Pele: Brazil’s mighty king of ‘beautiful game’

Brazil's Pele is hoisted on the shoulders of his teammates after Brazil won the World Cup final against Italy, 4-1, in Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, June 21, 1970. Pelé, the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died in sao Paulo on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022. He was 82. (AP Photo, File)

Brazil's Pele scores past Venezuela's goal keeper Fabrizio Fasano in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 24, 1969. (AP Photo, File)

Pele, waving the flags of Brazil and the U.S., is carried off the field in driving rain by players of both teams at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., after his final game, Oct. 1, 1977. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Pele reacts after heading the ball during a soccer match between the Cosmos and the Toronto Metro-Croatia in New York's Downing Stadium, June 19, 1975. (AP Photo, File)

Brazilian soccer star Pele waves to admirers, as he and his bride Rosemeri ride in a traditional horse-drawn carriage as they tour Salzburg, Austria, Feb. 25, 1966. (AP Photo, File)

Pele bicycle kicks a ball during a game at unknown location, Sept. 1968. (AP Photo, File)

Argentine soccer star Diego Armando Maradona, left, rests in a hammock with Brazilian soccer star Pele, during a meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 12, 1995. (AP Photo, File)

Brazilian soccer star Pele relaxes after a workout in Santos, Brazil, June 3, 1975. (AP Photo, File)

Brazil's Pele wears his national team's jersey in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 25, 1962. (AP Photo, File)

Pele embraces boxer Muhammad Ali during a ceremony honoring the Brazilian soccer star of the New York Cosmos at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J., Oct. 1, 1977. (AP Photo/File)