Little Edson

I have had very few idols in my lifetime, I think I am too down to earth for that. But one has always stood out, and that is Pelé. For many reasons, but one in particular, he did what he could do best, football, and was the best in it. With being an arrogant person, without crowning himself king or the GOAT. He was just "Pelé", the football player, and loved what he did. Even years after he quit, the smile on his face made other people smile, and felt love for him and the game. A better ambassador for football is unimaginable.

The young Edson, that was called "Pelé" after the self made ball out of socks, called a "Pelé", they played with in the favela in Sao Paolo, where he grew up, played football all day, and was discovered by all top Brazilian teams at the age of 15, he chose Santos Football Club, and forever Santos is in the collective memory of every football fan. Pelé made Santos, and Santos made Pelé.
Unofficially he scored more than a 1000 goals for Santos, but the truth about that will never be revealed completely, as there are just no records of all the games he played.

Cosmos

He moved to New York at the end of his carreer, and managed to fill stadiums in the United States with 80000 spectators, for a sport that was practically unexistant before he came to New York Cosmos. I know no other sports character that managed to that in his lifetime. Pelé was football, and football was Pelé. Correction, football is still Pelé, because myths in the form of him never die. His legacy will be here forever, and I am so proud to have lived in an era where Pelé was alive and inspiring the sports world. It was a privilege to be in your lifetime, Edson. Now rest in peace, and thanks for all that you have given us! And I am not talking about the 3 World Cups you won, they are of little value compared to the joy you are still giving all those young little boys, when they make their own ball of old socks, and kick it bare foot in some next door field!

RIP Pelé, Long live Pelé!

Sincerely,

Pele23