Yesterday, the world bid farewell to football legend Pele with emotional fans, players, celebrities and senior officials from around the world coming together in Santos in a final salute to one of the greatest to play the beautiful game of football.
Newly sworn-in President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was in attendance to pay tribute to the Brazilian great along with a sea of fans who came in hordes to pay respect to “The King” of football, as he was fondly called. Some 250,000 people attended his 24-hour wake in the Vila Belmiro stadium.
From Qatar, H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani attended the funeral ceremony of the legendary footballer and conveyed the condolences of the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to family members of Pele.
Widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, Pele created magic every time he took to the field. His dribbling and runs with the ball were like a rhythmic dance by a maestro, reaching a crescendo as he scores. He was credited with promoting the “beautiful game” all around the world as he won over people’s hearts with his sublime skills and down-to-earth humility. He was remembered by all for his humble and friendly interaction with fans and fellow players.
Not many know that the winner of three World Cups with Brazil, in 1958, 1962 and 1970, the only player in history to achieve the feat, had come to Qatar with his club Santos in 1973 to play against Al Ahli as part of a Gulf tour.
Born on October 23, 1940, in Tres Coracoes, Edson Arantes do Nascimento grew up in an impoverished family. He started playing professionally with Santos at the young age of 15.
He was not able to attend the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 due to illness. But, he was cheering for Brazil on social media and also consoled them when they were eliminated in the quarter-finals. Pele died last week at the age of 82 after battling colon cancer for a year.
Gerson, who played with Pele in World Cup-winning Brazil sides, described him as a player from another planet, who was also a great guy off the pitch.
“Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Maradona are all exceptional, wonderful players, but they are human. Pele was not human, he came from Saturn.” Gerson went further: “Is there any place further than Saturn?” he wondered. “If so, that’s where he came from”.
Like FIFA chief Gianni Infantino’s said, “Pele is eternal. He’s a global icon of football.”
