By Abosede Olasupo
As reported by Tuesday’s edition of the government newspaper,Brazil football legend Pele will be honored inhis home country by a celebrative day baptised “King Pele day “.
Contemplated by many the greatest footballer of all time, Edson Arantes do Nascimento — better known as Pele — won three World Cups with Brazil and scored more than 1,000 goals over his stories career.
On November 19,”King Pele day”will be held , the date on which the striker scored his 1,000th goal in a match for boyhood club Santos at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana Stadium in 1969.Pele’s goal came from the penalty spot in a 2-1 win against Vasco da Gama, and the match was briefly interrupted as supporters invaded the pitch to celebrate O Rei’s (The King’s) achievement.
The Tres Coracoes-native dedicated his landmark goal to the “poor children of Brazil”.
The following year, he won the last of his three World Cups as part of the legendary 1970 Brazil team.
Pele died on December 29, 2022, aged 82. His passing was marked by a period of national mourning and tributes to the sporting icon from across the globe.
The law creating the celebrative date was make known by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.