A fraction bigger than the whole

Pelé goaled to the great beyond at 82. But for three-fourth of his life, the Brazilian soccer legend became synonymous with the greatest sport on earth. He won three-fourth of the times he played in the World Cup. Brazil did not produce the first global football icon, Pelé introduced his country to the world.

Before his greatness, Pelé was just like many other kids in the world. He was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento but for some reason was nicknamed Pelé. Just like any other kid whose nickname does not make sense if based on the name they did not choose. Pelé himself could not trace exactly how and why he earned the moniker, but said it most likely started when his classmates teased him for mangling the nickname of another player, Bilé. Just like any other kid who was teased, and worse, bullied during their childhood and beyond.

Just like any other less fortunate kid the world over, he played barefoot with a ball made of rags, as opposed to the privileged few who have everything except the talent. Pelé had nothing but a father for a role model and the skill that kills. His own words explain – he was born to play football, just as Beethoven was to write music and Michelangelo was to paint. Eternal words of wisdom from a man better known for his extraordinary dribbling skills that became the trademark of his game. Everyone has a reason for being born, but not all do what they should live for.

Muhammad Ali found his and became greater outside the ring for fighting apartheid. Pelé too, outside the soccer field for his cutting political voice that championed the cause of the poor in Brazil, especially the black people. For many years he served as United Nations goodwill ambassador promoting peace and support for vulnerable children. He thrilled the fans but bettered humanity.

And just like all of us, he is mortal, despite his football immortality. He suffered from cancer before dying, the once agile turned fragile. Where before he walked his opponents down in the final minutes of the game, he walked around with a walker in the final hours of his life.

When sports icons die or retire, the question begs, who is the greatest of all time? Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi rewrote the record books in the last 15 years. In fact, Ronaldo passed Pelé’s record goals of 767 in official matches, around 3/4 of the exponential 1,000 mark. But it is not always about the numbers.

Before them and after Pelé there was Diego Maradona who dominated the final quarter of the last century. Even FIFA could not decide it jointly named Pelé and Maradona players of the last century. If it is about artistry, many agree with the shared immortality. But another body named Pelé not only the greatest in football but in all of sports. Experts and fans continue to debate, but no one can argue with history, except when it is revised. If it is about impact, the greatest is not declared but felt by humanity. Sounds like Pelé.