Football is often compared to a religion for its fans, and Francis held numerous giant masses in football stadiums during trips abroad.
Pele's New York Cosmos took on Eusebio's Boston Minutemen in a North American Soccer League (NASL) game for their first meeting since the 1966 FIFA World Cup England, when Brazil and Portugal met in the group stage at Goodison Park.
Santos won promotion back to Brazil's Serie A with a 2-0 win over Coritiba on Monday as Pele's former club secured top flight status a year after being relegated for the first time.
Yamal started for Spain in the final a day after celebrating his 17th birthday and became the youngest player ever to play in a major international final, breaking a record Pele had set way back in the 1958 World Cup final.
Sixteen-year-old Yamal eclipsed Brazilian great Pele to become the youngest player to score in a World Cup or Euros with a stunning 21st-minute strike that sailed into the top corner, helping Spain come from a goal down to beat France 2-1.
Considered by many the greatest footballer of all time, Edson Arantes do Nascimento -- better known as Pele -- won three World Cups with Brazil and scored more than 1,000 goals over his storied career.
Celeste Arantes, the mother of Brazilian football legend Pele, has died aged 101, outliving her famous son by 18 months, the family announced Friday.
The country of Pele, Garrincha and Ronaldinho, which once wowed the world with its 'samba' style, has not won the World Cup since 2002. Nor has it produced a Ballon d'Or winner since Kaka in 2007.
The five-times World Cup winners are renowned for their "jogo bonito" philosophy and reputation of churning out the world's most talented players, the latest being 17-year-old starlet Endrick who scored against England on Saturday.
The three-day sale of memorabilia belonging to world football icon Pele ends in London with the artifacts sold for the princely total of £3.4million ($5million, 4.4million euros).
Diego Maradona hails his old rival Pele as an "icon" as the pair reunite for a "match of friendship" on Thursday.
Diego Maradona hails his old rival Pele as an "icon" as the pair are reunited for a "match of friendship" on Thursday.
Pele says he is putting more than 2,000 items up for auction, including his three World Cup medals and a one-of-a-kind Jules Rimet trophy, in order to raise funds for charity and his former club Santos.
It is a conundrum to challenge even the best of hosts. What do you give as a gift to a global football icon who has everything?
What is common between Oscar-winning composer A R Rahman and football wizard Pele?
Brazilian legend Pele labelled Argentine star Lionel Messi 'a baby' and said that Messi's countryman Diego Maradona played at a 'a higher level' than Leo.
Maradona would cost €40m at today's prices, having scored 119 times, won the Primera Division top scorer awards on three occasions and lifted the Youth World Cup in 1979.
Barcelona star Neymar must focus on more than just the attacking aspects of football if he is to be considered among the greats, says Brazilian legend Pele.
Maradona was chosen number 1 in The Greatest 10 World Cup players of all time by the London-based newspaper The Times. On his 55th birthday, discover the life of Diego Maradona, the footballer as he carved out a special place for himself with his unique talent and skills.
