Pele the Brazilian football legend widely regarded as the greatest player of all time has died at the age of 82. he’d been in hospital for several weeks being treated for cancer during his 21-year long career he scored more than 1200 goals in more than 1300 appearances and became the only player to win the World Cup three times in Brazil he is hailed as a national hero for his achievements in football and for his repeated calls to improve the social conditions of the poor tonight tributes to him have been pouring in from all corners of the world our sports editor Dan Rohn reports on the life of one of the true greats team sparring for an opening in already can eased up rivolino he’s got it can I have scored and that is Brazil’s 100th soul in the World Cup if football is the world’s game then Pele was the world’s greatest player for most fans that’s a statement of fact well over a thousand goals a career of over 20 years and three times a World Cup winner but don’t just look at statistics look at the style [Applause] belly Brazilian football synonymous with flair and success was built on Pele having been born into poverty in 1958 he took part in his first World Cup Tournament aged just 17. he scored six goals in four matches playing himself to the point of exhaustion when Brazil beats Sweden in the final one opponent said when he watched Pele he felt like applauding Billy number three injury limited his role in the 1962 World Cup and in 1966 Glory was destined for elsewhere opposing teams knew they had to stop Pele one way or another four years later in 1970 in Mexico pelay was part of a Brazilian team widely regarded as the finest ever [Applause] they won the World Cup with a freedom of expression and fluency never seen before it was pele’s last World Cup without him Brazil waited another 24 years before winning the trophy again Pele remained in demand after all he was one of the most famous names and faces in the world he spent 18 years with one Club Santos averaging nearly a goal a game by 1975 he was in the United States the ultimate acquisition for a new league hungry for glamor the league didn’t last but Pele still thrilled New York after football he took on ambassadorial roles commercial opportunities politics and naturally collected recognition this Lifetime Achievement Award from the BBC just one example Pele expressed no regrets if I have to to do everything again again since I was born until now I will do everything again and I thank God peely had been receiving treatment for colon cancer for some time and amid reports that his condition was worsening his presence was felt throughout Brazil’s campaign at the recent World Cup in Qatar last week his daughter posted this update from her father’s bedside in hospital in Sao Paulo and tonight she confirmed his death saying everything we are is thanks to you he’s unquestionably one of the greatest football players that’s ever lived and you have to be a certain age of course and I’m one of those people that were lucky enough to see him my first World Cup I remember was 1970 that brilliant Brazilian side that he was the the star of and he had a profound effect on on my love of football the popularity of football the very idea of what makes it entertaining began more than with any other man Edson Arantes Don nasimento simply Pele well tonight the arch at Wembley Stadium has been lit up in the colors of Brazil as tributes pour into the man many called the king the French football star kylian mbappe said the king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten and the Brazilian star Neymar said Pele turned football into art into entertainment he gave voice to the poor visibility to Brazil our Sports correspondent Joe Wilson reports on the reaction to his death you didn’t need to meet Pele to feel that you knew him anyone with the slightest connection to football with the slenderest interest in sport grew up with pele’s image with his reputation many visited the museum some remember the matches among pele’s contemporaries were some of England’s most famous players like Gordon Banks like another England World Cup winner Sir Jeff Hurst he wrote on social media I have so many memories of Pele without doubt the best footballer I ever played against with Bobby Moore the best footballer I played alongside for me Pele Remains the greatest of all time and I was proud to be on the pitch with him R.I.P Pele and thank you and here are some tributes from today’s brightest stars Lionel Messi wrote simply rest in peace Pele Cristiano Ronaldo said the love you always showed me was reciprocated in every moment we shared even from distance he will never be forgotten and his memory will live forever in each and every one of us football lovers in Brazil pele’s nearest current equivalent is Neymar from him I would say before Pele football was just a sport pelay has changed everything he turned football into art into entertainment he gave a voice to the poor to black people and mostly gave visibility to Brazil the Deep respect spans Generations it spans Sports too when Usain Bolt describes pelay as a sporting Legend the word has the context it truly deserves what pelly stood for and still represents is Joy without that what is Sport Pele over his career took football from black and white images to its fullest boldest colors to its Global status yes why else would Wembley’s Arch be changed to the colors of Brazil of Joy the colors of Pele Joe Wilson BBC News uh South America across one of Katie Watson is outside the hospital in Sao Paulo where Pele died earlier today and Katie tell us more about the reaction there in Brazil well this was a moment that every Brazilian knew was going to happen but at the same time of course dreaded and behind me where he died just a few hours ago there are there’s press from around the world there are also fans who have come to pay their respect the hospital issued a statement saying that it’s shared with the family and everyone else the suffering that comes with the loss of our beloved king of football I just think that shows that the mark of respect that everybody here had for Pele even Lula who will be becoming president of Brazil at the weekend he said there was no number 10 shirt like him I think whether you’re young or old whether you remembered him playing or whether you were told by your parents or your grandparents about how he played he was an icon for everyone and in this country which has been so divided politically he was so much he was above that he was above politics he really was a king for people here in Brazil Katie thank you and let’s get a final word from our sports editor Dan Rohn who’s at the BBC Sports Center in Salford and just just give us an idea I mean we’ve got one already but how Pele will be remembered I think for many Sophie it’s quite simply the greatest this was a man whose skill but also his smile came to Define not just a Brazil National Team but also the World Cup and indeed the sport itself but I think Pele transcended football because remember years decades after his retirement he remained one of the most famous people in any Walk of Life on the planet despite the difficulty of comparing legends from different eras inevitably there’ll always be that debate around who was the greatest and in particular of course comparisons with his fellow South American Diego Maradona what’s undeniable however is that no one can match those three World Cup victories that Pele was part of he remains the youngest ever goal scorer in a World Cup final his prolific scoring for both club and country is quite remarkable I think such statistics don’t do justice to his skill and technique which were years ahead of its time but also it’s worth considering that the image of the beaming Pele in the gold of Brazil came to embody I think for many people that concept of the beautiful game but also I think it gave Brazil a national identity he arguably did more than any other player to ensure that that was the country that for many was most closely associated with football the country that became known as the one that was most in love with football consider also the fact that he was born just 52 years after Brazil abolished slavery he became one of the first black Global sporting Superstars he was vocal about the need for greater education in his country as well it’s Testament to the impact that he made the outpouring of tributes this evening but I think for many football fans around the world it’s the skill above all and the smile that will Define this player he was known as The King and it does seem a very fitting nickname given the Majesty of his skill and I think for many he will be more than any other footballer the player who made the game beautiful
