Pele became the template for modern international soccer stardom. Charisma and bottomless talent. Like Ali in boxing, or Bird and Magic’s rivalry in the 80’s NBA, he took the game to a whole new level and there was no going back.
What’s incredible about it is that his status among the legends was gained well before the time when people in every corner of the world could see every angle of every kick he made on tv, internet, social media, etc, and he never played professionally in the big European leagues. He only played for two teams his entire career: Santos in Brazil and NY Cosmos in NASL. Most of the planet only saw him playing and winning two world cups, 58 and 70, because he was out injured in 62 and hobbled in 66 with a bum knee on a weak Brazil team that crashed out.
And yet, he will forever be mentioned alongside modern stars like Messi, Mbappe, and Ronaldo, guys whose faces and highlights are plastered everywhere 24/7.
That fact should suggest to those who don’t know the game well just how unbelievable he was.
And even though he couldn’t act for ****, he helped make VICTORY the best war/sports film anyone could dream of.
Obrigado Senhor.