Pelé, Brazil's mighty king of 'beautiful game,' has died

Pelé, Brazil's mighty king of 'beautiful game,' has died
FILE - Legendary Brazilian football player Pelé poses with a ball during the inauguration ceremony of the new technology football pitch installed at Mineira favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sept. 10, 2014. Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images

Pelé, Brazil's mighty king of soccer, has died. He was 82. 

Since 2021, he had been undergoing treatment for colon cancer discovered during a routine medical exam. His agent Joe Fraga confirmed his death. 

Pelé was one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century. He won a record three World Cups with Brazil and was the standard-bearer of "the beautiful game" with the national team and his club Santos. 

His exuberance and mesmerizing moves transfixed generations of fans around the globe. His flair personified his country's samba-style elegance. Late in his career, he helped popularize soccer in North America by joining the New York Cosmos.

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.