Brazil World Cup legend and global football superstar Pele has passed away at the age of 82.

Pele, who is regarded by many as the greatest footballer of all time, is the only footballer to have won three World Cups – in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

Pelé scored a record 77 goals in 92 international matches for Brazil. He scored a total of 1,279 goals in 1,363 games during a 21-year-old career which is recognised as a Guinness World Record.

Blessed with pace, vision, wonderful dribbling skills and an outstanding heading ability, Pelé was just 17 in 1958 when he became the youngest player to appear in a World Cup.

The all-time great has had several battles with illness over recent years and had surgery to remove a tumour from his colon in September 2021.

In November, he was admitted to Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital in Sao Paulo due to “general swelling” before it was revealed in December that his cancer had progressed and needed “greater care related to renal and cardiac dysfunctions”.

Pele’s passing was confirmed to the Associated Press by his agent this evening.