Pelé found the lifeline against bankruptcy in the lucrative contract with the Cosmos
Playing his last game with Santos, a comfortable win against modest Ponte Creta (2-0) in the Paulista Championship, O Rei knelt down in midfield and bid farewell in front of more than 20,000 passionate fans. It was October 2, 1974, and Pelé was planning to enjoy a quiet life in Sao Paulo with his wife and two children.
However, everything changed when, according to Pele himself, in his biography the star was visited by his accountant. “I remember as if it were today the moment he entered the house. He was sweating profusely, he was pale, he looked like he was going to pass out. I sensed something was up and joked, “How many millions do we have left?” I almost had to call the doctor after his reaction: ‘Look, it’s complicated…’”, Edson Arantes do Nascimento describes in that book ‘Pelé: The importance of football’.
He then learned that he was bankrupt, that he owed millions and that the banks had seized his 41 properties because of bad investments in at least six companies that went bankrupt because of his mismanagement. With three World Cups won and the approval to be the best in the world, Pelé had to start over.
Paradoxically, his salvation would lie in the United States, one of the few countries in the world where football was a minority. “I’m never going to play for any team other than Santos,” Pele repeated to his friends, even leading him to reject offers from Real Madrid and Juventus when he was forced to meet British businessman Clive Toye, partner of the New York Kosmos . They knew each other between 1971 and 1974, when the player campaigned around the world for the election of his compatriot Joao Havelange as head of FIFA.
After several false attempts, the magnate finally signed Pelé on March 27, 1975. O Rei was in Brussels for a friendly match with several international stars and his eyes widened when he heard the offer. A $2.8 million contract was irresistible. It represented the highest salary in the history of an athlete, surpassing even the $450,000 a year legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned in the NBA.
Pelé had not raced for eight months and was already 34 years old, but the class is never lost. He debuted with a goal and an assist in the tie against the Dallas Tornado and has already finished his first season with five goals and four game-winning passes in just nine games. The following year there were already 15 goals and 19 assists in 24 games and the following year he scored 17 times and guided the Cosmos to the title.
On October 1, 1977, nearly 76,000 fans filled the majestic Giants Stadium to bid farewell to Pelé in a friendly against Santos. The legend played in each jersey for 45 minutes and gave a famous thank you speech. I believe love is the most important thing we can offer each other. Everything else is gone in a day. Therefore, I ask you to repeat “love, love and love” with me three times. Mucho obrigado”, Pelé stammered, bathed in tears. O Rei had revolutionized sports in the US. The Cosmos tripled attendance at its stadium, shattered television viewing records, and was a pioneer.
Then other idols would land there such as Johan Cruijff, Franz Beckenbauer or George Best, but none like Pelé. Thanks to the seed he planted, the USA today prepares to host its second Men’s World Cup and prides itself on having the best women’s team in the world. “Pele was the only footballer who crossed the boundaries of logic.” Word from Éric Cantona, former French football player, actor, producer and sports director of the New York Cosmos after its re-establishment, between 2011 and 2014.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
