Brazil and Santos legend Pele died on Thursday. GOAL remembers the greatest moments of his incredible career.
No player did more to popularise football's reputation as the beautiful game than the immortal Pele.
The only male or female player to win three World Cups, the free-scoring forward also spearheaded one of the greatest club side's footballing history.
His death leaves a devastating void in global sport, and below, GOAL recalls some of the standout moments of a once-in-a-lifetime career.
Getty ImagesA goal on his debut… twice
Pele made his professional debut all the way back in 1956. Aged just 15, the legendary forward lined up for Santos – he had only signed a few months earlier following a successful trial – against Corinthians Santo Andre.
Pele scored in the 7-1 victory, kickstarting a golden era at the club that would span 18 years. It wasn't his best strike, with the teenager simply tapping home a rebound in the box.
Then, in July 1957, Pele opened his international scoring account – against Argentina no less. He was far from an established name in the Santos side at this stage, but impressed Brazil manager Sylvio Pirillo in a friendly organised to raise money for Sao Paulo's new stadium.
A baby-faced Pele still managed to find the net at the Maracana, making it 2-1 to the Selecao.
Getty ImagesBirth of a superstar
Pele introduced himself to a global football audience at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. After featuring just once in the group stage, his tournament exploded in the quarter-final stage, when he burst through the Wales backline to secure a 1-0 win and his side's progression.
Things got even better in the semi-finals when Pele's hat trick helped Brazil down the free-scoring Just Fontaine and France.
And his legend was secured in the final when he grabbed a brace as the Selecao smashed hosts Sweden 5-2. His first goal in that game was typical of his brilliance. After taking down a deep cross in the box he dinked the ball over brutish Swedish defender Bengt Gustavsson, before watching it drop down from a great height and finding the bottom corner on the volley.
Getty ImagesContinental champion
While Pele's relentless touring schedule prevented him from winning the Copa America with Brazil – he only appeared in one tournament (1959) and managed to secure the Golden Boot – the forward did taste continental glory at club level.
In 1962, with the scores level after two legs in the Copa Libertadores final against Penarol, Pele carried Santos to victory in a Playoff contested on neutral ground at Estadio Monumental. He grabbed a brace, including a game-changing strike just after half time, as Santos earned their first ever South American title.
A year later, the Alvinegro retained their crown, with Pele scoring in the final against Boca Juniors.
Victory in these two games booked Santos a place in the Intercontinental Cup against European opposition. They made light work of their opponents both years, first beating Benfica – Pele scored five goals over the two legs – and then getting the better of AC Milan in another playoff.
Five in a row
Throughout the 1960s Pele spearheaded Santos' greatest ever side, appropriately nicknamed Os Santasticos.
The Dream Team's list of accomplishments is endless, and their diminutive attacking fulcrum was always at the centre of things.
Winning five Serie A titles in a row between 1961 and 1965 was one of Santos' crowning achievements, with Pele securing the top scorer award in three of these seasons.
1962 also saw Lula's charges secure the 'first treble in the world'. During this whirlwind year, Pele and Co. won the Copa Libertadores, Campeonato Paulista and Taca Brasil. Not bad.