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Giants Now: Pelé's Cosmos brought soccer spotlight to New York

PELE

Pelé's Cosmos brought soccer spotlight to New York

The sports world lost an all-time icon on Thursday as Brazilian soccer legend Pelé passed away at the age of 82.

Pelé was one of the greatest to ever play the sport. He played in four World Cups for Brazil and is still the only player in history to win three (1958, 1962, 1970).

"I was born to play football, just like Beethoven was born to write music and Michelangelo was born to paint," Pelé famously said.

Following a long and successful tenure with Santos F.C. in Brazil (1956-1974) in which he won 10 club titles, the legend went on to finish his career playing three seasons for the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League. (1974-1977).

During the 1977 season, Pelé's final one, the Cosmos played their home games at Giants Stadium. The all-time great's presence helped the Cosmos win their second Soccer Bowl title and set numerous attendance records that season.

Giants Stadium played host to Pelé's last professional game on October 1, 1977, a game that saw the Cosmos take on his former Brazilian team, Santos F.C.

75,646 people jammed into Giants Stadium to watch Pelé score the 1,283rd and final goal of his career, one that spanned across 1,367 matches.

"I believe that love is the most important thing we can take from life, because everything else passes," he said before the game kicked off. "Say with me three times: Love! Love! Love!"

Pelé, one of biggest sports figures of the past century, finished his career with the New York Cosmos, who played at Giants Stadium.

View photos from practice as the Giants prepare for their Week 17 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.

View rare photos of the all-time history between the New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts.

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