Pele: Why Football King Never Played in Europe in His Stunning Career

• The football world is mourning the death of one of its all-time greats in the legendary Pele
• This was a man once declared a 'non-exportable national treasure' by Brazilian congress
• Pele came close to joining a number of Italian giants as the Europeans sought his services

Brazil football icon Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele, sadly passed away at age 82 following a long battle with colon cancer.

Nicknamed O Rei (The King), Pele enjoyed a sterling football career which spanned over two decades, with many considering him to be the greatest footballer of all time.

Despite the hallowed accolades showered on Pele, he never played club football in Europe.

Pele played for only two clubs in his glittering career - Santos in his native Brazil and the American side New York Cosmos - per Metro.

Pele: How Brazil football icon caused ceasefire in Nigeria vs Biafra civil war

Football

Named athlete of the century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999, Pele is the only footballer in history to win three World Cups.

For many, playing at the apex of European football and winning trophies like the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or is the ultimate goal, which begs the question: why did Pele never play in Europe?

Why Europe missed on Pele

According to Saddick Adams, in 1961, 20-year-old Pele had scored over 230 goals in 210 matches.

Top European clubs, including teams from Italy and Spain, placed offers to sign him from Santos.

But the Brazilian President of the time, Jânio Quadros passed a bill that prevented Pele from being sold to any foreign club, describing him as a 'non-exportable national treasure'.

Brazil club Santos honours GOAT Pele with a crown on its crest

Football

How Pele got his moniker

Three-time World Cup winner Pele passed away on Thursday night, surrounded by his nearest and dearest family.

The legend had been hospitalised for complications developing from colon cancer, and had reportedly not been responding to treatment in the days before his passing.

The Brazilian legend admitted to being proud of his name Edson, which was inspired by the supposed inventor of the light bulb, Thomas Edison.

Pele's outstanding records

Sports Brief earlier reported that Pele, considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time, passed away aged 82 on Thursday night in Sao Paulo, Brazil after a long battle with cancer.

The three-time winner of football's most coveted trophy, the FIFA World Cup, claimed his first Mundial title in 1958 as a teenager, setting three records which remain unbroken to this day.

Four of the Santos legend's records at the 1958 World Cup still stand 64 years on, and are not expected to be broken even in the next four years and have outlived him.