The death of German legend Franz Beckenbauer shocked world football. The former defender, who shone both for Bayern Munich and his national team, played alongside Pelé in the ’70s, when both decided to spend the sunset years of their careers at the New York Cosmos in the United States.
“They were much more than good friends. King Pelé called Beckenbauer his brother. Team partners, when they played together for the New York Cosmos, the two legends nurtured a beautiful and rare friendship throughout their lives. This is a difficult farewell for anyone who loves football. However, we hope it will be a beautiful reunion in heaven. Thanks for everything, Beckenbauer,” read the message posted by ‘O Rei’s’ official account on social media.
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The time shared by Pelé and Beckenbauer in New York
While Lionel Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami represents the most significant move in Major League Soccer history, North American football had already been revolutionized by Pelé’s arrival in New York in 1975. His decision to sign for the Cosmos allowed the team to bring in another world-class player such as Beckenbauer two years later.
Eram muito mais que bons amigos. Rei Pelé chamava Beckenbauer de irmão. Parceiros de time, quando jogaram juntos no New York Cosmos, as duas lendas nutriram uma linda e rara amizade, ao longo de toda a vida. Essa é uma despedida difícil para quem ama o futebol. Todavia, esperamos… pic.twitter.com/JeLkbuMKjZ
— Pelé (@Pele) January 8, 2024
They played 20 games together in the North American Soccer League (NASL). That may not be a high number of matches, but it was enough for them to celebrate a Soccer Bowl success in 1977.
The King and Der Kaiser forged a great relationship in a short time, to the point that the Brazilian considered the German as a “brother.” In addition, both left an unforgettable legacy in the sport. While Pelé is the only legend to have won three World Cups as a player, Beckenbauer won the World Cup both as a player (1974) and as a coach (1990). They managed to join forces at some point in their careers, and both will forever have a special place in football’s memory.
