The soccer world stopped on Thursday evening, Finnish time, when the news of a sports legend Pelé of death began to spread from Brazil. Pelé, in full name Edson Arantes do Nascimento died at the age of 82 after suffering from colon cancer.
A Brazilian soccer player who played in Finland for a long time Rafinha was already waiting for the news of the legend’s death. The only three-time world champion in men’s football had time to fight cancer for a long time.
– Sad, but quite expected news, Rafinha tells Urheilu.
The interview will be conducted in Finnish, because the 40-year-old Brazilian played professionally in Finland for a long time and is now a Finnish citizen. In the future, he will work as a coach in Finland.
Rafinha says that he discussed the importance of Pelé with his friends in Brazil last time in November during the opening group games of the World Cup. It was already known then that the legend was in bad shape.
– We talked that he is the king of football or we can say that even God for us Brazilians. He can’t die in the middle of the World Cup. We talked that maybe it’s meant for Pelé to watch the World Cup, says Rafinha.
– Everyone hoped that Brazil would win and he would somehow have a good final days, but he couldn’t. However, he was able to watch the games, where he was exposed to the whole world, Rafinha formulates.
According to Rafinha, it is difficult to even explain Pelé’s importance to Brazilians. The legend has his own special place in the hearts of Brazilians. Just like a triple world champion F1 driver Ayrton Senna.
– When the situation in Brazil was bad socially, economically and financially, Pelé brought joy to the entire Brazilian people. He was like Ayrton Senna once was, but football is our favorite sport.
Rafinha says that Pelé is the pride of Brazil, who brought the country forward through football.
– He has such a place in the hearts of Brazilians that it’s hard to even explain.
According to Rafinha, there has been talk in Brazil that Pelé was the first decent professional player. The athletic player took care of himself so well that he was ahead of his time.
The 40-year-old Rafinha heard a lot about the legend from his coaches, some of whom had even played against the legend.
– They said that there has never been or will be anyone like him.
– According to them, Pelé was a perfect player. He was athletic, had a good left foot and right foot, and was a good main returner. He was good at deflecting and scored all kinds of goals.
As a person, according to Rafinha’s view, Pelé was positive and encouraging. He also set an example for other footballers.
– He always gave a lot of attention to Brazilian children and tried to be an example of how we, footballers, should live. Pelé was a big figure for us soccer players and Brazilians in general.
– He is a great icon of our sport. Pelé is a big part of why I play soccer and love this sport.
The Brazilian legend has been titled the world’s best soccer player of all time for decades, right from his playing career.
– In Brazil, we say that Pelé is on a completely different level and after him come standard football players, Mess and Maradona for example. Pelé played himself into a position where first there is him and then everyone else.