From the soccer legend’s first World Cup win to his role as an ambassador for the 2014 tournament in Brazil, Pelé captivated the sports world for decades.
As a 17-year-old in 1958, Edson Arantes do Nascimento clinched what would be the first of three World Cup titles. Fast forward 65 years, and the man known as Pelé was still a household name, synonymous with excellence.
The Brazilian legend died Thursday after a monthlong stay in the hospital for complications from cancer, and the impact of his legacy led to tributes from around the world.
Pelé was—and still is—an iconic figure in the history of the sport, known as much for his World Cup triumphs and goals records as for spreading the game around the world—He finished his career with a stint with the New York Cosmos.