1 00:00:01,866 --> 00:00:04,233 JUDY WOODRUFF: Soccer fans around the world are in mourning tonight over the news that 2 00:00:04,233 --> 00:00:07,833 the Brazilian soccer legend Pele died today. 3 00:00:07,833 --> 00:00:12,833 He was the face of the global game for decades and helped to shape soccer into what's known 4 00:00:13,566 --> 00:00:15,033 as the beautiful game. 5 00:00:15,033 --> 00:00:17,566 Laura Barron-Lopez has this look back at his legacy. 6 00:00:17,566 --> 00:00:22,566 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: The paralleled athlete and only player to have ever won three World 7 00:00:24,133 --> 00:00:28,500 Cups died at a hospital in Sao Paulo with his family by his side. 8 00:00:28,500 --> 00:00:33,500 His daughter recently shared this image on social media captioned: "Another night together," 9 00:00:34,933 --> 00:00:36,900 holding on to precious last moments with her father. 10 00:00:36,900 --> 00:00:41,600 Pele had been hospitalized since the end of November, receiving care for colon cancer 11 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:46,266 that doctors say had advanced in the last week, as well as a respiratory infection that 12 00:00:46,266 --> 00:00:48,700 stemmed from COVID-19. 13 00:00:48,700 --> 00:00:53,666 In addition to the World Cups he won in 1958, 1962, and 1970, Pele will be remembered as 14 00:00:55,733 --> 00:00:58,966 the most prolific scorer the game has ever known. 15 00:00:58,966 --> 00:01:03,933 He boasts two Guinness world records, including for his nearly 1,300 career goals. 16 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:08,966 And his 77 goals in just over 90 international matches is a record achievement for the Brazilian 17 00:01:09,933 --> 00:01:12,033 national team. 18 00:01:12,033 --> 00:01:16,800 Above all, Pele will remain an indelible icon and perhaps the sport's greatest ambassador. 19 00:01:19,566 --> 00:01:24,133 Outside the hospital and all across Brazil, legions of fans have gathered in the streets 20 00:01:24,133 --> 00:01:27,700 in solemn vigil in recent days to pay their respects. 21 00:01:27,700 --> 00:01:32,700 And, at the latest World Cup, many more spoke of what he meant to Brazil, to the game, and 22 00:01:33,900 --> 00:01:35,400 to the world. 23 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:38,566 MAN: Pele represents what we are, where we came from. 24 00:01:38,566 --> 00:01:40,200 Pele is our roots. 25 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:41,900 It's what we are today. 26 00:01:41,900 --> 00:01:43,566 It's thanks to him. 27 00:01:43,566 --> 00:01:48,533 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Pele was 82 years old. 28 00:01:49,966 --> 00:01:52,033 Some further perspective now on Pele and his impact. 29 00:01:52,033 --> 00:01:55,400 J.J. Devaney is the co-host of the soccer podcast "Caught Offside." 30 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:57,800 J.J., thanks for joining the "NewsHour." 31 00:01:57,800 --> 00:01:59,033 I wanted to ask you. 32 00:01:59,033 --> 00:02:01,833 Pele is known as the king of soccer. 33 00:02:01,833 --> 00:02:06,600 But, for contemporary fans, they may not always know his impact on the sport. 34 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:11,600 How can they see his legacy and potentially some of his signature moves on the field today? 35 00:02:13,500 --> 00:02:15,566 J.J. DEVANEY, Co-Host, "Caught Offside": Well, it's funny you mention that. 36 00:02:15,566 --> 00:02:19,400 I was watching a TikTok today that compared Pele's signature moves and how he did a lot 37 00:02:21,666 --> 00:02:25,800 of what the modern players are doing right now way before they even did it. 38 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,466 So, he was an iconic player. 39 00:02:28,466 --> 00:02:33,233 He was a player who brought this beautiful game to the masses, and particularly in the 40 00:02:33,233 --> 00:02:38,233 1970 World Cup, which was the first World Cup with a big television scope across the globe. 41 00:02:40,466 --> 00:02:44,566 And, I mean, you ask anybody who's a soccer fan, they will still know who Pele is, even 42 00:02:44,566 --> 00:02:46,533 if they never saw him play, people like me. 43 00:02:46,533 --> 00:02:49,200 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: In all, Pele won three World Cups. 44 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:50,933 No other player has done that. 45 00:02:50,933 --> 00:02:54,966 And detractors say that he -- the game was slower then. 46 00:02:54,966 --> 00:02:57,566 You have said that it was actually rougher then. 47 00:02:57,566 --> 00:03:02,533 So does that -- all of that taken together elevate him to be one of the greatest in the world? 48 00:03:04,533 --> 00:03:06,566 J.J. DEVANEY: Yes, it's very difficult to compare eras, and it's almost not fair. 49 00:03:06,566 --> 00:03:11,566 But I would say, in terms of skill and the ability and the attacking prowess that he 50 00:03:12,766 --> 00:03:14,866 had, he could have played in any era. 51 00:03:14,866 --> 00:03:18,733 And in the modern era, he would have had the benefits of tougher referees, a less brutal game. 52 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:26,600 I don't think it's fair to compare eras, but if you look at his skill during those iconic 53 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:31,600 matches, his goal against Sweden as a 17-year-old in his first World Cup in 1958 was absolutely 54 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,433 stunning in the final, where he flicks it over a player, goes around and scores on the 55 00:03:36,433 --> 00:03:38,400 far side. 56 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,900 Those are timeless, timeless moves, and something that inspired generations afterwards. 57 00:03:41,900 --> 00:03:46,433 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: He also off the field was seen as this global ambassador of the 58 00:03:46,433 --> 00:03:49,400 game, something that he did for decades. 59 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:54,400 Can you talk about his appeal and how he helped spread soccer in the U.S. and elsewhere? 60 00:03:55,866 --> 00:03:58,866 J.J. DEVANEY: Well, yes, he -- I interviewed him in 2016. 61 00:03:58,866 --> 00:04:03,833 And he told me about how he had retired from the game and he spoke to Henry Kissinger in 62 00:04:06,266 --> 00:04:10,033 Brazil, who persuaded him to come to the NASL, the North American Soccer League, to the New 63 00:04:11,100 --> 00:04:12,100 York Cosmos. 64 00:04:12,100 --> 00:04:14,566 And that had a profound effect. 65 00:04:14,566 --> 00:04:18,466 OK, it didn't have an effect on soccer becoming a major professional sport at that moment 66 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:23,466 in the United States, but it inspired people who saw him throughout his time in the U.S. 67 00:04:23,466 --> 00:04:27,566 And, also, he became almost a global ambassador for the game. 68 00:04:27,566 --> 00:04:31,900 Wherever there was a World Cup, wherever there was a big game, you saw Pele promoting the game. 69 00:04:31,900 --> 00:04:36,200 He was a regular visitor to the White House as well under three or four different administrations. 70 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:40,800 Pele was there promoting charities, but also promoting the game of soccer. 71 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:42,833 He became synonymous with soccer. 72 00:04:42,833 --> 00:04:46,733 Whether you knew a little about the game, nothing about the game, or a lot about the 73 00:04:46,733 --> 00:04:51,733 game, Pele was the face of the World Cup and of soccer, not just Brazilian soccer. 74 00:04:53,700 --> 00:04:56,666 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: And one unique thing about his career is that Pele didn't -- he did not 75 00:04:56,666 --> 00:05:00,300 go on to play in European clubs for more money. 76 00:05:00,300 --> 00:05:04,200 And he toured with the Brazilian team in exhibition matches. 77 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:06,200 Why did he do this? 78 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:08,866 Did it simply come down to the fact that he was deeply connected to Brazil? 79 00:05:08,866 --> 00:05:13,866 J.J. DEVANEY: That was part of it, but, also, the Brazilian government at the time, in the early 80 00:05:15,933 --> 00:05:18,566 '60s, seeing what an amazing player they had from the '58 World Cup, they decided that 81 00:05:18,566 --> 00:05:23,566 they would put almost a national treasure order on him, meaning he couldn't be taken 82 00:05:25,500 --> 00:05:28,700 abroad by other player -- by other clubs, other richer clubs, maybe in the European game. 83 00:05:30,633 --> 00:05:34,400 He toured with Santos for years, and played a lot of games and exhibition matches. 84 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:39,400 So that kind of spread the profile -- spread his profile. 85 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:44,000 But when I spoke to him in 2016, he said there was a lot of interest from Juventus, from 86 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:48,700 Real Madrid towards the end of his career, but he couldn't leave because the Brazilian 87 00:05:48,700 --> 00:05:52,500 government didn't want him to, but also because he didn't want to. 88 00:05:52,500 --> 00:05:56,866 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: When you interviewed him in 2016, is there something that particularly 89 00:05:56,866 --> 00:05:58,733 stood out to you about his personality? 90 00:05:58,733 --> 00:06:01,300 J.J. DEVANEY: His warmth. 91 00:06:01,300 --> 00:06:05,966 He took my hand at the start of the interview, because he knew I was a little bit overawed 92 00:06:05,966 --> 00:06:08,000 by his presence. 93 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,466 But he had a deep, warm voice. 94 00:06:10,466 --> 00:06:12,533 He had a charisma. 95 00:06:12,533 --> 00:06:16,933 He was at that point a granddad-style figure, but he still had an aura and a strength and 96 00:06:16,933 --> 00:06:18,433 a presence around him. 97 00:06:18,433 --> 00:06:22,866 And as humble as he was, he also knew he was great. 98 00:06:22,866 --> 00:06:24,900 And that struck me. 99 00:06:24,900 --> 00:06:29,300 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Can you also tell us about his relationship with Brazilian players and, 100 00:06:31,733 --> 00:06:35,800 in particular, Neymar, someone who as -- as you have said, it's difficult to compare eras, 101 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:40,800 but how exactly did they bond when -- as Neymar has been playing? 102 00:06:43,366 --> 00:06:46,033 J.J. DEVANEY: Well, if you just look at contemporary players, like the great players we talk about 103 00:06:46,033 --> 00:06:51,033 today, Kylian Mbappe, about their -- the wonderful tributes that they paid, they recognize Pele 104 00:06:53,066 --> 00:06:57,600 as the first global soccer star, the -- a player who transcended all sports. 105 00:07:00,066 --> 00:07:03,300 I think his relationship with Brazilian soccer players, if Pele said something down the decades, 106 00:07:04,500 --> 00:07:06,666 it was listened to, and it carried great weight. 107 00:07:06,666 --> 00:07:11,500 He spoke to me about Neymar in 2016, and he said that there was maybe only two or three 108 00:07:11,500 --> 00:07:15,566 really great players in the world, whereas, when he played, he thought there were many, 109 00:07:15,566 --> 00:07:16,900 many more. 110 00:07:16,900 --> 00:07:18,900 So he had a high regard for Neymar. 111 00:07:18,900 --> 00:07:23,533 If -- I think Pele liked to consider himself the best of the best, and that no Brazilian 112 00:07:24,733 --> 00:07:27,100 player, really, since he played came close. 113 00:07:27,100 --> 00:07:29,466 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Pele's career was truly transcendent. 114 00:07:29,466 --> 00:07:31,466 J.J. Devaney, thank you for your time. 115 00:07:31,466 --> 00:07:32,966 J.J. DEVANEY: Good to be with you, Laura.