His Brazilian fans loved him for his idiosyncratic personality and unapologetic nationalism. He liked to say he was born with victory at his side and was rarely shy to challenge those who said his teams were too defensive.
Pele's greatest contribution to both soccer and Brazil was to transform his underachieving nation into a footballing superpower.
Brazil were winning 3-1 and the 1970 World Cup final against Italy was over as a contest when Carlos Alberto looked up to see the whole of the right wing open to him and started to motor. There were four minutes left on the clock at the Aztec stadium and Brazil's captain really just wanted the game to end. His team mates felt the same way and were knocking the ball about nonchalantly when the marauding full back spotted the chance of a fourth goal, even from way back in his own half.
The Brazilian, the only player to claim three World Cup winner's medals and a man often called the greatest footballer of all time, said all monies raised will help Brazil's fight against and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 1970 Brazil side, led by Pele and featuring names such as Gerson, Tostao, Rivelino and Carlos Alberto, is frequently rated the greatest team of all time. They won all seven of their matches in Mexico, culminating with a 4-1 over Italy in the final at the Aztec stadium. The life-size statue of Pele, dressed in the strip worn by the 1970 team, bore a close resemblance to the former Santos and New York Cosmos striker, unlike many of the statues of famous footballers unveiled recently around the globe.
Carlos Alberto, who scored one of the greatest goals in World Cup history while captaining Brazil to glory in the 1970 final against Italy, has died aged 72 following a heart attack. The marauding right back scored his team's fourth goal in a 4-1 win over Italy in Mexico's Azteca Stadium, a thumping drive that ended a move involving eight players, before hoisting the Jules Rimet trophy as Brazil won the title for the third time. "I am saddened by the death of my friend and brother Carlos Alberto, our beloved Captain, and I remember the times that we were together at Santos, Brazil and the (New York) Cosmos, where we formed a winning partnership," Pele said in one of the many tributes from former greats.
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