gathering journalists have been gathering there as that news has emerged. you are watching bbc news, if you have justjoined us we are staying with that news that has emerged 60 minutes ago that the brazilian football widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, pele has died today at the age of 82. he had been suffering from cancer during his career he won three world cups, the only player ever to do that and received countless awards and titles over the years. in brazil, widely heralded as a national hero for his achievements in football and repeated calls to improve social conditions of the pooh improve social conditions of the poor. we will start this hour with joe wilson who has a report on the life of one of football true greats.

the greatest, it's opinion, but pele led, others stand on his shoulders. well over 1,000 goals, a career of over 20 years, three times a world cup winner. brazilian football, synonymous with flair and success, was built on pele. in1958, pele took part in his first world cup tournament, aged just 17. he scored six goals in four matches, playing himself to the point of exhaustion. when brazil beat sweden in the final, one opponent said when he watched pele, he felt like applauding. injury limited his role in the 1962 world cup. in1966, well, opposing teams knew they had to stop pele one way or another. four years later, in 1970 in mexico, pele was part of a brazilian team widely regarded as the best set of players ever. they won the world cup with a freedom of expression and fluency never seen before. it was pele�*s last world cup. without him, brazil waited another 2a years before winning the trophy again. pele remained in demand.

after all, he was one of the most famous names and faces in the world. he spent 18 years with one club, santos, averaging nearly a goal a game. by 1975, he was in the united states, the ultimate acquisition for a new league hungry for glamour. the league didn't last, but pele still thrilled new york. after football, he took on ambassadorial roles, commercial opportunities and naturally collected recognition. and pele expressed no regrets. if i have to to do every single game again since i was born until now, i would do everything again. and i thank god. the popularity of football, the very idea of what makes it entertaining, began more than any other man with pele. the legendary brazilian footballer pele, who's died at the age of 82.

let's get more from our south america correspondent, katy watson. with america correspondent, katy watson. this money. last with this money approaching over the last few days, i know you are in communication with the hospital over christmas, but when the moment is come, it is still moment that hits a nation and the football world. absolutely. i think everybody in brazil here had been following howe his condition was progressing. his daughter kely nascimento was posting on social media an awful lot of people were watching her poignant photos. in fact, the last photo she posted said, "everything we are is thanks to you. we love you infinitely. rest in peace." and certainly everybody here in brazil was waiting, dreading this moment to happen. even the hospital he was staying in, the top hospital in latin america, said that hospital

share for the family and everyone else at the suffering that comes with a loss of our beloved king of football." you can just imagine this moment that so many people, of course with his condition, the hospital has announced that it was multiple organ failure as a result of a colon cancer he had. people were expecting it but people never wanted to see this happen. the king of football, he is royalty here in brazil. he is the closest, an idol in a country which is so divided politically, he rose above that and was an icon for everyone here in brazil. i was an icon for everyone here in brazil. , ., ., , ., , brazil. i tell you what is really noticeable — brazil. i tell you what is really noticeable over _ brazil. i tell you what is really noticeable over the _ brazil. i tell you what is really noticeable over the last - brazil. i tell you what is really noticeable over the last little | noticeable over the last little while as we have talked to different people, here is a man who was playing football in the 1960s and 19705 playing football in the 1960s and 1970s and howjust about everyone, the current generation and all the others that have followed, still talk about him, the exploits, the triumphs of what he actually

achieved. triumphs of what he actually achieved-— triumphs of what he actually achieved. ~ , ., ~ achieved. absolutely. i was talking to somebody _ achieved. absolutely. i was talking to somebody in — achieved. absolutely. i was talking to somebody in his _ achieved. absolutely. i was talking to somebody in his 20s _ achieved. absolutely. i was talking to somebody in his 20sjust - achieved. absolutely. i was talking to somebody in his 20sjust a - achieved. absolutely. i was talking to somebody in his 20sjust a few. to somebody in his 20s just a few days ago about how he has memories passed down to him, but he is still such a figurehead in brazil. i think whether you saw him play whether your parents, grandparents saw him play, it didn't matter, he was transcendent of the generations. in the style in which he did it. this is a country which is not short of footballing greats, but it is also a country which is so tied to football, with the recent world cup, everybody here in brazil gets a day off when brazil play. pele was cheering on the team from his hospital bed. this was a country thatis hospital bed. this was a country that is really defined by football. whether you like football or not, you do love football when it comes to the world cup and when it comes to the world cup and when it comes to pele. i think that what so many people is something that you perhaps

don't see in other countries. this absolute love, notjust obsession, but love for the game, the beautiful game, which is an expression that he popularised. and of course played, i think that was something that brazil was so proud of and continues to be proud of. of course, he is down is the best football player ever, there was always this rivalry between who was always this rivalry between who was better? maradona or pele? but here in brazil there was no question, this is a moment for every brazilian to remember and to mark. thank you very much for it now. katie going through the greats. just as she was coming to the end of that last answer, lionel messi, argentina's captain, the world cup winnerjust a few days ago tweeting, "rest in peace, pele." another football great paying tribute to pele and the influence that man has

had on global football. pele and the influence that man has had on globalfootball. so rest in peace, pele, a tweet from argentina's lionel messi. a little earlier too, we were hearing from neymar talking about and paying tribute to his artistry, his entertainment on the pitch, but also making the point of the social work that pele have done off the pitch. really interesting what neymar put in his post on social media, talking about the impact of pele, the beauty on the pitch but also so much of the work he did off it. more on those tributes, they are coming in all of the time as i look here on the computer. we see the pictures coming into the bbc. a little earlier, i spoke about this news and the legacy of pele. earlier, i spoke about pele and his legacy with bbcjournalist, fernando duarte, who met

the footballer several times. a lot of resilience will regret not worshipping him more. i'm nota single human being was perfect, far from that. you can complain about a lot of stuff, but as a public figure in brazil, he was huge. he was brazil, anyway. that is the only brazilian that i know that has been identified everywhere, and it is going to be difficult. brazil might never produce a footballer like him. i think the world might never produce a footballer like him. i know there is a huge discussion about lionel messi etc, but when pele was at his prime, when the football was heavier, he made things special. likejohn lennon once said, "if rock and roll had to be reinvented, it would have been called chuck berry." if football was

reinvented, it would be called edson arantes do nascimento.— arantes do nascimento. interesting to hear you — arantes do nascimento. interesting to hear you say _ arantes do nascimento. interesting to hear you say that, _ arantes do nascimento. interesting to hear you say that, given - arantes do nascimento. interesting to hear you say that, given the - to hear you say that, given the world cup we have just came out of in the mesmerising skills of messi. whenever we have the debate about whether it is messy, and elder or maradona, it always comes back two whether it is messi, an maradona. it was comes back to pele. he whether it is messi, an maradona. it was comes back to pele.— was comes back to pele. he always told me, let _ was comes back to pele. he always told me, let messi _ was comes back to pele. he always told me, let messi score _ was comes back to pele. he always told me, let messi score three - was comes back to pele. he alwaysl told me, let messi score three goals in world cups and we can have a fight." he knew that his time was different, that people would always anoint a successor to him, but he was pretty amazed by this discussion. as i said before, i had a chance to meet him a dozen times, and the question always made him laugh. to be honest, i wish i could hear the laugh once again, as it was special. as i said before, he was never the kind of experience —— it

was never the kind of experience you left pinching yourself. 0ne was never the kind of experience you left pinching yourself. one of the most interesting human beings of the 20th century with nelson mandela, popejohn paul ii. to have a chance to meet that guy and not be surrounded by battalions of security was something really special. weill. was something really special. well, some great — was something really special. well, some great memories _ was something really special. well, some great memories there - was something really special. well, some great memories there from a man who had met pele several times, some great stories, especially the one about lionel messi. let's talk now to charles roberts. tell us your story. welcome to the programme. i have been in football, but not on the actual playing side, but what matters to the players is something that you contribute to their lives, their personal lives. that is how i got to know him. they were put in this

hotel which was really, no disrespect, but it was hardly a case of the world champions being there in what looks like a bed—and—breakfast. but they gave them everything, all the attention possible. and i met him initially, he was such a kind man. he was a very, very... amount of substance but on the pitch he showed respect in every way. —— a man of substance. there was no conceit in him, especially i was concerned because he was missing his wife terribly. it would not come down from his room a couple of times, and i waited and eventually we had a good chat and then everything he got. we want to buy the biggest teddy bear you have ever seen which needed a seat of its own on the plane back. but he missed his family. he was a good man, i'm

never met a better footballer that was so honest. 0ut never met a better footballer that was so honest. out of football, i only knew him out of football, obviously. well filmed, well recorded on the playing side, but he did things for the brazilian team that helped to ease the fact that the hotel was not really a 5—star hotel. i remember one morning there was a bowling green at the side of the actual hotel which was more of a pub than anything, and they went on to the training... i thought it was a training session, and they went on to the bowling green and the bowling green keeper nearly died when he saw them. you can imagine what football does to a bowling green. but he had a sense of humour, a sense of one of these players you find very rare, a sense of honour about his trade. and

his trade was fantastic, wasn't it? he was just a joy to see him everywhere and spell that magic. but well respected on the playing side. i found that, well respected on the playing side. ifound that, ifound well respected on the playing side. i found that, i found the well respected on the playing side. ifound that, ifound the manager and the people their respective him fully in everything he did. you and the people their respective him fully in everything he did.— fully in everything he did. you have rolled so many _ fully in everything he did. you have rolled so many wonderful _ fully in everything he did. you have rolled so many wonderful stories i rolled so many wonderful stories into one answer. just in terms of how long was he there with you? how long were you looking after him? you talked about his modesty in real life, and yet he was this superstar of an extraordinary team. did any of that come across? 0r of an extraordinary team. did any of that come across? or was he very different off the field? ida. that come across? or was he very different off the field?— that come across? or was he very different off the field? no, off the field he was _ different off the field? no, off the field he was totally... _ different off the field? no, off the field he was totally... he - different off the field? no, off the field he was totally... he shut - field he was totally... he shut himself away from the game. some players can't do that. i have been in football and looked after it players all of my life. but many cannot do that. and he said once he got through the door, that was it. it was his world then. then he

wanted to be on the phone to his wife, naturally. and it wasjust one of those things you think he might have been one of the waiters there, put it that way. have been one of the waiters there, but it that way-— put it that way. that is incredible. and we are _ put it that way. that is incredible. and we are talking _ put it that way. that is incredible. and we are talking about - put it that way. that is incredible. and we are talking about the - put it that way. that is incredible. and we are talking about the 19 i put it that way. that is incredible. i and we are talking about the 19 sexy six world cup, she must have been conflicted. —— 1966 world cup. you have those sorts of stories you have just recounted, and i'm assuming at the time you were supporting england? the time you were supporting encland? , , ., ., england? yes, but i had a mixed feelin: england? yes, but i had a mixed feeling really _ england? yes, but i had a mixed feeling really that _ england? yes, but i had a mixed feeling really that they _ england? yes, but i had a mixed feeling really that they went - england? yes, but i had a mixed| feeling really that they went back so soon, but that is life and football. but it won't happen again. he made amends in 1970. charles, you have told several wonderful stories, and i'm so glad you havejoined us to be able to do that. thank you so much for coming onto the programme, as news is emerging as more and more players talking about the great

pele. cristiano ronaldo the latest of the current rates saying, "pele was the source of inspiration for so many millions." cristiano ronaldo on social media, there it is. the reaction coming in for this football great, and rivaldo saying, "i'm grateful to god for perley being brazilian. some of the players who played alongside him, and some of his current greats that vie for that title, kylian mbappe a here. and a photograph there of pele. gary

lineker, the england great. so that from gary lineker, and as i say, so many of the current greats, lionel messi tweeting a short while ago, "rest in peace," from the current argentinian captain. the latest man to lift the world cup. a great story a little earlier, we were hearing that pele used to joke about who was the greatest and would reference lionel messi and tease him for not having won three world cups like he had. so, so many other football greats paying their own tributes, as well as of course the family tributes that we have been reading out in the last little while. i have also been talking to

henry winter, the chief football writer for the times. centres that he had these thoughts on the great pele. pele is left us but his legacy is immortal. it is not simply asjoe was describing so eloquently, his career with three world cups, the 77 goals for brazil and goals for santos. it was also how he played the game, with that lay—off to carlos alberto for brazil's fourth goal in one of the greatest finals 0f goal in one of the greatest finals of all time until messi 0ne goal in one of the greatest finals of all time until messi one week 0r so ago. and pele was great fun. if you went to an event with him, and i was fortunate enough to go several times with him, he was great company and enjoyed life. but as neymar has and enjoyed life. but as neymar has a very emotionally treated, as you just said then, the work that by his example, but also by raising

funds and awareness for underprivileged, for great 0rmond street hospital over here in london. he was an ambassador and fundraiser for them as well. so pele did so much good, clearly on the pitch, the athlete of the century as voted by the ioc but also what he did off the pitch. we talked about the goals, you left off the list of that extraordinary dummy, the faint around the goalkeeper. it wasn't a goal, but it was one of the great footballing moments. he produced so many great footballing moments, didn't he? the crazy thing about perley as you think about 1000 plus goals, but actually it was some of the greatest memories were what he didn't score, when gordon banks made that amazing save, the save of the century. somehow scooping over pele's downward header in 1970. as you mention, the run around the czechoslovakian goalkeeper as well. i think one of those also show, particularly as the relationship and friendship with gordon banks, the

moment when he famously swapped shirts with the great bobby moore, the sportsmanship in a pele. he was not simply a competitor, an opponent, he was a friend of bobby moore, a friend of gordon banks. when banks sadly passed away, what was it? three years ago? pele's tribute on facebook was so emotional saying he lost a friend as well as a great competitor. all of those example, elements that we have lost in the modern game, that sportsmanship, kinship, friendship, pele embodied all of those. i5 sportsmanship, kinship, friendship, pele embodied all of those. is it exlicable pele embodied all of those. is it explicable how _ pele embodied all of those. is it explicable how someone at such a young age becomes so good? you have seen it with the messis, maradonas, the peles, it was an wasn't it? it was, that fantastic skill, 1970 was probably, asjoe was saying, the greatest football team, international football team that the world has ever seen. the players in that team were just a draw, you get

excited just talking about it. but the names in that team. he was the greatest player of the greatest team. he stood up in that team which just showed his skill, which he showed at the world cup in sweden in 1958. as a 17—year—old juggling the ball over defenders and beating goalkeepers. but also that sportsmanship then, the game against wales when he accidentally fell over jack kelsey, who was the welsh goalkeeper who was lying on the floor at the time having made a save. and pele, 17, turned around to him, apologised and helped him up. again, that genius with the ball but also that sportsmanship must be remembered with pele. the obvious cuestion, remembered with pele. the obvious question. in — remembered with pele. the obvious question, in terms _ remembered with pele. the obvious question, in terms of— remembered with pele. the obvious question, in terms of the _ remembered with pele. the obvious question, in terms of the greatest? | question, in terms of the greatest? where are you? for question, in terms of the greatest? where are you?— where are you? for me, he is the createst, where are you? for me, he is the greatest. but _ where are you? for me, he is the greatest, but messi _ where are you? for me, he is the greatest, but messi showed - where are you? for me, he is the greatest, but messi showed how. where are you? for me, he is the - greatest, but messi showed how good he is. maradona, i was fortunate enough to have a maradona's of korea as well as messy macs. in a way, i think we should celebrate —— as well

as messi's. i think we should appreciate that they have graced our lives. i still personally have pele as the number one because of the three world cups. that as the number one because of the three world cups.— three world cups. that was henry winter talking _ three world cups. that was henry winter talking to _ three world cups. that was henry winter talking to me _ three world cups. that was henry winter talking to me a _ three world cups. that was henry winter talking to me a short - three world cups. that was henryj winter talking to me a short while ago. i'm joined by former professional footballer, dennis tueart who was signed by new york cosmos in 1978 the year after pele retired. i'm reading here, dennis, a wonderful line that you were the man in the kosmos site to replace pele. a very big shock to myself when i decided to go to new york. i knew beckenbauer and pele, decided to go to new york. i knew beckenbauerand pele, i decided to go to new york. i knew beckenbauer and pele, i knew they were world class players and i was going to be a pioneer to go and play in the late 70s. when i was watching the preview the previous season's games, when i knew i was going to be playing with them, i thought,

blimey, pele had just retired, i am going to be replacing my all—time hero, pele. going to be replacing my all-time hero. pele-— hero, pele. and i saw as you are settin: hero, pele. and i saw as you are setting on _ hero, pele. and i saw as you are setting on and — hero, pele. and i saw as you are setting up and you _ hero, pele. and i saw as you are setting up and you sat _ hero, pele. and i saw as you are setting up and you sat down, - hero, pele. and i saw as you are | setting up and you sat down, you have a picture, i think of the two of you together. did you just hold that up to the camera? how well did you actually get to know him? just very quickly. _ you actually get to know him? inst very quickly, this is when the cosmos was relaunched. you can see the famous pele with carlos alberto, another great player and friend of mine who did the four word in my book when i brought a book out. and i was privileged to be close to both home and friends with them. a friend from afar. and i was privileged that i had the opportunity to meet him. because both players, in my opinion, where the greatest football players in the greatest team in the 1970 world cup team, as i havejust heard henry winter talking about. 0n the goal they scored when pele laid it

off for carlos alberto, which is one off for carlos alberto, which is one of the best goals i have ever seen in world football. it of the best goals i have ever seen in world football.— in world football. it really is. and i rather in world football. it really is. and i gather that _ in world football. it really is. and i gather that when _ in world football. it really is. and i gather that when you _ in world football. it really is. and i gather that when you were - in world football. it really is. and i gather that when you were 70, l in world football. it really is. and - i gather that when you were 70, pele sent you a message. different people i have been talking to in the last hour and 20 minutes, so many of them have observed what he was like off the pitch. we are so familiar with what he was light on the pitch, dominating, but actually a rather different character off it. trier? different character off it. very humble, i— different character off it. very humble, i was _ different character off it. very humble, i was privileged - different character off it. - humble, i was privileged to be a part of that bit of his life. and to see him produce a surprise video for my birthday one hour and 50 minutes, and he scoured all over to try to get pele. and before the showing, i showed my friends and family, the end bit was pele, a birthday video and birthday wishes from the great pele to me. how humble is that? bind

pele to me. how humble is that? and 'ust as ou pele to me. how humble is that? and just as you are _ pele to me. how humble is that? and just as you are talking there, the new york cosmos have put out their own tribute and talk about his lasting impact on the sport of soccer in america. of course, over the decades, we have watched how soccer has tried to break through. he did have an impact, didn't he? irla he did have an impact, didn't he? ito question. i think that was one of the reasons why he came, because remember when clive was trying to get him hit, he said, "come over here, you won'tjust influence a club, you will influence a nation." and that is one of the reasons why pele came to new york, because he thought he could influence the nation, the united states, to turn over to soccer, because it was a very limited coverage over there. just a final thought, because you saw him and met him and got to know him at the tail end of his career, could you pinpoint what it was that made him so special? 0r could you pinpoint what it was that made him so special? or do you think

he wasjust simply made him so special? or do you think he was just simply born like that and it had to be? i he wasjust simply born like that and it had to be?— and it had to be? i think he was 'ust born and it had to be? i think he was just born with _ and it had to be? i think he was just born with his _ and it had to be? i think he was just born with his upbringing, . and it had to be? i think he was| just born with his upbringing, he appreciated everything in life, everything in life and what he appreciated, and listening to henry talking, he was very responsive to people in the game, like gordon banks and bobby moore. he respected them so much, anybody that was successful in the world of football, pele was very humble towards them. he felt that he felt it was a privilege to be on the same pitch as them. in fact, privilege to be on the same pitch as them. infact, it privilege to be on the same pitch as them. in fact, it was the other way around. they were very privileged to be on the same pitch as he was. i would see him on the training ground on my first year, and he was just outstanding. fantastic ability. and he was only 5�* 8" or 5�* 9". he was a gargantuan on the pitch but very humble and respectful off the pitch. dennis, you are a great player too, and it is really good of you to come on the programme and pay your a tribute to perhaps the greatest of all time. dennis, thank you so much

forjoining us here on bbc news. do stay with us, because we have continued coverage here of the death of pele at the debt age —— at the age of 83. when watching bbc news. simone dias, director the brazil culture centre in the uk, told us earlier how she feels after hearing about the death of the brazilian footballer. for us, it is very sad. we have a very caring image of pele, and is very caring image of pele, and is very effective. i remember when i was a kid, and thinking about pele. i was born in 1976, 1977 was the last time he played. even though i grew up not knowing how he played, i heard so many stories, i saw him playing, i saw his 1000th goal, as

all the things that happened and all the things that occurred, because of pele being there. so, basically, we are the country of football, because of pele. because of the way that he played, because of the beautiful way that he played, and it began a culture about football because of this man. and it is a very sad day that it happens. but we have that legacy that he left, and it has stayed for generations. it is a tribute to him and to all of the players that made football so much a passion in my country. yes. players that made football so much a passion in my country.— passion in my country. yes, it is really interesting, _ passion in my country. yes, it is really interesting, exactly - passion in my country. yes, it is really interesting, exactly what | passion in my country. yes, it is i really interesting, exactly what you just described, the way the story has passed down from generation to

generation about this man. and what he has done for brazil and for brazil's football. but of course creates pressure in the modern era for the current players, but fascinating to read what neymarjust posted on his instagram side, that perley gave a voice to the poor and gave visibility to brazil. i mean, his work went way beyond football itself, didn't it?— itself, didn't it? yes, it does indeed, because _ itself, didn't it? yes, it does indeed, because we - itself, didn't it? yes, it does indeed, because we couldn't recognise ourselves in pele, se —— we could recognise ourselves. when brazil play, that becomes the whole team and then the whole idea of brazil, the football. when i was a kid, of the world cup, everything was closed, there was no commerce, all the shops, everything, all of the schools, everything was closed to watch football. and that all began with pele and with the winning the world cups. so it is a culture,

and we could see ourselves playing on his feet. so at the time that brazil entered the field, we felt that we work with them. so it was our voice, the voice for everyone, for the vulnerable, for the people that normally doesn't have a voice. and it was a moment of peace, happiness and love. that we feel just as one nation. tine happiness and love. that we feel just as one nation.— just as one nation. the cultural im act just as one nation. the cultural impact of _ just as one nation. the cultural impact of pele. _ just as one nation. the cultural impact of pele. we _ just as one nation. the cultural impact of pele. we have - just as one nation. the cultural impact of pele. we have heard| just as one nation. the cultural i impact of pele. we have heard so many tributes about his impact on the football field, very interesting to hear that as well. we were showing you the tweet from the formatting in football and now sports broadcaster gary lineker short while ago. he has been sharing his thoughts on pele's legacy. well, pele is, of course, regarded as a legend, but he actually is a legend, certainly in football terms. he won three world cups and was a majorfigure in doing those. one of the greatest players of all time, won his first world cup in 1958 when he was just 17

years old and scored a hat—trick in the semifinal and then two in the final, including one where he flicks it over his head, over a defender and volleys it into the back of the net. so he followed that up with success in �*62 and then again in �*70, the only player to win three world cups. so i think it's very easy to explain why he's a legend. he's unquestionably one of the greatest football players that's ever lived. and you have to be a certain age, of course. and i'm one of those people that were lucky enough to see him. my first world cup, i remember, was 1970, that brilliant brazilian side that he was the star of. and he had a profound effect on my love of football. now, we don't really have the access to see the amount of footage that we do in the modern game. even with maradona, we saw quite a lot more than you would do with pele, because obviously not so many matches were filmed. so we didn't see quite so much. and i caught him at the end of his career, but he was still outstanding.

but he could do everything.