ThaWhen a reporter asked Maradona if he would be Argentina’s assistant coach, Maradona replied, “I’m not the king of the country, how can a king work under someone else?” But Pele never said he was king. It is a crown that the world of football has donated with all its heart. Up until his departure this morning, the crown of football was still on Pele’s head. Pelé, who named Becken Bower the best footballer in the world in 1970, followed by Bobby Charlton, Luigi Riva, George Best and Johan Cruyff, said he was just an ordinary player.
But it’s also notable that it didn’t include the Portuguese player Eusebio, who has been argued in many places as a better player than Pele. Pele would have thought that the crown that the world of football had placed on his head should stay there, even if he didn’t ask for it. Some argue that Eusebio, the greatest African footballer of all time, was more talented than Pelé in the 1960s. Karimpuli, acquired by Portugal from Mozambique, was ahead of Perla Nera. In the 1966 World Cup, Eusebio won the Golden Boot with nine goals in six games. Portugal finished third on the day.
17-year-old Pele weeps for joy after winning the 1958 World Cup
Pele, who played in the World Cup at the age of seventeen in 1958, became soccer’s king when he won Brazil’s third title and the Ulrime Cup in its fourth World Cup in 1970. The goal he scored against Sweden in the 1958 final. Then, the way he handed the ball to Carlos Alberto to score against Italy in the 1970 World Cup final. As the Swedish defenders curled, he lobbed the ball over the heads of the his opponents with the thigh. Then, the genius of the 17-year-old who got around them in an instant and put the ball in the net was not lost even at 42. Pele demonstrated it in New Jersey in 1980 for the New York Cosmos. Pele rushed the ball from the center and passed to Julio Cesar on the left wing. Pelé was like a bolt of lightning receiving Cesar’s cross on goal. Then, he cut two players and tricked the goalkeeper who came forward by surprise and put the ball into the net. Everyone who saw the 17-year-old’s dance moves realized one thing. Even at the age of forty-two, his natural talent has not been lost.
At the age of eighty-two, Pele was left with only one sadness. I couldn’t see Brazil regaining the crown in Qatar. If Neymar’s team had won, he would have kissed the cup even if he was in a hospital bed. The king of football was unfortunate to have a second touch at the FIFA World Cup which his team won three times and won the country’s trophy, even though he was the role model of him. But take courage. Messi lifted the cup immediately after the first anniversary of Maradona’s death, which the world celebrates with him. Argentina won it in memory of Maradona.
Pelé’s pro-American stance was widely criticized while Maradona gained admirers for his political views. It was sometimes interpreted as surrender. Henry Kissinger said that Pele’s Cosmos report helped improve America’s foreign relations. It should also be remembered that Pele never questioned American supremacy. It can also be said that he was not ready to create fans through controversy and bragging like Pele Maradona or Muhammad Ali.
Team mates cheering Pelé on their backs after his 1970 World Cup win. Pelé is the only player to have won the World Cup three times.
The new generation has heard of Pele’s magical football match. In 2006, the local Juventus club in São Paulo erected a statue of Pelé in memory of Pelé’s spectacular goal in 1959. The information was gleaned from those who saw Goal 59 and it was recreated with the help of a computer. The goal he scored for Santos against Juventus was recognized by the opponents. Pele’s breakthrough was throwing the ball over three Juventus players.
The new generation should know such supernatural shows through animation. So generations accept the king of football. Memories of the legend of Pele don’t have to end in one or two generations.
Postage stamp issued by Brazil to commemorate Pelé’s 1,000th goal
