Soccer Legend Pele Received $120K Just to Tie His Shoelaces Back in 1970 – Here’s Why

The world is still processing the passing of a legend of soccer. Not only did Pele rule the soccer world, but he was also one of the reasons the fan bases of the sport grew all around the world. Few people might not know anything about the game, but they know the name Pele. His career inspired names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar. Pele was suffering from colon cancer, which also took away Chadwick Boseman, and was going through chemotherapy.

However, once upon a time, he got hundreds and thousands of dollars just to tie his shoelaces.

Pele had the greatest career. He won 3 FIFA World Cups with his team for his nation. The only name that comes even closer to him is Ronaldo Nazario with 15 goals in FIFA World Cups and two titles. Pele had greatness written all over his game and companies were ready to throw ridiculous amounts just to get endorsed by him.

Money for tying shoe laces

The story is from 1970 when Pele was a household name. He had fans in every corner of the world. Pele was already endorsing Puma, but they had a new plan. In the 1970s, advertising was not that easy and brands had to rely on people watching legends wearing the brand. Puma had a plan so creative that it broadcasted its advertisement to millions without making an ad.

Puma offered $120k to the legend, which will be around a million dollars in today’s money. It was the quarterfinal of the World Cup which means they broadcasted it all around the world. Puma asked Pele to walk to the midfield and ask the referee for some time to tie the laces. They also paid the cameramen to get him to zoom in on the Brazilian icon.

Read More: VIDEO: Hundreds of Fans Flock Outside Soccer Legend Pele’s Hospital in a Heartwarming Moment

When the match started, everyone all around the world came to know that he wears Puma, and at that time, that was the biggest advertisement. The legend may be gone, but the stories of his greatness will be will always inspire young soccer players to do better and aim for the win.

Pele watched the World Cup 2022

Even though he was hospitalized during the FIFA World Cup 2022, Pele did not forget to watch the sport that made him a legend. His daughter shared images of the legend watching World Cup matches. He would have been so happy watching his protégé win it all.

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With Pele, soccer now has a void that will never be filled. All we can do is pray for his family and friends.