Pelé, who turns 80 this Friday (23), was born in Três Corações and conquered New York. He lived in Bauru, scored his first goal in Santo André, and became the King of Football from Santos. He made Maracanã, a symbol of Rio de Janeiro and formerly the largest stadium in the world, his stage. He transformed a stadium in Stockholm into a tourist attraction and made the Mexicans of Guadalajara almost Brazilian.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento will spend his birthday at his home in Guarujá, on the coast of São Paulo, with close family members, the faithful squire Pepito Fornos and some friends.
He will not be present in any of the eight cities that helped to build the greatest football player in history, but they remain in the imagination related to the myth Pelé.
According to Joe Fraga, the ex-athlete's manager, all honors and events to celebrate the date will be done virtually.
"I stopped playing 40 years ago, and people still remember me. That can only make me happy," Pelé told Folha in 2018. In 2020, nothing has changed.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon