While the World Cup in Qatar is in full swing, 82-year-old Brazilian football legend Pele is struggling with health problems. Pele, who won the World Cup championship 3 times with Brazil, left his mark on the cups with 12 goals scored throughout the history of the tournament.
If you ask “Who is the best soccer player in the world?” you are likely to get answers like “Pele, Maradona, Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo”. Perhaps there was only one answer to this question until the legend of Maradona emerged in the 80s. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known to everyone as Pele. Born on October 23, 1940, Pele left his mark on football in the late 50s, 60s and 70s.
Today, Pele is back on the agenda with health problems. The 82-year-old soccer legend has been undergoing treatment for colon cancer since 2021. It was reported in the press that Pele’s body no longer responded to the chemotherapy he received for colon cancer treatment. However, his family made statements denying these news.
HE KEPT HIS PROMISE TO HIS FATHER
So how did Pele become a legend? Pele has a special significance for Brazilian soccer fans with his goals and Brazilian and South American championships with Santos, a club he played for the entirety of his career, with the exception of the New York Cosmos adventure at the end of his football life. For the rest of the world, however, the World Cup comes to mind when they think of Pele. Pele, who won 3 championships in the 4 World Cups he played in and achieved a very difficult achievement, holds the title of the soccer player who has won the most World Cup titles.
It was not easy for the undisputed legend of Brazil to become a football god. But it was the 1950 World Cup final that marked his first World Cup win. In a stunning final played at the Maracana Stadium in Rio De Janiero, Brazil, Brazil lost 2-1 to Uruguay in front of 200,000 fans. While millions of people in Brazil were devastated after failing to win their first championship, Pele’s father was one of those who were saddened. Pele, who was not yet 10 years old, was telling his father not to worry, that he would surely win the World Cup one day:
“Don’t worry dad. I will win a World Cup for you.”
Pele would wait 8 years to fulfill this promise. In 1957, at the age of 16, Pele donned the jersey of the Brazilian National Team against Argentina, and a year later he would find a place in the squad for the championship to be held in Sweden. The youngster scored a total of 6 goals in the tournament. Three of these goals were against France in the semifinals and two against Sweden in the final. In the 1958 World Cup final, Brazil beat Sweden 5-2 and Pele became the youngest player to score in a World Cup final at the age of 17 years and 239 days. This record is still unbroken to this day. As Brazil became the champion, Pele, who fulfilled his promise to his father, could not hold back his tears.
HE SAID GOODBYE TO THE TOURNAMENT WITH AN INJURY
Brazil, the defending champions of the 1962 World Cup in Chile, were again ambitious. In this tournament, Pele scored 1 goal and made one assist. However, in just the second match of the championship, the footballer was injured after a shot and he was shut down. Nevertheless, Brazil would go all the way to the final, beating Czechoslovakia 3-1 in the final and winning the cup for the second time in a row. Amarildo, who played for Pele throughout the tournament, would impress by scoring 3 goals, including one against Czechoslovakia in the final.
The next cup was held in England. Before the 1966 World Cup, Pele was considered by the whole world as the best footballer of the era. Brazil, which was considered the clear favorite of the tournament, defeated Bulgaria in the group stage, but lost to Hungary and Portugal and were eliminated. Pele, who scored one goal in this tournament, could only play in two matches due to injury.
The next cup was held in England. Before the 1966 World Cup, Pele was considered by the whole world as the best footballer of the era. Brazil, which was considered the clear favorite of the tournament, defeated Bulgaria in the group stage, but lost to Hungary and Portugal and were eliminated. Pele, who scored one goal in this tournament, could only play in two matches due to injury.
After the 1966 championship, Pele announced that he quit the Brazilian National Team, but returned to the Brazilian team at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. Pele scored 4 goals in this tournament, showing his magnificent football. Brazil beat Italy 4-1 in the final and won the cup for the third time. The 4th goal scored by Brazil against Italy is still remembered. Pele rolled the ball to Carlos Alberto, the legendary right-back, and the legendary right-back scored a goal with a very smooth kick on the spot, concluding Brazil’s spectacular raid with passes.
3 CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 4 WORLD CUPS
Pele played in 14 matches in the 4 World Cups he appeared in and managed to find the net 12 times in total. “Pelé was very ambitious, like all the big nutters,” says his Brazilian national teammate Tostao of the famous footballer, who was part of Brazil’s 3-time champion squad: “He doesn’t need to be compared to anyone else!”
