At seventy-four years old, Pelé cut a wan, frail figure; his eyelids were heavy, his shoulders stooped. As he took questions from reporters at an appearance in Manhattan in the spring of 2015, he was asked why he thought Brazil had been able to find so many capable captains during his playing days. Pelé sank into his chair and let a pause unfold. “It’s difficult to say why,” he said. “I do not know the reason. “I was invited to be captain,” he continued, “but I always said no.” His rationale, Pelé explained, was a tactical one. “Listen, if Santos or Brazil’s national team has a captain other
...more
