Brazilian football legend, Pele, is dead at 82

Pele has sadly passed away at the age of 82 after years of battling cancer.

The Brazilian football legend, who is reputed for being one of the greatest to ever play the game, died at the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo.

Tributes have since poured in following his death, including on Twitter where he is currently the number one trending topic with over one million mentions.

About Pele: The three-time World Cup winner was born in Tres Coracoes, Brazil, on October 23, 1940. 

He is the only player in history to win three World Cup titles, having won the first one at just 17 years old in 1958. 

In the course of his career, the Brazilian legend set many records, cementing his status as an icon of the game and one of the greatest of all time. 

For one, he is Brazil’s all-time top scorer. His 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, which includes friendlies, is one of his greatest records.

Retirement and life till now: In 1977, he hung up his boots at New York Cosmos and acted as an ambassador of the game until his death. 

In recognition of his tremendous career and legacy, he was awarded the FIFA Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur in 2013 and was named the Ballon d’Or Dream Team, a greatest of all-time XI in 2020.