Pelé: The Godfather of football (1940-2022)

Alfie Green

Sports Writer

The world of sport was greatly saddened on the 29th of December with the death of ‘O Rei’, the great Pelé. Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on the 23rd of October 1940, Pelé was widely accepted as the best player in the world during his playing career and debate has raged on about whether he is the greatest of all time.

Having not been alive to see Pelé play live, I went to the only source I felt I could to accurately get insight into Pelé, my grandfather. A keen football fan, my grandad is always prepared to give a lecture on football of yester-year. You can only imagine how glad he was when I came with questions about the great Brazilian.

“If someone scores over 1,000 goals… he couldn’t have been that bad could he?”

I think that probably summarises the awe that he spoke about Pelé with. He also described him as “the best ever, he was two footed, great header of a ball, could’ve even played in goal if he wanted to” (the latter point is no hyperbole, Pelé was a great keeper and was supposed to be the goalkeeper in the film ‘Escape to Victory’ but Silvester Stallone’s football ability meant he had to switch roles with Pelé).

Pelé was born in Tres Corações, Brazil. His life was already surrounded by football with his father, Dondinho, playing for Fluminense.

He came from humble beginnings, growing up in poverty and learning to play football with a sock filled with newspapers. From an early age he showed promise and signed for Santos aged 15, with his local team coach telling the club’s directors that he would be the greatest in the world. Pelé began well, making his first team debut and scoring at age 15.

As a nine-year-old boy, he had seen his father’s tears as Brazil lost the 1950 World Cup final against Uruguay, and he allegedly promised his dad that he would win the world cup. In Sweden in 1958 he did just that. The 17-year-old Pelé was a revelation in the tournament, scoring two in the final as Brazil triumphed over the hosts 5-2.

Pelé would continue to win many trophies in Brazil, with another world cup for Brazil in 1962, but the crowning moment that lives longest in collective memory is that of the

1970 world cup. This was the first world cup broadcast in colour and Brazil stormed to the title, Pelé’s and Brazil’s third title. This gave the world a chance to see Pelé, albeit at the end of his illustrious career.

It’s true Pelé never played in Europe, a fact that is regularly held against him in the ‘GOAT’ debates. Santos did however tour Europe on a regular basis and by all accounts he performed well, and his world cup triumphs cannot be disputed.

Pelé was no doubt one of the alltime greats. My grandad puts him, and Argentines Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, as the best he’s ever seen with Pelé edging it as his ‘GOAT’.

This debate will continue to rage for hundreds of years to come but it cannot be doubted the effect Pelé had on the beautiful game, he was an ambassador for football his entire life, and he will live on through football.

Every time someone pulls on a yellow Brazil shirt, every time someone wears a 10 on the back of their shirt, and even every time someone kicks a ball. Pelé will be there, intrinsically linked with football forever.