Brazilian athlete Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known worldwide as one of the best soccer players of all time, died on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022. He was 82. Since 2021, Pelé had been undergoing treatment for colon cancer discovered during a routine medical exam. His agent Joe Fraga confirmed his death. The legendary #10 forward played for Brazilian soccer club Santos FC, Brazil's national team and the New York Cosmos. Pelé, who played his last career game in Oct. 1977 with the Cosmos against his first team, Santos, scored 1,282 goals in 1,363 games, including friendlies throughout his career. Look back at his incredible life and career.
Brazilian forwards Vava and Pelé (10) enter a melee in front of the French goal during the World Cup semi-final at the Rasunda Stadion in Solna, Stockholm, on June 24, 1958. Brazil beat France 5-2.
Jubilant team members hug Pelé (10), who scored the winning goal for the Brazilians in their World Cup victory over the Swedish soccer team on June 29, 1958, in Stockholm, Sweden.
Star of the Brazilian football team, Pelé sits on the ball during a break in training at Selsdon Park Hotel where they are staying on May 7, 1963. The Brazilians are to play England at Wembley.
The Brazilian football team poses for a photo in Britain for the 1966 World Cup on June 28, 1966. They are seen lining up before their warm-up match against Scotland at Hampden Park. Pelé, the most famous footballer of any generation, is in the front row, second from right.
Pelé receives a kiss from his wife at a sportsman’s ball in Munich on Feb. 23, 1968. He is wearing a cloak and a headdress in his role as King Carnival.
Pelé stands by a display to celebrate his 1,000th professional goal on Dec. 14, 1969.
Brazilian football star, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, center, brandishes the World Cup trophy on March 30, 1971, during a parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris, France.
Pelé gives the thumbs-up sign during a press conference in Paris on Dec. 22, 1971, where he is taking part in a match at the Exhibition Park.
Pelé poses with a ball in front of Cosmos’ insignia after officially signing a $4.75-million contract on June 11, 1975.
Kyle Rote Jr., of the Dallas Tornados and New York Cosmos’ Pelé exchange flags before the North American Soccer League match at Randalls Island on June, 16, 1975.
Soccer star Pelé and football hero Joe Namath show they can both use their heads during a summit meeting at Hofstra University on Aug. 5, 1975.
Soccer superstar Pelé performs some warm-up activities at a special soccer clinic for youngsters on Aug. 9, 1975.
Overcome with emotion, Pelé weeps as he’s embraced by Carlos Alberto, a former World Cup team captain and a teammate, during his last game at the Giants Stadium in New York City.
Soccer star Pelé is carried on the shoulders of both the Cosmos and Santos teams while waving Brazilian and American flags after playing half the game for each team on Oct. 1, 1977.
New York Cosmos’ Pelé brandishes a fist as he leads his teammates onto the rug at Meadowlands for NASL semifinals. Has soccer taken hold in Jersey? Well, all 76,861 seats in the vast arena were sold well in advance and, despite the inclement weather, there were only 3,222 no-shows.
New York Cosmos’ coach Hennes Weisweiler poses for a photo with former soccer player Pelé on Feb. 6, 1980.
Brazilian football player Pelé during the 34th Cannes International Film Festival on May 14, 1981.
President Bill Clinton, left, hugs Brazilian soccer legend Pelé on Oct. 15, 1997, during a visit to the Mangueira School in the favela of the same name in Rio de Janeiro. Clinton and Pelé played soccer following Clinton’s address to the school’s students.
Pelé signs the NSPCC Ball during the AXA sponsored photocall held at Wembley Stadium, London on Oct. 31, 2000.
Soccer legend Pelé holds up his feet moments before stepping in fresh cement to leave his mark on the path of fame at the Maracana stage on June 16, 2000, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pelé and 40 other soccer players left their mark in a commemorative celebration of 50 years of the inauguration of this well-known stage.
Brazilian soccer legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, holds the Olympic Torch on June 13, 2004, at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Olympic Torch, expected to arrive at the Athens Olympic Stadium shortly before the opening of the 2004 Olympic Games on Aug. 13, is in South America for the first time.
Brazilian soccer legend Pelé immortalizes his hand and footprint in cement during an event at Universal CityWalk in Universal City, Calif. on May 13, 2006.
Brazilian football legend Pelé, left, shakes hands on July 17, 2007, with former South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa. Pelé is in South Africa to attend the “90 Minutes for Mandela” match at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, “Pelé,” jokes with a ball during a press conference in Mexico City on April 9, 2008. He was appointed as the Official Ambassador of the Libertadores cup.
Brazil’s football legend Pelé, right, and FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, left, congratulate Portuguese midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo for the Player of the Year 2008 award during FIFA’s World Football Player Gala 2008 award ceremony on Jan. 12, 2009, in Zurich.
Brazilian football star Pelé kisses the FIFA World Cup during its presentation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Feb. 6, 2010. The cup is being exhibited in numerous countries while on a tour before reaching South Africa for the FIFA World Cup tournament that will be held next June.
Retired football star Pelé poses for a photo before the Hong Kong skyline in the Kowloon district of the city on March 7, 2011. Pelé is in town on a goodwill visit as part of the 2011 New York Cosmos Asia Tour.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, “Pelé,” holds the torch during the opening ceremony of the V World Military Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 16, 2011.
Former Brazilian footballer Edson Arantes do Nascimento, a.k.a. “Pelé,” center, ambassador of the 2014 World Cup, celebrates with former team players during the 100th-anniversary ceremony of Santos FC at Vila Belmiro Stadium in Santos, south of Sao Paulo, Brazil, on April 14, 2012.
Brazilian football legend Pelé, left, poses while arriving with his then-girlfriend to attend the Golden Foot ceremony on Oct. 17, 2012, in Monaco. The Golden Foot award is an international career award given to players who stand out for their athletic achievements.
From left to right, Ivan Orlic, Michael Zimbalist, former footballer Pelé, Brian Grazer and Jeff Zimbalist attend a photocall to promote the film “Pelé” during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 15, 2013, in Cannes, France.
Pelé is introduced before the game as the New York Cosmos play the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at James M. Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University in Hempstead, Long Island, on Aug. 3, 2013.
Pelé talks with a young fan during his book signing to promote “Why Soccer Matters” at Barnes & Noble on 5th Ave. on April 1, 2014, in New York City.
Brazilian football legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as “Pelé,” poses for the press with children during a visit to a low-income neighborhood in Santiago, Chile on April 9, 2015.
Pelé is photographed during an interview with Filip Bondy at the Modell’s store in Times Square, New York City on April 16, 2015.
Pelé launches Art, Life, Football, an exhibition in celebration of his 75th birthday at Halcyon Gallery on Sept. 22, 2015, in London, England.
Brazilian retired footballer Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, signs a jersey as he leaves after being decorated with an Olympic Order Medal at the Pele Museum in Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, on June 16, 2016.
Soccer Legend Pelé visits Olympic Stadium on Sept. 2, 2017, in Barcelona, Spain.
Pelé prepares at The Savoy Hotel before his attendance at the GQ Men of the Year Awards on Sept. 5, 2017, in London, England.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and France national football team forward Kylian Mbappe, right, and Brazilian football legend Pelé take part in a meeting at the Hotel Lutetia in Paris on April 2, 2019.
