WhereIsAtlas · Football
What Happened to Pelé?
"The King of Football" — the only man to win three World Cups, and the player who made football truly global.
Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is widely regarded as the greatest footballer ever and the only man to win three World Cups with Brazil. He died on 29 December 2022 at age 82 and was buried in Santos.
The King of Football
Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento in 1940, is widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time. His dazzling skill, pace and genius made football an art form, and he won a record three World Cups with Brazil.
The World Cups
Pelé's three World Cup triumphs in 1958, 1962 and 1970 are unmatched. He was a teenager when he starred in 1958 and a veteran leader by 1970, his career spanning the sport's transformation into a global phenomenon.
A global icon
More than any player before him, Pelé made football international. He became the sport's first global superstar, and his name remains a byword for footballing excellence, alongside legends like Maradona and Messi.
Where Pelé is now
Pelé died on 29 December 2022 at age 82 and was laid to rest in his beloved Santos. He is remembered as "The King of Football" — the player who defined the game and whose legacy endures as the sport's enduring standard of greatness.
Entries in this story
Sources
- Pelé - Wikipedia — Wikipedia (2026-09-05)
- Pelé dies at 82: Brazil legend's funeral and burial in Santos — India Today (2026-09-05)