Brazil legend Pelé, one of the greatest footballers ever, dies aged 82

RIP: Brazilian soccer great Pelé has died aged 82. Pic: Gabriel Lopes/AFP via Getty Images

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 Thursday. He was 82.

The standard-bearer of “the beautiful game” had undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021. He had been hospitalized for the last month with multiple ailments.