RIP Pelé

Edson Arantes do Nascimiento, better known as Pelé, has sadly passed away at the age of 82. 

People continue to discuss who is the GOAT (Greatest Player of All Time), in particularly now, as Messi has taken his coveted World Cup title. 

It is a non-sensical and subjective discussion. Football is a team sport; any player depends on his or her team, and the number of titles or goals do not define a great player. 

There is simply no GOAT.

This said, Pelé was someone who defined the game; the first truly global superstar, a player who defined football, and who was a pioneer in terms of many of the brilliant details that we so often take for granted. Coming from deep poverty he was one of the most gifted players of all time, and came on with storm at the World Cup in 1958, when at 17 years he was the youngest player to score a World Cup goal against Wales in the quarterfinals. Then he went on to score three goals in the final against Sweden, remaining the youngest goalscorer in a World Cup final.

The 1958 title was Brazil's first World Cup title, and they went on to win again in 1962 and the legendary 1970 final, where Pelé captained and was the architect behind the spectacular 4-1 victory over Italy. 

Pelé is the only player ever to have won three World Cup titles.

Brazil has declared three days of official mourning for the passing of the Great Pelé, The King, showing what he meant to the country, but he was not only a Brazilian icon, but a global icon.

When Maradona passed, Pelé tweeted that "Um dia, eu espero que possamos jogar bola juntos no céu." (one day I hope we can play football together in Heaven).

That day has come, and they are playing some outstanding football today!

RIP Pelé.