Newsnomics AJAY ANGELINA reporter | Pele, Brazilian King of Soccer, a trans-formative figure of the 20th century has died on Thursday December 29, 2022 in São Paulo, Brazil at his age 82.

“The cause of the death was multiple organ failure, that resulted in the progression of colon cancer.” said the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in São Paulo.

Pelé, ‘the soccer king’ had been receiving treatment for cancer since 2021, and he entered the hospital several weeks ago for treatment for the multiple health issues, including a respiratory infection.

 

 

Pele’s funeral started on Monday as thousands of fans gathered to give tribute to the Brazilian Soccer icon.

The oceanside stadium of the team nicknamed “Peixe” – “fish” in Portuguese – opened its doors at 10am

(13:00 GMT) for a 24-hour wake, to be followed by a funeral procession through the streets of Santos on

Tuesday, then a private interment at a cemetery about 600m (1,968 feet) from the stadium.

The procession will end at a cemetery in Santos, where Pele will be interred in a special mausoleum.
 

 

FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Alejandro Dominguez, head of the South American football confederation CONMEBOL, were among the first to pay their respects at the open coffin, which was displayed under an

awning and surrounded by bouquets of white flowers. 

'I am here with a lot of emotion, sadness, but also with a smile because he gave us so many smiles,'' Infantino said. ''As FIFA, we will pay a tribute to the 'King' and we ask the whole world to observe a minute of silence.''
“We are going to ask that all countries in the world have at least one stadium with the name of Pele.”

Infantino said

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes said, ''It is a very sad moment, but we are now seeing the real meaning of this legendary player to our country,'' Mendes told journalists. 

''My office has shirts signed by Pele, a picture of him as a goalkeeper, also signed by him. DVDs, photos, a big collection of him. Pele was a humble man despite his global fame, and that he deserves every tribute.” He

added.

 

 

“Pelé changed everything. He transformed football into art, entertainment,” Neymar, a fellow Brazilian soccer

star, said on Instagram. “Football and Brazil elevated their standing thanks to the King! He is gone, but his

magic will endure. Pelé is eternal!”

 

 

He carried Brazil to soccer’s heights and became a global ambassador for his sport in a journey that began on the streets of Sao Paulo state, where he would kick a sock stuffed with newspapers or rags.

 

Pele is the only footballer who has won three world cups, winning in 1958,1962,1970 and gave fame to the

Brazilian Soccer all around the world

 

Pelé is the ‘joint-top goalscorer’ for Brazil with 77 goals in 92 games, and ‘Santos's all-time top goalscorer’ with 643 goals in 659 games. 

Pele, was named Athlete of the Century by the ‘’International Olympic Committee’’ and was included in ‘the

Time list’ of the 100 most important people of the 20th century. 

In 2000, Pelé was voted World Player of the Century by ‘’the International Federation of Football History &

Statistics’’ (IFFHS).

He was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the Century. His 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, which

includes friendlies, is recognized as a Guinness World Record. 

Not only that, Pelé’s life after soccer took many forms. He was a politician -- Brazil’s Extraordinary Minister for Sport -- a wealthy businessman, and an ambassador for UNESCO and the United Nations.

He had roles in movies, soap operas and even composed songs and recorded CDs of popular Brazilian music.