SAO PAULO.- The iconic brand of the “King” Pele was inherited by the “Prince’s” entourage Neymar: the company of the footballer’s father Saints announced this Tuesday that it bought the rights to the commercial firm of the late three-time world champion.
“We are proud,” said Neymar Santos Sr when confirming the acquisition by NR Sportshis sports agency, at an event at the Pelé Museum in Santos, a city on the coast of Sao Paulo that the legendary former player immortalized.
“I think it is a very strong brand. We want to enhance its identity and bring it to the current moment,” he added.
NR Sports may commercially exploit the name and image of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé.
No amounts were revealed due to confidentiality agreements, but the negotiation amounted to $18 million according to Brazilian media reports.
The rights were owned by the American company Sport 10.
The agreement opens new projection options for Pelé’s brand, emblematic, but considered in Brazil undervalued by the North American firm that owned the rights.
The “repatriation” returns to Brazil “one of the greatest symbols in the history of world sports,” NR Sports said in a statement. “It represents a decisive step for the preservation, expansion and enrichment of the legacy of the ‘King of Soccer“he continued.
“It is the beginning of the work, a challenging work,” said Neymar Santos.
The Pelé Museum had a huge green screen installed, with the logo of the former player’s brand and his silhouette celebrating a goal.
“Day to celebrate”
Three-time winner of the World Cup with Brazil, in Sweden 1958, Chile 1962 and Mexico 1970, Pelé is considered by many the best footballer of all time.
“Some are born to play, others are born to change the game. Pelé was born to change everything (…), an entire country can be ‘crooked’,” is heard in a promotional video, narrated by Neymar Jr, released to accompany the announcement of the purchase of the brand.
“Today is a day to celebrate and I am one more in that celebration. Pelé never stopped being ours and now he is officially from Brazil, again and forever,” the attacker continued.
The confirmation comes after the week of commemoration of Pelé’s 1,000th goal, who died in December 2022.
On November 19, 1969, at the legendary Maracaná stadium in Rio de Janeiro, he scored from the penalty spot the thousandth of the 1,283 goals attributed to him in his country, in Santos’ 2-1 victory against Vasco da Gama.
The RSSSF (Football History and Statistics Foundation) gives him 778 goals in official matches throughout his career.
“Priceless”
Pelé’s family, led by his eldest son, Edinho, tried unsuccessfully to buy the brand after the idol’s death.
His daughter Flávia was present at the event this Tuesday.
“There are no words to describe the emotion of bringing back a brand that is soul, humanity, love. It is priceless (…). As your daughter, I feel honored and happy,” she told AFP.
Family members questioned that the firm had a greater presence in the United States than in Brazil.
The repatriation was a mission now accomplished by Neymar’s entourage, who at 33 years old is back at Pelé’s old club.
With 79 goals, Neymar is the all-time leading scorer for the Brazil national team. He broke the myth record.
These are times of renewal: the old Vila Belmiro, where Pelé became a legend wearing the Peixe shirt, will be demolished next year to make way for the Santos Nova Arena, with works that will cost more than 120 million dollars.
Founded in 1916, Vila Belmiro is an altar for the Santos team, the team for which Pelé played between 1956 and 1974, before going to the United States with the Cosmos.
“Brazil speaks many languages,” but “it has always had a universal language: its name is Pelé,” says a joint message published this Tuesday on the official accounts of Pelé and NR Sports, with a video of the legend’s goals.
