Pele remains the marker to whom modern greats such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are compared.
The Brazilian legend is one of football’s most iconic figures and his death at the age of 82 brings the curtain down on a life and career that entertained and inspired in equal measure.
The forward, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento in Tres Coracoes in 1940, was just 15 years old when he made his Santos debut in 1956, winning his first Brazil cap the following year.
It was at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden that Pele first commanded international attention, though.
Brazil were yet to lift the Jules Rimet trophy when Pele first burst onto the scene, but the teenager helped kick-start a period of success for the South American nation with a series of scintillating displays.
After breaking into Vicente Feola's starting XI for the final game of the group stage against the Soviet Union, Pele thrived during the knockout matches, scoring six goals as Brazil saw off Wales, France and Sweden to clinch their maiden title.
Pele's influence began to tell domestically too, scoring 127 goals in 1959, and Santos picked up the first of five consecutive Taca Brasil crowns in 1961 – the same year he was declared a Brazilian national treasure – before a groin injury hindered his involvement in the country's successful World Cup defence in Chile in 1962.
Santos collected back-to-back Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup triumphs in 1962 and 1963 – Pele scoring in all four finals – but he was a marked man at the 1966 World Cup in England, with heavy tackles limiting his influence as Brazil crashed out at the group stage.
There would be one last World Cup flourish for Pele, though, scoring the opener and turning in a superb final display as Brazil beat Italy 4-1 to reclaim the title, earning the legendary striker a record third tournament win.
After a brief retirement, Pele eventually closed out his career playing for the New York Cosmos in the United States.
Pele's achievements have been celebrated with countless individual accolades, including being a joint winner of FIFA's Player of the Century with Diego Maradona in 2000.
"God was really generous with Pele in every way," former international team-mate Rivellino told Stats Perform. "Physically speaking he was a perfect athlete.
"He was fantastic, a good team-mate, very positive, always pushing us to win.
"He was a guy I learned a lot from, he was an example for me on the pitch.
"He wanted to get perfection. It is difficult to get there but he got very close to it.
"His headers were the best, his ball control was like no one else's, he was great with both legs. He could even play as a goalkeeper, so he was a phenomenal player and I believe in life I will not see anyone like him.
"All he won and did, for me there won't be another one.
"Another great player may appear – an excellent player – but another king like him? No."
Pele spent his later years working as an ambassador for a variety of charitable causes and commercial partners, but it is his magic on the field that will forever set the benchmark.
Al-Nassr 0-1 Al-Taawoun: Ronaldo misses stoppage-time penalty in last-16 cup defeat
Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr were knocked out of the King Cup of Champions at the last-16 stage, following a 1-0 defeat at home to Al-Taawoun.
Waleed Al-Ahmed got the winning goal for the visitors after 71 minutes, but Al-Nassr spurned a brilliant opportunity to draw level right at the end of the match when they were awarded a penalty.
But Ronaldo blasted the 96th-minute spot kick over the bar to hand victory to their opponents.
Both teams spent the first half struggling to create anything of note in an attacking sense, which did little to create a good spectacle.
Al-Taawoun looked more dangerous on the counter-attack, with the hosts indebted to a last-ditch tackle by Mohamad Simakan to snuff out a breakaway at the end of the first 45 minutes.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with a set-piece goal required to open the scoring as Al-Ahmed headed in from a corner.
Al-Nassr were given a lifeline to keep their hopes alive with time running out, but Ronaldo was unable to convert the penalty.
Data Debrief: Al-Nassr fall the wrong side of tight margins
The result means it is now back-to-back matches in which Al-Nassr have failed to win, which is their first such run since August.
The match itself was a tight one, with Al-Nassr having five shots on target compared to Al-Taawoun's four.
In terms of actual chances, Al-Nassr had opportunities equalling 1.56 xG, although it is worth remembering 0.75 of that came from their penalty. Al-Taawoun, meanwhile, generated an xG of 0.59.
Al-Kholood 3-3 Al-Nassr: Talisca penalty spares visitors' blushes
Al-Nassr needed a late penalty from Talisca to salvage their unbeaten start to the Saudi Pro League season, drawing 3-3 with Al-Kholood at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.
With talisman Cristiano Ronaldo absent from the side, Al-Nassr missed the chance to go within a point of leaders Al-Hilal, who face Al-Okhdood later on Friday.
Al-Kholood stunned the visitors with just 12 minutes gone when Jackson Muleka picked out Myziane Maolida, with the striker riding a challenge before finishing beyond Bento.
But Stefano Pioli's side restored parity two minutes later when Aymeric Laporte notched his third goal in as many games with a guided header into the far corner.
Al-Nassr soon found themselves in front when Sadio Mane saw his effort saved by Marcelo Grohe, only for the rebound to fall kindly into the path of Talisca to finish.
However, it was then the hosts' turn to provide a quick response, with Maolida grabbing his second with a fine finish from the edge of the area to level the game at the break.
But in their attempts to find a winner, Al-Nassr were hit with a sucker punch when Muleka turned home from close range after good work from substitute Hammam Al Hammami.
Al-Kholood looked set to claim a famous victory until goalscorer Muleka was penalised for a handball in the box in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time, with Talisca stepping up to snatch a point for the visitors.
Data Debrief: No Ronaldo, no party
While Al-Nassr salvaged a point late on, the performance further signified Ronaldo's importance to the team, with the Portugal captain having notched eight goal contributions (six goals, two assists) in his first seven games of the season.
The visitors did, however, have their chances. They ended the contest with an expected goals (xG) total of 2.76 from their 18 shots, though only eight of those efforts were on target.
But Al-Nassr were saved by the impressive Talisca. He contributed a whopping 1.82 xG to his side's total, while also registering more shots on target (four) than any of his team-mates.
Maresca: Chelsea 'deserved something more' from Liverpool loss
Enzo Maresca felt Chelsea "deserved something more" from their 2-1 defeat against Liverpool.
The Blues suffered only their second Premier League defeat of the season, as Curtis Jones' strike settled the contest at Anfield.
Nicolas Jackson had struck within minutes of the restart to cancel out Mohamed Salah's first-half penalty, but Chelsea missed the opportunity to climb to third place in the table.
Nevertheless, Maresca believes his players can leave Anfield with their heads held high.
"We don't like to lose or drop points, but I really liked the performance," he told Sky Sports. "We deserved something more, but the performance was good.
"We controlled most of the game. We had chances, we had possession. We don't like to lose, but if we have to choose, this is the way. The team was brave on and off the ball.
"I don't think this game defines where we are. We prepared in the best way, it worked quite well. You have to take chances, but overall I am very happy with the players."
Meanwhile, Reece James felt Chelsea's performance epitomised the impressive strides they have made in a short space of time.
The right-back made his first Premier League start for the club since December 2023, managing 53 minutes on his return to action.
"Coming here is always tough," the Blues skipper said. "I think we controlled most of the game. They had chances; we had a few chances as well but didn't take them.
"We are definitely moving in the right direction. The scoreline doesn't reflect the game.
"If we step back and look at performances and what we are trying to do, we have come a long way. It is still early days, we haven't been with the manager long."
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