The 'New Pele' who played for Liverpool and failed

A month after being admitted to hospital following intense cancer treatment, the King lost his life. The Brazilian king of football, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, has died at the age of 82, after battling several illnesses that aggravated his health, leaving the sport of football in mourning. According to the AP news agency, the star passed away on Thursday, according to the ex-footballer's agent.

The Brazilian had been undergoing treatment for colon cancer since 2021 and was hospitalised last month with various ailments, being treated with palliative care. Widely regarded as one of football's greatest players, Pelé spent nearly two decades enchanting fans and dazzling opponents as the game's most prolific goalscorer with Brazilian club Santos and the Brazilian national team.

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Edson Arantes was born on 23 October 1940 in Tres Corais in Minas Gerais, Brazil; at the age of 16 Pelé signed with Santos of Brazil, where the legend of the O'Rei would begin and where he would spend most of his career. He won his first World Cup for the Verdeamarealas in Sweden 1958 at the age of 17; while at Santos he won 10 Paulista championships, three Rio Sao Paulo tournaments, six Brazilian Serie A championships, two Copa Libertadores, two Intercontinental Cups and one Intercontinental Cup Winners' Cup.

He is the only player to have lifted three World Cups with Sweden 1958, Chile 1962 and Mexico 1970. His football career ended with a tribute match between Santos and New York Cosmos (with whom he won the North American Soccer League in 1977), in front of 75,000 spectators.

The 'New Pele' who played for Liverpool 

In Brazil they have always been looking for the new Pelé, any player who stands out is charged with the responsibility of replacing the king. One of them was Coutinho, who played for Liverpool with the expectation to shine. Although he had some good seasons he was never able to win any trophies and ended up failing. Now he is trying to lift his career at Aston Villa.