It was only recently that the world witnessed a spectacular sporting event in history. The 22nd FIFA World Cup 2022, in Qatar, was a phenomenal affair, when some of the best players made everyone in the world sit back and take notice.
But after this glorious season, sad news gripped the football world on 29th December, the day a football legend departed for the hereafter.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, famously known by his nickname- Pele, passed away at the age of 82, due to complications from colon cancer. An irreversible loss to the football fraternity, in which he was often and unanimously called the ‘best player in the world’.
The only player to have got three world cups home, Pele’s electrifying performance on the field earned him the name ‘O Rei’, meaning The King.
He scored 1,281 goals in 1,363 club and country games, during his 22-year-old career. He ended his playing days at New York Cosmos and retired from the game in 1977. After retiring, Pele acted as an ambassador for football, and between 1995-1998, he was Brazil’s Extraordinary Minister for Sports.
This global face of football was also the face of many brands during his illustrious tenure in sports. Here is a look at six major brands he endorsed or was associated with during his lifetime.
1. Pepsi
Pele was associated with the beverage brand Pepsi, and the above ad is from 1974, which featured his iconic ‘Bicycle Kick’ in a video collage of his football moments.
2. Louis Vuitton
Featuring the three greatest footballers in one frame, this Louis Vuitton ad had Zinedine Zidane, Diego Maradona, and Pele
3. Mastercard
Pele had a long association with Mastercard and starred in ads that spoke of unifying the world through football.
4. Emirates Football
Ahead of the 20th FIFA World Cup, Emirates released an ad featuring two football legends – Pele and Ronaldo who are both revered and talked about by different sets of people on a plane.
5. American Express
Another old ad from 1977, in which he simply talks about the benefits of using the card anywhere in the world. His endearing smile will make you watch the entire ad at least once, even today.
6. Subway
Team up with @Pele, a SUBWAY™ #ambassador, and join us in store because SUBWAY™ is where #winners #eat! pic.twitter.com/2M5Cqc2Av0
— SUBWAY Arabia (@SUBWAYArabia) July 1, 2014
Pele endorsed Subway and even stood at the London Subway outlet making sandwiches as a part of the brand’s promotion.
