Pele: Goalscorer, World Cup winner, hero, icon and legend

Brazil legend Pele, who has died aged 82, is widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, the iconic sporting figure for a country that regards itself as the game's spiritual home. Pele's greatness can be measured by the simple fact that he could make football a spectacle of natural grace and beauty when he missed as much as when he scored. One of the game's first global personalities, he scored a world record 1,281 goals in 1,363 games and layered his brilliance across a career spanning from his start as a teenager with Santos to a finish as a money-spinner at New York Cosmos. And wherever football is played, the name of Pele will synonymous with it. Brazil legend Pele dies aged 82 Recap: Neymar & Mbappe lead reaction & tributes to Pele How Pele cemented his legacy at the 1970 World Cup Watch: Seven great Pele moments Pele: A sporting icon who made football beautiful Pele - the boy genius Pele started out as a young boy at Bauru FC in Sao Paulo state under the guidance of former Brazil international Waldemar de Brito. When he came to the attention of Brazil's elite, he chose to join his mentor's former club Santos. It was not long before he was making his senior debut, aged 15, on 7 September 1956, scoring the first of more than 1,000 career goals in a 7-1 win against Corinthians Santo Andre.

Comments