When Pele won his first World Cup back in 1958, he was not considered the best Brazilian footballer as there were other greats who topped him at that time.
Veteran sports journalist Mohammad Kamruzzaman told Dhaka Tribune how players like Didi, Garrincha impressed him most after a few video clips of that World Cup reached to their hands.
But Pele was unarguably a sensation at the age of just 17.
He produced more amazement afterwards as he entered the 1962 World Cup as one of the best players of the world, but Garrincha eventually became the best player of that tournament.
One of the famed footballers of 1960s and 1970s, Ghulam Sarwar Tipu first got to know about Brazil football team through Pele, a news cover and a photograph of whom sitting on a football on a Kolkata-based newspaper named “Gharoa” caught his attention sometime in 1963.
From that moment, he was surprised to see that a footballer can earn such global popularity and became millionaire by playing the game.
He then started closely following the next two World Cups including the 1970's one where Pele stepped into a new height by guiding the Selecaos its third title and was also adjudged the best player of the tournament.
With three World Cup titles, the King is still the only member of this unparalleled club of the greatest show on earth.
The popularity of Pele was unmatchable in Bangladesh until at least the 1986 World Cup when Maradona showed his magic that charmed its people who just got the opportunity to watch live matches on television before which only selected final and semi-final matches were telecasted and the number of TVs were also fewer.
Children used to learn about Pele as a chapter on the king of football was included in the curriculum of primary school textbooks for decades.
The story of the boy from extreme poverty to become world's great was the toast of the discussion.
While reminiscing the influence of Pele during the 1960s, 70s and 80s, Bangladesh's biggest football star and current BFF president Kazi Salahuddin told Dhaka Tribune, “Pele was the number one footballer for the people of this country. He was the lone king.”
“He has complete ball control and his goal scoring capability was immense. He has more specialties, and he was the best in front of the goal. He was a complete footballer.”
“Pele was always seen as icon and respected as idol. Everyone wanted to copy him but it was very difficult. Nobody was big as a star as Pele. He was the only star.”
Salahuddin also said how the style of play changed after Pele's era as number of defenders started to increase over times afterwards.
Sheikh Mohammad Aslam, one of the most popular forwards of 1980s, admitted that he tried to duplicate back-volley and flying headers of Pele in the training sessions.
“He [Pele] popularized football in the world. He was above any debate. He has also got a rare character which is exemplary. His name will remain forever.” Aslam also added.
A pleasant dummy against Uruguayan goalkeeper in the 1970 World Cup was one of the few instances of Pele which still sparked Tipu's memory.
“There was something divine or very special in him. His touches and pushes were different. It was like he had four eyes and the ball also listened to him.”
Tipu also said, “Pele's name spread everywhere and like me many heard the name of Brazil first because of him. He was a wonder of world football who transformed the game into an art.”