Page 36 - Seniorstoday January 2023 Issue
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blazed a goal-scoring trail that marked
him out as being significantly different to the Brazilian when presenting him with a
other players around him. Similarly, he Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award, in
displayed levels of skill which even today 2000.
mean that some observers of the game place Pelé’s talent has never been in doubt.
the Brazilian ahead of the likes of other Yet it was fortuitous that he played at a
contenders for the title of Greatest of All time when soccer was emerging from the
Time: Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona. shadows cast by global conflict, when the
Within a year of signing for Santos, Pelé world needed symbols of hope and sporting
made his debut for Brazil, three months heroes.
short of his 17th birthday. He scored in that The Brazilian was able to serve this
game against Argentina, and 65 years later purpose, though he did so during a period
he remains the Brazilian national team’s when television – first black-and-white,
youngest-ever scorer. then color – brought soccer directly into
A year later, in 1958, this young player people’s living rooms. At the time, Pelé was
helped his national team win the World Messi, Ronaldo and Mbappé rolled into one
Cup in Sweden. Then again in 1962, at the – made globally consumable by this new
World Cup in Chile, and once more at the technology.
1970 tournament in Mexico. Inevitably, during his life, Pelé
Ultimately, Pelé played 92 times for encountered problems: his commercial
Brazil, scoring 77 goals. By comparison, activities were sometimes mired in
England’s Harry Kane has scored 53 times controversy; at one stage he was labeled
in 80 matches. In addition to his national a left-wing antagonist of the Brazilian
team achievements, for his club Pelé won government, then was later described as
six Brazilian league titles and two South being too conservative in his views of the
American championships. Brazilian dictatorship. He had numerous
children – some the result of affairs – and
The American years one of them, a son, Edinho, was sent to
Later, in 1975, he came out of semi- prison for laundering money made from
retirement to play for the New York drug deals.
Cosmos in the North American Soccer However, the abiding memory is of a man
League. By then, Pelé was in his mid-30s who played soccer in a way that many of us
but still managed to score 37 goals in 64 – both amateurs and professionals – have
matches. Some believe that it was his brief all aspired to. Pelé was not only skillful,
stint playing in the United States that kick- he also brought great joy to innumerable
started the country’s interest in football. people across the world, over a period of
After his retirement, Pelé was venerated, decades. For all of us, even those with just
adored and remained influential. He the slightest interest in football, we will
became FIFA’s Player of the 20th century, never forget him.
an award he shared with Maradona. Simon Chadwick is Professor of Sport
In 2014, he was given FIFA’s first ever and Geopolitical Economy at the SKEMA
Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur and even Business School. Republished with
Nelson Mandela spoke of his regard for permission from: theconversation.com
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