Following the tragic passing of arguably the greatest soccer player of all time, Prof José Paulo Florenzano of the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo reflects on Pelé’s remarkable legacy off the field. This article was originally written in Portuguese.
Pelé occupies a central, albeit problematic, place in the construction and affirmation of Brazil’s national identity. This is especially seen in his role in helping forge the identity of modern Brazil through his contributions to the World Cup in Sweden in 1958 and the global role played by his club team, Santos.
Santos in the era of Pele traveled the world as sporting ambassadors, crossing ideological divides and celebrating the political emancipation of nations emerging from colonialism.
Pelé went beyond being just a “national idol” to become a symbol of the Black diaspora, a pan-African reference point, and a cosmopolitan icon, with his achievements inspiring the playing of soccer in countries where the sport was rarely played and transforming the way the game was played in traditional soccer nations.
Marley, the celebrated musician, made a point of wearing Pelé’s number 10 shirt during his brief visit to Brazil in 1980. To Marley and others, Pelé embodied the aesthetic of soccer as art and an expression of freedom.
His influence was particularly felt in a decolonizing Africa, where countless African players across the continent drew inspiration from him.
His professional career, falling between the years 1956 to 1974, coincided with the period of “racial democracy” in Brazil, a belief that ignored discrimination against non-white Brazilians and blocked debate over racial inequality. Pelé’s experiences and trajectory expose how Brazilian-style racism operated.
Right after winning Brazil’s third World Cup in 1970, » …
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