Brazilian soccer icon Pelé passes away at age 82.

The first global symbol of soccer, Pelé, a Brazilian hero who won three World Cups, has passed away at age 82. His daughter Kely Nascimento captioned a photo of her and her family clutching Pele’s hands on Instagram, “Everything that we are, is owing to you.”
“You have our utmost affection.
Peace be with you. Late in November, Pelé was hospitalized in So Paulo with complications from colon cancer and a respiratory infection. His health had gotten worse as his malignancy got worse, the hospital reported last week.
A statement from the hospital said that he passed away on Thursday owing to multiple organ failure brought on by the development of colon cancer.

Soccer has been associated with Pelé for more than 60 years.
The only player in history to participate in all four World Cups and win three of them, he left a lasting impact that went far beyond his collection of awards and exceptional goal-scoring stats.

Pelé famously remarked, “I was born to play football, just like Beethoven was born to compose music and Michelangelo was born to paint.

Many people have paid tribute to the legendary soccer player.
Santos FC, Pelé’s first team, tweeted “forever” along with a picture of a crown in response to the news.

Pelé played in more than 1,300 games over the course of his 22-year professional career and scored almost as many goals, but he was far from a one-man show.
He had the tactical acumen to send the ball to teammates who were better positioned to score like a champion chess player who views the board two, three, or four moves ahead.

When the Brazilian president named him an official national treasure, he had just turned 20.
He was prevented from being transferred to a wealthy European club eager to pay a hefty sum for his talents; it was both an honorific and a financial limitation.
Pelé was a resource that was too valuable to the national interest to be exported.

One of the first athletes in the world to understand the value of a personal brand was the soccer champion known as Edson Arantes do Nascimento. He was born and raised in poverty.

Pelé later brought his international reputation to America when, in his mid-30s, he signed with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League after retiring from Brazilian club Santos, the nation’s premier side in the 1960s.
According to reports, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, a huge fan of Pelé and a supporter of the goodwill generated by “the beautiful game,” mediated the agreement.

At least one civil conflict in Nigeria was brought to a 48-hour cease-fire as a result of Pelé’s brilliant play.