Late soccer ‘King’ Pelé inspires hope for change in deeply unequal Brazil – CSMonitor.com
Pele’s son, Edinho, expressed in an interview that Pele would have been saddened by the current state of the Brazilian national football team. Edinho highlighted the team’s struggles in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, currently occupying the sixth spot in the South American table. The absence of star player Neymar, due to a long-term injury, has added to the team’s challenges. Edinho acknowledged the complexity of the problems, emphasizing a decline in the team’s performance compared to earlier times. He mentioned that Pele, if alive, would have been disappointed with the current situation. Additionally, Edinho commented on the difficulties faced by Pele’s former club, Santos, which has been relegated to the second division amid financial problems and internal conflicts. As the first anniversary of Pele’s death approached, Edinho reflected on the void left in the family’s life, describing Pele as exceptional and emphasizing the pride he brought to Brazil through football. The family planned low-key ceremonies for the anniversary, including a virtual meeting of Pele’s six surviving children and a ceremony at his mausoleum in Santos.
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