31 December,2022 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Nandakumar Marar
Brazilian football great Pele in 1958. Pic/Getty Images
Latin American football artists have a special affinity with fans across the seas. India is no exception. Diego Maradona had flown into Kerala's Kannur district in 2012 for a jewellery showroom promotion. Earlier in 2008, he came to Kolkata for a felicitation function and fans went crazy.
Pele was a three-time visitor to India (1977, 2015 and 2018) and left behind a legion of fans hoping for a fourth appearance. It was not to happen, as the legendary Brazilian passed away on Thursday at the age of 82.
He watched Qatar 2022 action from the hospital bed, greeted Lionel Messi on winning football's biggest prize after the final at Doha, appreciated Kylian Mbappe's goal-getting prowess against Argentina, praised Morocco's sensational performance en route their first-ever semi-final in World Cup history. Pele's post ended with immortal words about the future of his sport, stating âDiego is smiling'. The Brazilian icon joins the Argentine superstar up there among the stars. The Latin American nations are arch-rivals on the football front, these two shared a bonding, despite the contrast. The chunky playmaker and a lithe striker terrorised defenders in their own special ways.
Pele came to Kolkata in 1977 first time with the New York club, Cosmos, for a friendly game against Mohun Bagan club, at the iconic Eden Gardens. The legend, a World Cupper at 17 years, came to India twice afterwards, in 2015 as chief guest for the Subroto Cup (national-level inter-schools football final) in New Delhi and 2018 as an invitee speaker for a corporate leadership summit.
Also Read: Tributes pour in: 'Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele'
He was an instant hit with fans during the three India visits - as a performer in front of 80,000 packed in the stands, an icon for kids chasing football dreams and an achiever sharing his life story with a different audience.
Pele's connect with people is direct and instant, beyond geographical boundaries. There was an aura around him, the way Muhammad Ali or Sir Gary Sobers radiated positivity wherever they went. The joy of scheming and scoring goals transmitted to the spectators in stadiums, viewers on television. He sensed openings in defensive formations before rivals could react and called the shots in the goalmouth, as if players around him were the supporting cast on his football show. The Brazilian is the gold standard against whom achievement by players from later generations are compared for the greatness factor. For example, Spain teenager Gavi made his World Cup debut at 18 years, 110 days in the Qatar 2022 group game against Costa Rica.
The FC Barcelona football prodigy went on to get his name on the score-sheet, becoming the youngest World Cupper after Pele (17 years, 249 days, 1958 World Cup for Brazil against home team Sweden) to find the net.
France's sensational striker, Kylian Mbappe, scored four times against Lionel Messi's Argentina at the Lusail Stadium recently, taking his tally of World Cup goals (2018 Russia, 2022 Qatar) to 12, equalling the aggregate by the Brazilian, who finished on the winning side in 1958 Sweden, 1962 Chile, 1970 Mexico. Mbappe, 24 years and en route to turning into a complete package as a strike force and needing two more World Cup wins to draw level, will remember Pele for the messages between these two crowd-pullers from different generations.
The French forward tweeted "Pray for the King" in reference to the latter's critical condition during Qatar 2022. The Brazilian responded: "Thank you @KMbappe. I'm happy to see you breaking another of my records in this World Cup, my friend."
Following a brave battle against colon cancer, Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pele's real name) left us to team up with aces up there. A smiling Maradona at the gate, welcoming him into a galaxy of greats. No more messages from the maestro, Pele leaves behind gorgeous goals, records and a lifetime of positive presence as motivation for those daring to trace his footsteps.
