Brazilian soccer legend Pele will turn 80 today, isolated with family

Brazilian soccer great

Pele turns 80 today, but the celebration will have towait.

The three- timeWorld Cup winner will spend the day isolated with a few family members outside Sao Paulo, where he is expected to receive a flood of tributes from players, fans, celebrities and politicians.

His longtime spokesman, Pepito Fornos, said Pele will likely spend his birthday at his mansion in the beachfront city of Guaruja, on the coast of Sao Paulo state, where he has been since the beginning of the COVID- 19 pandemic. He also has residences in Santos and Sao Paulo.

“He will only stay with his family. No party at all, “Fornos said. “That has been the case all his life.”

Fornos said Pele isn’t speaking publicly because he is still mourning his brother, Jair, who died of cancer in March.

Pele is Brazil’s all- time leading scorer with 77 goals, although Neymar is closing in on that record with 64. But the Paris Saint- Germain striker trails far behind when it comes to World Cup titles, which Pelew on in 1958,1962 and 1970.

No other player has accomplished that feat.

Pele also collected a slew of trophies for Brazilian club Santos from1956- 74, including 10 Sao Paulo state league titles, which was a top tournament at the time, six Brazilian championships, two Copa Libertadores titles and the Inter continental Cup in 1962 and 1963.

The Brazilian ended his career with the New York Cosmos, where he played from1975- 77, winning one national title.