pele had a colon tumour removed in September 2021. Neither his family nor the hospital has said whether it had spread to other organs.

    Source: African News

  • Pele’s hearse welcomed by fireworks ahead of wake

    Pele’s hearse welcomed by fireworks ahead of wake

    As Pele’s hearse traveled to the location of the 24-hour public wake that starts on Monday, football fans in Sao Paulo lit fireworks and waved flags in the streets.

    Three-time World Cup champion Pele was placed in hospice care in the beginning of December after his body stopped responding to cancer therapy.

    His passing was reported on Thursday. He was 82.

    After leaving a lasting impression on Brazil and Santos, for whom he scored 643 goals in 659 games over the course of 18 years, tributes have poured in for the football legend.

    Early on Monday morning, his body departed the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital, where he passed away, in preparation for his wake, which drew throngs of people to say their final goodbyes.

    The public wake will be held at Santos’ Vila Belmiro stadium beginning at 10:00 local time, with Pele’s casket positioned in the middle of the field.

    Fans and dignitaries can pay their respects till Tuesday at 10:00 local time.

    Pele will subsequently be buried in a private ceremony on the ninth level of the Memorial Necropole Ecumenica, a vertical cemetery with a moving view of the Vila Belmiro about half a mile distant, following a procession through the streets of Santos.

  • Brazil prepares to say final goodbye to Pele

    Brazil prepares to say final goodbye to Pele

    The funeral for Brazilian football legend Pelé will be held in the stadium where he competed in some of his best games.

    Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, passed away on December 29 after a protracted battle with cancer. He was 82.

    The public will be able to pay their final respects at Vila Belmiro Stadium, outside of Sao Paulo, according to Santos, the team where Pele played.

    His mother Celeste, who is 100 years old, will be honored as the coffin is brought through the Santos streets and in front of her house.

    Early on Monday, the casket carrying the three-time World Cup champion will leave Albert Einstein Hospital and be positioned in the field’s center circle.

    From Monday at 10 a.m. to the following day, visitors will be welcome. On Tuesday, alone in the presence of his family, he will be buried at the Memorial Necropole Ecumenica, a vertical cemetery in Santos.

  • I will forever cherish the memories of your skills – President Akufo-Addo pays tribute to Pelé

    President of Ghana H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stressed that it was a privilege that he had the chance to watch the late Pelé play football during his playing days.

    Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, the global icon popularly known as Pelé sadly passed away on Thursday, December 29.

    In a statement to pay tribute to the football great, President Akufo-Addo said there will never be another player like Pelé.

    “The whole world of sports is poorer today for the loss of one of its greatest figures, certainly its greatest soccer player, with the departure to Heaven of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, the iconic, legendary Pele. Those of us who had the privilege to witness his incomparable career will cherish forever the memories of skill, talent, determination, and sheer athleticism which we derived from his playing of the game he himself described as “the beautiful game”

    “He used his towering status to be an advocate for the poor, for children, for young people, for black people, and to be an inspiration to several generations of footballers. The Ghanaian people, who admired him deeply, join me in expressing our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to his family, the Brazilian people, the Brazilian government, and football and sports lovers the world over,” President Akufo-Addo said in his statement.

    H.E Akufo-Addo added, “There will never be another like him. May his soul rest in perfect peace with the blessings of the Almighty.”

    World Pelé died at the age of 82 after battling cancer for years.

  • Pelé will forever live in the hearts and minds of football lovers – CAF President

    The President of CAF, Dr. Patrice Motsepe on behalf of the continent has paid tribute to deceased world football icon, Pelé.

    The Brazilian legend passed away on Thursday, December 29, after battling cancer for a while.

    Reacting to the death of the great footballer, Dr, Patrice Motsepe said Pelé will forever remain in the hearts and minds of people all over the world.

    “Pelé was a unique inspiration to the African Continent and to football lovers worldwide and his death is a huge loss for supporters and fans of football globally. We have on several occasions over the past 18 months used his statement that an African Nation will win the FIFA World Cup by the year 2000, as a source of inspiration to motivate the African Nations participating in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

    “We have also been inspired by the work he did and his commitment to improve the living conditions of the poor and marginalized. Pelé will forever live in the hearts and minds of football lovers in Africa and worldwide,” the CAF President noted.

    Pelé died at the age of 82.

  • FIFA mourns Pele

    World football governing body, FIFA has reacted to the death of football great, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, popularly known as ‘Pelé’.

    In a post on social media, FIFA said this is the day it never wanted to see come to pass.

    The FIFA statement while mourning the passing of Pelé adds that may he rest in peace after joining his ancestors.

    “FIFA and all of the football world is mourning the death of O Eterno Rei – the eternal king. Rest in peace, Pelé. Our thoughts and sympathies are with your family, friends and all who had the joy of watching you play.

    “For everyone who loves the beautiful game, this is the day we never wanted to come. The day we lost Pelé.” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement to pay tribute to Pelé.

    FIFA and all of the football world is mourning the death of O Eterno Rei – the eternal king.

    “Rest in peace, Pelé. Our thoughts and sympathies are with your family, friends and all who had the joy of watching you play”.

    Pelé passed away at the hospital on Thursday at the age of 82 after battling cancer for several years.

    In an official statement from the family of Pele, it said, “Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele who peacefully passed away today. On his journey, Edson enchanted the world with his genius in sport, stopped a war, carried out social works all over the world, and spread what he most believed to be the cure for all our problems: love.

    “His message today becomes a legacy for future generations. Love, love. And love

  • Pele: Brazil legend dies aged 82 after battle with cancer

    Brazil football legend Pele, one of the greatest players of all time, has died at the age of 82.

    The former striker, who is the only player in history to win three World Cups, passed away at the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo following a battle with cancer.

    A message from Pele’s official Twitter account on Thursday read: “Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pelé, who peacefully passed away today. Love, love and love, forever.”

    Pele, who is Brazil’s joint all-time top scorer with 77 goals in 92 matches, became an icon of the game after winning the World Cup in 1958 as a 17-year-old, netting twice in the final to defeat hosts Sweden.

    Pele, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, to a poor family in Sao Paulo, won the 1958, 1962 and 1970 World Cups with Brazil.

    Injury restricted his contribution to Brazil’s triumph in 1962 in Chile but he was player of the tournament eight years later, as Brazil assembled one of the greatest sides of all time and lifted the Jules Rimet trophy in Mexico thanks to a 4-1 win over Italy in which Pele scored the opening goal.

    That goal makes him one of only five players to have scored in two World Cup finals and, thanks to his exploits in 1958, he remains the youngest player to have netted a goal at the tournament.

    In total, Pele scored 12 goals in 14 World Cup appearances and also provided 10 assists – the most by any player in the history of the competition, and a reminder that he was much more than a goalscorer.`

    It was his spectacular scoring feats, though, that made him a Santos legend at club level.

    Pele holds his hometown side’s all-time goal record and helped them to two Copa Libertadores titles and six Brazilian league crowns during a glittering 18-year spell with the club.

    Pele, who scored 1,281 goals in 1,363 games for club and country during his career, ended his playing days at New York Cosmos and retired from football in 1977.

    Pele embraces Brazilian goalkeeper Ado at the Estadio Azteca, in Mexico City, after Brazil beat Italy 4-1 to win the World Cup, 21st June 1970. Pele scored the first goal in a game that ensured Brazil kept the Jules Rimet trophy
    Image: Pele celebrates winning the 1970 World Cup

    After retiring, Pele acted as an ambassador for football. In 2013, he was awarded the FIFA Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur in recognition of his career and achievements. In 2020, he was named in the Ballon d’Or Dream Team, a greatest of all-time XI.

    Neymar: King Pele is forever

    Neymar, Brazil’s joint-highest scorer in men’s international football alongside Pele, shared an emotional tribute to his idol following his passing.

    “‘Before Pelé, 10, was just a number’,” Neymar, who wears the No 10 for Brazil and also started his career with Santos, wrote in a post on Instagram.

    “I’ve read this phrase somewhere, at some point in my life. But this sentence, beautiful, is incomplete.

    “I would say before Pelé football was just a sport. Pelé has changed it all. He turned football into art, into entertainment.

    “He gave voice to the poor, to black people and especially: he gave visibility to Brazil. Soccer and Brazil have raised their status thanks to the King! He’s gone but his magic remains. Pelé is forever.”

    Martin Tyler: ‘In the football world Pele is immortal’

    Sky Sports football commentator Martin Tyler says Pele deserves to be remembered as the best player to have played the game.

    He said: “For me he is the greatest player of all time. One of my early jobs outside of television was to put the English voice on a VHS, as it was in those days, of his Brazil career and his 1,000 goals.

    “If I had any doubts about how good he was, that video proved it. It was a privilege to do that and pay tribute to a man who could do so much more than score goals.

    “He will always be remembered for the ability to score amazing goals in terrible conditions on bumpy pitches, when players had more license to use all means to stop him. He was irresistible.

    “Undoubtedly for me he will always be the greatest and in the football world he is immortal.”

    Source: SkySports

  • Brazil football legend Pele dies aged 82

    Brazilian football legend Pele has been reported dead.

    He died at the age of 82.

    The player, Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, who is arguably the best in the world is credited with scoring a world record 1,281 goals in 1,363 appearances during a 21-year career, including 77 goals in 92 matches for his country.

    The only player to win the World Cup three times, lifting the trophy in 1958, 1962 and 1970, Pele was named Fifa’s Player of the Century in 2000.

    He had been suffering with kidney and prostate problems in recent years.

    Pele had surgery to remove a tumour from his colon in September 2021 at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, after the tumour was detected in routine tests.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • Pelé congratulates Messi and Mbappé after World Cup final

    Brazil great Pele congratulated Lionel Messi and Argentina for winning the World Cup and Kylian Mbappe for his goal-scoring exploits in Sunday’s final.

    Pele, who won a record three World Cups as a player, has been in the hospital to treat a respiratory infection.

    He posted his message on Instagram after Argentina beat defending champion France 4-2 in a penalty shootout following a 3-3 draw at Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

    ”Today, football continues to tell its story, as always, in an enthralling way,” Pele wrote in his post. ”Messi winning his first World Cup, as his trajectory deserved. My dear friend, Mbappe, scoring four goals in a final. What a gift it was to watch this spectacle to the future of our sport.”

    Messi scored two goals in the match and finally won the lone trophy that had eluded him in his remarkable career. Mbappe, who scored in the 2018 title match when he was a teenager just as Pele did in 1958, became only the second player in history to score a hat trick in the World Cup final.

    Both Messi and Mbappe also scored in the penalty shootout.

    Messi ended up winning the Golden Ball award as the best player of the tournament and Mbappe won the Golden Boot award as the top scorer with eight goals in seven matches.

    Pele also took time to mention Morocco for its history-making run as the first African team to reach the semifinals at the tournament.

    ”And I couldn’t fail to congratulate Morocco for the incredible campaign,” Pele wrote. ”It’s great to see Africa shine.”

    Pele ended his message by again lauding Argentina and mentioning the man most often associated with him as the greatest players the game has ever seen – Diego Maradona.

    Maradona, who led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title, died in 2020.

    ”Congratulations Argentina!” Pele wrote. ”Certainly Diego is smiling now.”

    Source: Yahoo

  • Pele celebrates Messi, Argentina for World Cup victory

    Pele, a legend of Brazil, has congratulated Argentina on their stunning World Cup victory and said Lionel Messi’s success was what “his trajectory deserved.”

    Pele, who has recently been hospitalized, has been paying attention to the happenings at Qatar 2022 and stated that the late Diego Maradona would have enjoyed Argentina’s trophy victory.

    The significant milestone for 35-year-old Messi means he now matches compatriot Maradona, who was the inspiration behind Argentina’s success in Mexico 86, by winning his first World Cup. In November 2020, at the age of 60, Maradona passed away.

    “Congratulations Argentina! Certainly Diego is smiling now,” Pele wrote on Instagram.

    Pele, 82, expressed sadness for Kylian Mbappe, who lost after scoring two penalties and a spectacular volley to clinch just the second hat-trick in a men’s World Cup final, following Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick for England against West Germany in 1966.

    Following a Sunday 3-3 tie, Argentina won the trophy after a 4-2 victory in the penalties shootout, thanks to misses from Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni.

    Before he and Mbappe, a teammate from Paris Saint-Germain, both scored a penalty to start the shootout, Messi scored twice in a memorable game.

    Messi was awarded the Golden Ball for the second time as the tournament’s best player, and Mbappe took home the Golden Boot for leading scorer with eight goals.

    Three-time World Cup winner Pele hailed Mbappe’s feat of hitting the back of the net four times, including the shoot-out, and he also offered praise to Morocco, who finished fourth after becoming Africa’s first World Cup semi-finalists.

    “Today, football continues to tell its story, as always, in an enthralling way,” Pele said. “Messi winning his first World Cup, as his trajectory deserved.

    “My dear friend, Mbappe, scoring four goals in a final. What a gift it was to watch this spectacle to the future of our sport.

    “And I couldn’t fail to congratulate Morocco for the incredible campaign. It’s great to see Africa shine.”

  • ‘Neymar can play the next World Cup’ – Ronaldo backs Brazil talisman to play on after 2022 disappointment

    What happened? The Selecao entered that tournament as favourites to claim a sixth global crown, but their quest for more major honours came to a close at the quarter-final stage when suffering a penalty shootout defeat to Croatia.

    There have been suggestions that Neymar, who is now 30 years of age, may have graced such a stage for the last time, but iconic countryman Ronaldo believes the Paris Saint-Germain forward will add to his haul of 124 caps and pull clear of Pele as his nation’s all-time leading goalscorer.

    What they said: Ronaldo has told AP: “I think Neymar is very upset with the result of the World Cup for the Brazil national team. It’s normal that he’s feeling that way for now, but I’m also sure that he will come back stronger and continue playing with the national team. He’s still young… I think he can play the next World Cup.”

    The bigger picture: Neymar, who has never won a senior international title with Brazil, is level with Pele on 77 goals at the top of a notable scoring chart and Ronaldo sees enough determination in the talented playmaker to suggest that he will want to go on to 2026. The two-time World Cup winner added: “I’m very happy that he showed the world a commitment for the last six months, for the Brazil national team. He behaved himself. He took care of himself. And he played a good match, the first match. He got a very strong tackle on his ankle. He made a huge sacrifice to play again for the national team. He played very good in the last match. I think he’s very important for us. So I hope that [he] gets well soon and back strong in the football world with PSG and the Brazil national team.”

  • Brazil advised to change shirt stars to hearts to celebrate Pele’s World Cup wins

    Brazilian football officials have been urged to replace three of the five stars on their jerseys with hearts as a tribute to Pele by South American football authorities.

    Brazil presently sports five stars on its well-known yellow jerseys to signify their five World Cup victories, which is the most of any other country.

    Pele was a member of the team during three of the World Cup victories, and no other player has scored more goals for Brazil. After scoring his 77th Selecao goal in Friday’s World Cup quarterfinal loss to Croatia, Neymar has now equaled Pele for the record.

    That loss came in the wake of the news that Pele had been hospitalised back home in Sao Paulo, though it was reported the 82-year-old is making “progressive improvement”.

    CONMEBOL, the South American confederation, sent Pele its best wishes while proposing Brazil make an alteration to their kits.

    It said in a statement: “A hundred people gathered this Sunday, December 11, at the CONMEBOL Tree Of Dreams in Doha, Qatar, to honour Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known sportingly as Pele, the only player in soccer history to win three world titles.

    “It is in honour of this unprecedented event that the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) proposes to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) that they change three of the five World Cup stars that appear on the chest of their shirt for three hearts, in recognition of Pele.

    “Another central focus of the act was the message of encouragement and great strength to Pele, admitted since November 29 at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, where he is recovering satisfactorily from a lung infection, according to the doctors.”

    Alejandro Dominguez, the CONMEBOL president, added: “We are on his side in this game that he is playing. It is the right time to pay tribute to him again and let him know that he will live in the heart of anyone who loves football. Our job is for people to continue to know and love Pele.”


  • Brazil legend Pele says hospital admission just a ‘monthly visit’

    Pele has taken action to reassure the public that his most recent hospital stay was only a “monthly visit.”

    The three-time World Cup champion, who is considered one of the best players ever, has been receiving medical attention at home in Brazil.

    Last year, Pele had surgery to remove a tumor from his colon, and ever since, he has been in and out of the hospital.

    Following his admission earlier this week, his daughter Kely Nascimento stated on Wednesday that there was “no surprise or emergency” regarding her father’s hospitalization.

    The Brazilian men’s team competing in the World Cup in Qatar delivered an encouraging message to the 82-year-old.

    Pele took to Instagram to show his gratitude for the support, sharing a picture of a building in Qatar with his image and the words “get well soon” lit up.

    “Friends, I am at the hospital making my monthly visit,” he wrote. “It’s always nice to receive positive messages like this. Thanks to Qatar for this tribute, and to everyone who sends me good vibes.”

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Pelé (@pele)

  • ‘Pele had Ghana in mind!’ – World Cup trophy dream as Black Stars prepare for Ronaldo and Co

    Pele “had Ghana in mind” when he predicted a team from Africa would eventually win the World Cup, the country’s president said on Friday.

    As the Black Stars set off for Qatar, hopes are high at home that the 2010 quarter-finalists can have another strong tournament.

    Brazil great Pele forecast in the 1970s that a team from Africa would win football’s greatest global title before the end of the century.

    That did not come to fruition, and Africa has yet to produce a World Cup semi-finalist. Few would expect that to change in Qatar 2022, and Ghana enter the tournament as long shots.

    The opening game for Otto Addo’s team comes on November 24 against Portugal, who should have superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in their ranks.

    President Nana Akufo-Addo said: “A long time ago, the greatest footballer that’s ever lived, the Brazilian Pele, said that very soon an African country is going to lift that trophy, and I know that he had in mind Ghana.

    “Let’s all together rally around the young men and the team and make sure we give them our maximum support.

    “They’re going to go a long way away in Doha and Qatar, but they should know the entire nation, without distinction of politics, or religion, or ethnicity; the entire Ghanaian nation are 100 per cent solidly behind them.”

    Ghana will also face South Korea and Uruguay in Group H, and the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG) challenged the team to “hoist the flag of Ghana even higher on global football’s ultimate stage”.

    “As the mother body of all professional footballers in the country, the PFAG expects a sterling showing from our gallant warriors to make all Ghanaians proud,” the association said in a statement.

    “We wish the playing body the very best as they lace up their boots to do battle on the world stage.

    “To the technical bench, we urge you to continue doing your utmost and to leave no stone unturned in mapping out our assured paths to victory.

    “Finally, to all teeming and passionate fans of the Black Stars, we ask that you enjoin us in fervent prayer and resounding support for our Stars!

    “Let’s chant and sing in one voice to push our team beyond all hurdles in their quest to shine bright in Qatar!”

    Source: Livescore