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Pele ‘Immortal’, Greatest Player Of 20th Century, Says Football’s Ruling Body FIFA

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FIFA said Pele was simply “immortal” after the Brazil legend, named by world football’s governing body as the greatest player of the 20th century, died on Thursday aged 82.

For everyone who loves the beautiful game, this is the day we never wanted to come. The day we lost Pele,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

“Today, we all mourn the loss of the physical presence of our dear Pele, but he achieved immortality a long time ago and therefore he will be with us for eternity.”

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READ ALSO: Pele’s Burial Arrangements Rolled Out, Body To Be Taken To His 100-year-old Mother

Pele is the only footballer to have won three FIFA World Cups.

He was just 17 when he won with Brazil in Sweden in 1958. Pele won the World Cup again in Chile in 1962, despite being forced out of much of the tournament due to injury.

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He lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy for the third and final time in Mexico in 1970.

“Pele: immortal — forever with us,” FIFA said on its website.

Infantino said Pele was unique, as he sent his condolences to his family, Brazil and all football fans.

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“His skill and imagination were incomparable. Pele did things that no other player would even dream of,” Infantino said.

“Most importantly, ‘The King’ rose the throne with a smile on his face. Football could be brutal in those days, and Pele was often on the receiving end of some rough treatment.

“But, while he knew how to stand up for himself, he was always an exemplary sportsman, with genuine respect for his opponents.”

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Infantino added: “Pele had a magnetic presence and, when you were with him, the rest of the world stopped. His life is about more than football. He changed perceptions for the better in Brazil, in South America and across the world.”

FIFA noted that he was the youngest-ever world champion — not to mention the youngest scorer, youngest hat-trick scorer, youngest finalist and youngest player to score in a final in World Cup history.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who led world football’s governing body from 1998 to 2015, called Pele the greatest player ever.

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READ ALSO: Pele The King, The GOAT: Historic Milestone & Legacy Of A Football Legend

“The world mourns the greatest footballer in history and a wonderful personality. He celebrated the game like no other,” Blatter said on Twitter.

“Dear Pele, I am immensely sad and honour you and your life’s work. My sincere condolences to your family and friends.”

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Meanwhile European football’s governing body UEFA praised Pele for his part in football’s popularity.

“He was the first global superstar of the game. Rest in peace, Pele.”
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Ballon d’Or: Why Neymar Didn’t Win Award – Gerard

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Barcelona legend, Gerard Piqué has said that Brazil legend, Neymar could have won the Ballon d’Or had he remained at the Catalan side a little longer.

Neymar left Barça for PSG in 2017, becoming the costliest player in the world.

Pique said that the move stopped the Brazilian from winning the Ballon d’Or.

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READ ALSO:Ballon d’Or: Why Neymar Didn’t Win Award – Gerard

He said that the superstar footballer actually deserved to win the France Football award in his career.

Speaking on the PodPah podcast, Pique, who was Neymar’s teammate for many years at Barcelona, said he tried to convince the Brazilian not to make the move but the former PSG star did not listen to him.

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“I’m convinced he deserved a Ballon d’Or. I think going to PSG hurt him. We tried to convince him not to go, we did everything possible.

READ ALSO:Ballon d’Or: Barcelona’s Flick Responds To Yamal’s Second-place Finish

“Everyone thought he was going to stay, even me, but it seemed that it was already decided. In the end, he had an incredible career,” he said.

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The Brazilian was at Camp Nou until 2017 when he decided to move to PSG who were willing to activate his €222 million release clause.

He left for Al-Hilal in 2023 and returned to Brazil with Santos in 2025.

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Lionel Messi Names 10 Best Young Players Currently

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Argentina and Barcelona legend, Lionel Messi, has named the 10 players he sees as future stars.

The legendary attacker has players from Chelsea and Liverpool in his list.

As part of an Adidas campaign, the 8-time Ballon d’Or winner was asked to name the players he deems the next big stars in the game.

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READ ALSO:Messi Ruled Out Of Miami’s MLS Clash With Orlando

The Inter Miami goal king partnering with Adidas Football for the ‘Messi+10: Season 2’ campaign named his 10 best rising stars.

He named Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha, Chelsea’s Andrey Santos, Kendry Paez, also of Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder, Brajan Gruda.

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Others are Nico Paz (Como), Rodrigo Mora (Porto), Mika Godts (Ajax Amsterdam), and Kader Meite (Stade Rennes).

READ ALSO:I Don’t Hate Ronaldo, Messi Is A Better Player – Wayne Rooney

He named two female players, Barcelona’s Clara Serrajordi and Olympique Lyon’s Lily Yohannes.

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Messi made a similar selection in 2024 to include Lamine Yamal, Antonio Nusa and Kenan Yildiz.

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2026 World Cup: Why ‘England Can’t Win Trophy’ – Paul Scholes

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Former England international, Paul Scholes, has said that the country stands no chance of winning the 2026 World Cup to be hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

England became the first European country to qualify for the World Cup on Tuesday after beating Latvia 5 goals to nothing.

Scholes said Thomas Tuchel’s team has ‘no chance’ of winning the tournament unless the German gaffer brings his ‘three best players’ back into the squad.

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Tuchel will now be hoping to lead England to their first major trophy in men’s football since 1966.

READ ALSO:Nigeria Vs Lesotho: What Super Eagles Must Do To Qualify For 2026 World Cup

The former Chelsea manager was appointed as Sir Gareth Southgate’s successor last year.

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England made it to two European Championship finals and two World Cup semi-finals under Southgate but failed to lift those trophies.

But former Manchester United midfielder, Scholes believes that England has ‘no chance’ unless Tuchel brings his ‘three best players’ back into the fold.

Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish were left out of the team for their last matches.

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READ ALSO:FULL LIST: 17 Nations Secure 2026 FIFA World Cup Spots

I was a little bit surprised. Those three players, they have to be in his squad and they will be in his squad for the World Cup,” Scholes said on The Overlap.

“If you look at the squad now, you would say they have virtually no chance of winning the World Cup. Even with those three players it’s still a big ask but it gives you more of a chance of winning the cup.

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“Jude Bellingham has missed a little bit of football but he’s fit now so I would have brought him back in.

“Thomas Tuchel hasn’t got many games left now until the World Cup actually starts, it’s only the November break and then the March one and then we’re there so we need to get these players playing.”

While announcing his squad for the last international break, Tuchel insisted he had ‘no problem’ with the omitted players, especially Bellingham.

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