Pele, one of the greatest players of all time, died on December 29 (Thursday) at the age of 82 after a long battle with cancer. The Brazilian is recognized as one of the best to have ever played the game, and his death has had a significant impact on the sporting community. The footballer won three FIFA World Cups and earned a name for himself on the field with his spectacular talents and maneuvers. Pele completed his long career with a slew of notable records under his belt.
Following Pele’s death, a three-day mourning period has been observed in Brazil, with reactions from all corners of the sporting community pouring in for the iconic footballer. Six children survive him. His death has undoubtedly left a tremendous void in the football world.
The following are some of Pele’s important football records
1. A World Cup legend
Pele was a force to be reckoned with in FIFA World Cups. He was a World Cup participant in four different tournaments. Brazil won three of these four editions (held in 1958, 1962, and 1970). In 1958, he scored five goals and assisted on one. While he had a dismal run in 1962 due to injury issues, and only scored once in 1966 in Brazil’s disastrous campaign, he made amends in his final World Cup in 1970, returning with four goals and six assists on way to winning his third World Cup medal; the most by any player to date. (https://www.sliderrevolution.com) In his previous World Cup, he was also named Player of the Tournament.
Pele also finished with the second-most goals in FIFA World Cup history. He finished with a dozen goals in 14 games and eight assists for his teammates. Lionel Messi now tops the list with 13 goals. Messi only surpassed Pele during the recently concluded 2022 Qatar World Cup.
2. Most goals
Pele, the late footballer, owns the Guinness World Record for the most goals scored in football history. In 1363 matches, he scored goals 1,283 times.
3. Most goals in a calendar year
Pele scored 127 goals for Santos when he was only 18 years old in 1959. As a result, Pele won hearts and quickly became a household name as soon as he appeared on the scene.
4. Most hat-tricks
This is an incredible accomplishment. Pele had the most hat tricks in history, with 92 in his career.
5. Youngest player to appear in, score in, and win a FIFA World Cup final
Pele made his FIFA World Cup debut in 1958, aged 17 years and 249 days, in a match between Brazil and Sweden. He scored a brace to become the final’s youngest goal scorer as Brazil defeated the opponents 5-2 to win the title. He wreaked havoc at his first FIFA World Cup, becoming the tournament’s youngest player to score (17 years and 239 days vs. Wales). Furthermore, he was the youngest player in World Cup history to score a treble (17 years and 244 days which came against France). The pressure of competing in a World Cup deters the greatest of the best. It didn’t, however, slow down a young Pele.
6. Brazil’s joint top goal scorer
Pele finished his career with 77 goals in 92 appearances with the Men in Yellow. He and Neymar are the five-time champions’ joint-leading goal scorers. However, if friendly matches are included, Pele surpasses Neymar with 95 goals, the most by a Brazilian.