soccer fans around the world are
in mourning tonight over the
news that the Brazilian soccer
legend, pelé, died today.
He was the face of the global
game for decades and helped to
shape soccer into what is known
as the beautiful game.
We have a look back at his
legacy.
Reporter: The unparalleled
athlete and only player to have
ever won three world cups died
at a hospital in são Paulo with
his family by his side.
His daughter recently shared
this image on social media and
caption, another night together.
Holding onto precious last
moments with her father.
He had been hospitalized since
the end of November receiving
care for colon cancer.
As well as a respiratory
infection that stemmed from
covid-19.
In addition to the world cups he
won in 1958, 1960 two and 1970,
he will be remembered as the
most prolific scorer the game
has ever known.
He boasts two guinness world
records including for his nearly
1300 career goals.
Deveney seven goals in 90
international matches is an
international achievement.
Above all, he will remain an
indelible icon and perhaps the
greatest abbasid or for the
sport.
-- Greatest ambassador for the
sport.
Outside the hospital and in the
streets supporters have gathered
to pay their respects and at the
latest world cup, many spoke of
what he meant to Brazil, the
game, and the world.
>> Pelé represents who we are
and where we came from.
Pelé is our roots.
Reporter: He was 82 years old.
Some further perspective on pelé
and his impact.
Jj Deveney is the cohost of a
podcast called caught offside.
He is known as the king of
soccer.
For contemporary fans, they may
not always know his impact on
this board.
How can they see his legacy and
some of his signature moves on
the field today?
>> It is funny that you
mentioned that.
I was watching a tiktok today
that compared his signature
moves and how he did a lot of
what the modern players are
doing right now way before they
even did it.
He was an iconic player.
He was a player that brought
those beautiful game to the
masses particularly in the 1970
world cup, the first world cup
with a big television scope
across the globe.
You ask anyone today who is a
soccer fan that they will still
know who pelé is even if they
never saw him play.
Reporter: He won three world
cups and no other player has
done that.
Do tractors say the game was
slower then but you say it was
rougher.
All of that taken together, does
that elevate him to be one of
the greatest in the world?
>> It is very difficult to
compare eras and it is almost
unfair but in terms of skill and
the ability and the attacking
prowess he had, he could've
played in any era and in the
modern era he would've had the
benefits of tougher referees, a
less brutal game.
I don't think it is fair to
compare eras but if you look at
his skill during those iconic
matches, his goal against Sweden
as a 17-year-old in his first
world cup in 1958 was stunning
in the final when he flicks it
over a player and goes round and
scores on the far side.
Those are timeless moves and
something that inspired
generations afterwards.
Reporter: Off the field he was
seen as a global ambassador of
the game.
Something he did for decades.
Can you talk about his appeal
and how he helped spread soccer
in the U.S. And elsewhere?
>> I interviewed him in 2016 and
he told me about how he had
retired from the game and spoken
to Henry cousins are in Brazil
who persuaded him -- Henry
Kissinger in Brazil who
persuaded him to come and speak
to the New York cosmos.
That inspired people who saw him
throughout his time in the U.S.
And he became almost a global
ambassador for the game.
Whenever there was a world cup
or a big game he was a promoter.
And he was a regular visitor to
the white house under several
administrations and he was there
promoting charities and soccer.
He became synonymous with a
little or a lot about the game,
pelé was the face of the world
cup and of soccer, and not just
Brazilian soccer.
Reporter: And one unique thing
about his career was he did not
go on to play in European clubs
for more money and he toured
with the Brazilian team and
exhibition matches.
Why did he do that?
Did it come down to that he was
connected deeply with Brazil?
>> That was part of it but also
the Brazilian government in the
early 1960's seeing what an
amazing player they had decided
they would put a national
treasure order on him meaning he
could not be taken abroad by
other clubs.
He toured with Santos for years
and played a lot of games in
exhibition matches.
That spread his profile.
When I spoke to him in when he
16 he said there was a lot of
interest from real Madrid and
others but he could not leave
because the Brazilian government
did not want him to but also
because he did not want to.
Reporter: When you interviewed
him, was there something that
stood out to you about his
personality?
. His warmth.
He took my hand at the start of
the interview because he knew I
was a little awed by his
presence.
He had a deep and warm voice.
He had a charisma.
He was a granddad figure but he
still had a presence about him.
And as humble as he was, he knew
he was great and that struck me.
Reporter: Can you also tell us
about his relationship with
Brazilian players and in
particular, a player who -- how
did they bond?
>> If you just look at
contemporary players about the
wonderful tributes they paid,
they recognized pelé as the
first global soccer star.
I think his relationship with
Brazilian soccer players, if he
said something, it was listened
to and carried great weight.
He said there were may be only
two or three great players in
the world whereas when he played
he felt there were many more.
He had a high regard for neymar.
I think he liked to consider
himself the best of the best and
no Brazilian players since he
played came close.
Reporter: His career was truly
transcendent.
Thank you for your time.
♪♪