Pele Turns Fighter, Not Just Goalie: A Brief Great‑Goal Appeal for Peace
On June 2, the Brazilian football legend and former national‑team member, Pele, took to Instagram to launch a public letter to President Vladimir Putin. He urged the Russian leader to drop the “wicked” and “unjustifiable” war against Ukraine before a World Cup qualifier kicked off.
“Let’s Stop the Fight—We’re All Just Trying to Play Soccer!”
- He addressed the match of Ukraine vs. Scotland as a “chance to make a request” for peace.
- Pele said, “No argument exists that can justify violence.”
- Describing the war as “wicked” and “unjustifiable,” he added it brings only “pain, fear, terror and anguish.”
Pele’s Past with Russian Leadership
In 2017, Pele and Putin exchanged smiles and a long handshake at Moscow’s Confederations Cup—Randall Smith called it a “friendly hug” that now feels like a relic of a less tense time. Putin listed Pele as one of his favorite players, a fact that the legend now uses to plead for a ceasefire.
Ukraine’s Scoreboard Situation
That evening, Ukraine defeated Scotland 3‑1, securing a spot just one match short of World Cup qualification. With the win’s joy still glowing, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the team’s “two hours of happiness, something we have become unaccustomed to.”
Why a Soccer Icon Matters
Legendary striker Pele, once Brazil’s “first prime minister of sport,” is now an unlikely ambassador for peace—demonstrating that even the globe‑famous can use the universal language of sports to ask for a better world.