Pele comes to town: When the original GOAT visited Scotland

The football world and beyond has been paying tribute to Brazil legend Pele who died aged 82 on Thursday.

The superstar forward and original GOAT made his name on the international stage when he helped the South American nation win three out of four World Cups between 1958 and 1970.

1966: Training at Troon and Kilmarnock ahead of World Cup in England.

The World Champions stayed at Marine Hotel and trained at Troon Juniors’ ground Portland Park before a shock group stage exit when they suffered defeats to Hungary and Portugal.

Desperately saddened to hear of the passing of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, best known as @Pele

Arguably the greatest player to have ever played the game, and certainly the greatest to ever have graced Portland Park.

Quite simply, a legend.#RIP #RIPPele #Pele pic.twitter.com/gF3FBYwI4G
— Troon F.C. (@Troon_FC) December 29, 2022

The samba stars also trained at Kilmarnock’s Rugby Park in a visit that the Ayrshire club say ‘will always be treasured’.

We are saddened to hear about the passing of Pelé: one of our sport's all-time greats.

Pelé graced the Rugby Park turf alongside the Brazil squad in 1966, in a visit that will always be treasured by the club. pic.twitter.com/SKwO3yaotR
— Kilmarnock FC (@KilmarnockFC) December 29, 2022

Pele and co then travelled through to Glasgow to take on Scotland at Hampden in a pre-tournament friendly that finished level.

Celtic’s Stevie Chalmers scored the opening goal in the first minute before Servilho equalised 15 minutes later in the 1-1 draw in Mount Florida.

1989: Pele visited again when Scotland was hosting the under-16 World Cup when he took part in a coaching session with youngsters at Hampden.

Sandy Clark welcoming the great Pelé to Tynecastle in the late 80s. This wins mate👍🏼 pic.twitter.com/at8PPNvAI3
— Lewis watson (@lewiswotsin51) August 13, 2020

He also took in a trip to Edinburgh for a visit to Tynecastle stadium while wearing a Scotland tracksuit and met with Hearts player Sandy Clark.

Scotland would go on to reach the final before losing out on a gold medal to Saudi Arabia in a disappointing defeat at Hampden.

2016: The great man arrived in Scotland again 27 years later when he was at the Crowne Plaza in Glasgow for ‘An evening with Peter Martin’ – which was shown on STV2 in 2016.