Pele misses Brazil kick-off in traffic
By Brian Miller
It is known world over that traffic congestion moves aside for no man. That includes one of the most famous soccer players in history. Pele. Pele missed the opening kick-off between Brazil and Mexico as the two sides faced off in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
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According to traffic authorities in Brazil’s city of Sau Paulo, the tie up occurred as residents tried to get home in time to watch the game. Pele not only missed the kick-off but the entire first half.
He didn’t miss much. Brazil and Mexico played to a scoreless tie.
Pele is renowned for his soccer skills and is regarded as one of the best, if not the best, soccer player in the history of soccer. At the age of 75 Pele still draws crowds during his daily life.
"“For the first time I had to listen to the first half of a Brazil game inside a car, we were stuck in traffic,” the Brazilian soccer great told Globo TV, via ESPNFC."
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Pele scored 77 goals for the Brazilian team in his career and won three FIFA World Cups in 1958, 1962, and 1970. He is the only player to win three World Cup Championships.
Today, Pele, retired since 1977, is still an ambassador for the sport and in 2010, he was named the Honorary President of the New York Cosmos. Still, his renowned fame, his national symbolism, his historical achievements, his never ending selfless sacrifices, could not get him to the game on time. According to reports by several news agencies covering the games, yesterday was the 2nd worst traffic tie up in Brazil.
Pele shouldn’t feel too bad though, he finally made it to the game. For quite a few citizens, they missed it stuck in traffic, listening to it on the radio.