Everyone at Troon F.C. are desperately saddened to hear of the passing of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, best known as Pelé, at the age of 82.
The former Brazil star, widely regarded as possibly the greatest footballer of all time, had been at the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital in Sao Paulo since 29 November. A medical report just before Christmas showed that he needed care for cardiac and renal dysfunction, having been battling colon cancer since September 2021.
Pelé began playing for Santos at the age of 15 and the Brazilian national team a year later, bursting onto the world football scene as a 17-year-old in the 1958 World Cup.
During his international career, he won three World Cups – in 1958, 1962 and 1970 – the only player to achieve this to date.
Pelé’s role in Brazil’s third victory, in Mexico in 1970, has gone down in football folklore, as he played a key role in arguably the sport’s greatest ever international team.
His glittering 20-year career from 1957 to 1977 saw him score 757 goals in 831 games, although Santos claim his tally was closer to 1,000.
Pelé and Brazil at Portland Park
Pelé is the most famous visitor to the hallowed turf at Portland Park, Troon.
In a training camp to acclimatise the players ahead of the 1966 World Cup, Brazil (with Garrincha, Jairzhino, Gerson, Tostao, Zico) stayed at the Marine Hotel in Troon & the team trained at our very own Portland Park.
Arguably, the greatest player to have ever played the game, and certainly the greatest to have ever graced Portland Park.
Quite simply, a legend.
RIP Pelé