When the entire world was in the aftermath of the FIFA world cup 2022, there was a huge loss for the football world too. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, a Brazilian Portuguese better known by his nickname Pelé the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record of three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died on 29 December 2022, Thursday aged 82.
He was undoubtedly a great symbol of soccer played with passion and happiness. In fact, he forged an image for the game of football, which even today lots of people continue to crave.
Pele was not just a legend and footballer par excellence, but he created a culture, the culture of football. He is a perfect example for uniting people across the globe irrespective of all the limitations, just with football and skillsets. Perhaps hard to find a better ambassador for the game of his era. Above all, he remains the face of a purity in soccer that existed long before big money and global geopolitics infiltrated the game.
Pele remained influential even after his retirement. He became FIFA’s Player of the 20th century, an award he shared with Maradona. In 2014, he was given FIFA’s first-ever Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur, and even Nelson Mandela spoke of his regard for the Brazilian when presenting him with a Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award, in 2000.
Pele has been one of the greatest talents in football history without any doubt.
Unfortunately, he had to face multiple problems that came his way. His commercial activities were mostly mired in controversy. He had reached a stage where he was even labelled as a left-wing antagonist of the Brazilian government. In an agonising incident, he was described as too conservative in his views of the Brazilian dictatorship. Above all, he had several children, some, the result of affairs.
Although the legend is no more he is intensely discussed in the law courts for the settlements of the assets and more. It looks like the player has not only left huge assets to the football world in terms of his success and the footballing culture but also financial assets. Therefore, the people associated with him including his wives, children and others obviously look to take control of the assets, which has left them all in unending proceedings of legalities.
In a recent update, after lengthy proceedings, the lawyer dealing with the issue has said that the widow of late football legend Pele will inherit 30 per cent of his assets. This has been already mentioned in the will of the late Pele. The will also has a mention of a woman who could be Pele’s unrecognized daughter, who will have a portion too. They also will states that Marcia Cibele Aoki, Pele’s third and last wife, will inherit his mansion in Guaruja, a seaside resort town south of Sao Paulo, where the couple lived, as Aoki’s lawyer Luiz Kignel says.
The reports state that there are assets belonging to Pele, including more real estate and a stake in the Pele brand. However, there has been no complete inventory made yet to have a final call on all the assets of the player. Therefore the remaining 70 per cent will definitely be reserved for Pele’s children, including an unrecognized daughter that he may have.
However, the existence of another daughter will depend only on a DNA test, which unfortunately could not be carried out, but the legalities are yet to decide a mode to make a conclusion. But the question now is whether she is a Brazilian national or not. But nothing has stopped, and she has already taken legal steps to be recognized as Pele’s daughter.
However, the abiding memory is of a man who played soccer in a way that many both amateurs and professionals have all aspired to. Pelé was not only skilful, but he also brought great joy to innumerable people across the world, over a period of decades. All, even those with just the slightest interest in football, will never forget him.
