Even people who don’t know football know Pelé. The best of a generation of Brazilians universally acknowledged as the most brilliant, complete footballer ever to play the game. No other player won the World Cup three times. Pelè grew up playing football on the streets, taught by his father. For extra cash Pelé worked as a shoe shine boy. Pelé joined Santos FC at the age of fifteen. His impact was immediate. His mentor Waldemar de Brito, predicted that Pelé would be the greatest football player in the world.

 

PELE brought Kolkata to a standstill. The Brazilian legend playing for New York Cosmos side mesmerised football fans during a friendly against Mohun Bagan at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. A few Goans attended the match. And among the few I was one of them. 24th September 1977. There were as many spectators (90,000) in the stadium as there were outside the stadium. If India had fallen in love with Brazilian brand of football it was because of the 1970 Brazil World Cup team and the brand of football they played. The 4-2-4 format was being explored everywhere but none could match the Brazilians. Thank You KING for this eternal legacy that will live on and never be forgotten nor equalled.

 

THANK YOU, SIR, FOR BEING OUR HERO, AND INSPIRATOR, PLUS THE JOY YOU GAVE TO BILLIONS WORLDWIDE. REST IN PEACE KING Pelé!!! ADEUS!! CIAO! TCHAU!