Older Jamaicans who crammed into the National Stadium in St Andrew on the night of September 21, 1975 won’t easily forget.

That was when they saw in the flesh the man acclaimed as the world’s greatest footballer, Mr Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known everywhere as Pelé, who died in his native Brazil on Thursday at age 82.

By then in his mid-30s, and retired from international football, Pelé was representing the globe-trotting New York Cosmos in an exhibition outing against the Kingston-based Santos. The latter was named in honour of the famous Santos of Brazil where Pelé first gained acclaim as goal scorer, playmaker and ball wizard.

All didn’t go well that September night in the Jamaican capital city 47 years ago. After a quiet start, Pelé, often referred to as ‘The Black Pearl’, took off on a dazzling run, close to the left-hand corner flag at the southern end of the stadium field in front of the bleachers. He then cut inside towards goal. Defender Mr Billy Perkins would have none of it, his lunging tackle felling the living legend. The latter promptly left the field, apparently injured.

For the fans it was a disappointing end. But on the flip side they had seen the man they had idolised for 17 years play in their physical presence at long last — for many a dream fulfilled.

It seems fair to say that Pelé was the real reason Jamaican football lovers first became enamoured with the Brazilian brand of ‘The Beautiful Game’. That he was a black hero was a reason in large measure. But perhaps even more of a factor, Pelé played football with a captivating freshness and artistry second to none.

For Jamaicans half a century ago, only the late boxing icon, American Mr Muhammad Ali and the legendary Barbadian cricketer Mr Garfield Sobers compared with Pelé in sport.

Pelé grabbed global attention at the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden at just age 17.

He scored six goals, including a hat-trick in the semi-final against France and twice in the final against the hosts. His ‘wonder goal’ in the final will be celebrated forever. Inside the penalty box, the teenager took a lofted pass from midfield on his chest, flicked the ball over the head of a defender — incredibly even while ignoring a boot to mid-thigh — then calmly slotted home.

Declared a “national treasure” Pelé would remain in Brazil for most of his professional years until the 1970s when he played a lead role in popularising soccer in North America.

Pelé suffered tournament-ending injury early in the 1962 World Cup which Brazil won. He was again at the wrong end of crunching tackles as his country was eliminated early, at the 1966 edition in England.

But in 1970 he again led the way as hugely talented Brazil lifted the World Cup for a then unprecedented third time — retiring the Jules Rimet Trophy.

Such was Pelé’s impact that he became the marker for all aspirants to being football’s best. We believe that even if his contribution has been matched, it has never been surpassed.

As they mourn, football lovers can take satisfaction that before he breathed his last, Pelé watched from his hospital bed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar — surely among the most pleasing ever. We give thanks.