Brazilian football legend Pele, arguably the greatest player ever, has died at the age of 82.

Pele is credited with scoring a world record 1,281 goals in 1,363 appearances during his 21 year career, including 77 goals in 92 matches for his nation.

He is the only player to have won the world cup thrice in 1958, 1962 and 1970. He was named FIFA’s player of the century in 2000.

Pele, who had a colon tumour removed in 2021, was readmitted to hospital in Sao Paulo – Brazil in November this year amid deteriorating health.

A hospital statement confirming his death partly reads the football great has died “due to the failure of multiple organs, a result of progression of cancer of colon associated with his previous clinical condition.”