Edson Pelé

Pelé was not just the perfect athlete: he was much more. He combined overwhelming athleticism and Brazilian flair with a work ethic that was almost European in its rigor. This unique blend made him arguably the greatest player of all time, or at the very least one of the top three alongside Maradona and Messi. He possessed an extraordinary and lethal mix of athleticism, technique, and discipline. A precocious talent, he became the symbol of the most dominant and successful Santos side in history, as well as of the Brazilian national team, with whom he won two World Cups as a leading figure (1958 and 1970). He formed a remarkable partnership with his friend Garrincha, while in 1962 he was forced to surrender to injury against Czechoslovakia during the group stage. He quickly rose to the status of a global icon, becoming a national treasure, which in practice prevented him from moving to Europe despite numerous offers, particularly from Italy. During the many matches against European clubs, whether on tours, in World Cups, Intercontinental competitions, or friendlies, he was often among the best on the pitch despite less-than-ideal physical conditions and the immense pressure surrounding his name. From a purely tactical standpoint, Pelé began as a left-sided inside forward, essentially a modern second striker; his area of influence stretched from the attacking midfield to the forward line, although he was never a traditional number nine, preferring instead to operate alongside a more classic striker (Coutinho at Santos or Vavá with Brazil). Over the years, he gradually dropped deeper, evolving by the 1970 World Cup into something close to a classic playmaker, and in certain matches (such as against Uruguay) even acting as a deep-lying midfielder to evade the relentless Uruguayan marking.