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Pelé’s Transformative Impact on North American Soccer
Notwithstanding his unparalleled soccer achievements, including winning three World Cups and becoming a renowned global icon, the legendary Brazilian footballer, Pelé, decided to make his own mark on North American soccer.
Pelé: A Brazilian Great in America
In 1975, Pelé was coaxed out of retirement to play for the New York Cosmos for three more seasons. Prior to joining the North American Soccer League (NASL) side, it appeared he had played his last professional game, after retiring from his boyhood club, Santos, with 638 appearances under his belt.
It was nearly inconceivable that Pelé would sign up for any other club aside from Santos. However, he shocked the sporting world by joining Cosmos in the middle of the 1975 season, with a contract valued at $1.67 million per annum. At the time, soccer was struggling to garner much attention in North America.
Pelé, The Cosmos, and the Soccer Boom
Upon arrival, Pelé transformed the landscape of soccer in America. By the time he left in 1977, he had won the NASL championship and ignited a soccer boom in the country. The Cosmos praised Pelé’s transformative impact on domestic soccer after his passing.
As a result of the Cosmos’ efforts and their leading star, a sporting revolution began in America, with soccer pitches cropping up where baseball diamonds once stood. Furthermore, the Cosmos and their King traveled globally to extol the virtues of ‘The Beautiful Game.’
Today, almost half a century later, Pelé’s lasting impact can still be felt in both men’s and women’s soccer in North America. His move to Cosmos set a precedent for other greats such as Giorgio Chinaglia and Franz Beckenbauer. Although the NASL dissolved in 1984, it set the stage for the establishment of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1993.
Following Pelé’s Footsteps
Proven superstars including David Beckham, Gareth Bale, Thierry Henry, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have all followed suit, developing the sport further in North America by playing in the MLS. Soccer in the US is now thriving, with the US National Men’s Team garnering praise at the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Worldwide scouts now seek new talent from North America, capturing the sport’s deep integration into society and its generational pass-down. Much of this development owes to the work done by Pelé in the 1970s, his natural prowess, and his endearing personality.
Pele’s Legacy
In the 1975 season prior to Pelé joining Santos, the Cosmos’ largest turnout for a match was slightly over 8,000 people. However, during his final and hugely successful season in 1977, the average home match witnessed a crowd of 42,689, with three instances of the attendance crossing 70,000, according to the Society for American Soccer History.
Pelé introduced a cool factor to watching soccer, and with globally broadcast matches, the Cosmos team became the talk of the town. With his extraordinary vision and athleticism, Pelé left a strong impact on soccer culture in New York City which persists to date, including a Times Square soccer store opened in honor of him in 2019.
Following the Cosmos’ 1977 NASL title win, Pelé’s farewell match against Santos saw him play for both teams in his final official game. He famously led a chant of “Love, love, love” addressing 70,000 attendees inside a packed New York Giants Stadium. A befitting farewell for a man who spread joy everywhere he went and helped establish soccer as a way of life in North America.
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