Thread by @BrazilBrian

It's Pele's 80th birthday and I wanted to share a short story which I think gets beyond the celebrity and tells you something about the man - who remains surprisingly little-known in Brazil & elsewhere

In 2013 I was invited to help Pele write a book for release at Brazil's World Cup the following year.

Now, I've "ghost-authored" a few books, including with 2 presidents. Kept close relationships with all of them.

But not Pelé. Truth is, I don't think he ever trusted me.

Why not? I think over the years Pele was burned by almost every adult he met. That kind of celebrity -he was one of world's most famous 2-3 people for decades - makes people INSANE. (I saw it) He lost all his $$ twice to people he trusted. At some point I think he shut down

But Pele always - always - had time for 2 groups of people: kids, and the sick.

And I saw this firsthand

In 2013 while we were working on the book, my younger sister was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. She was 31 & had just given brith to her 2nd son. It was awful

Pele *insisted* I send her this photo, with a quote from her plus one of his own (with funny typo)

It gave her a thrill (& a laugh) in some of her final moments. And I know Pele has done same with THOUSANDS of people over the decades, often without cameras around, without any recognition. Kids with cancer, adults with disabilities...

I haven't seen Pele since the book launch in 2014 & perhaps never will again. But I remain grateful & can tell you he's one of most emotionally intelligent people I ever met - a man who's made mistakes, is guarded around most adults, but very generous to those who need it

PS the portrait of the laughing Jesus has a great story too... he couldn't understand why images of Jesus always showed him as being so stern, so I believe he commissioned this & hung it behind his desk.

Anyway, a unique character. Feliz aniversario Pele