New Bohemians F.C. mural honours Pelé's 1972 visit to Dalymount Park

Bohemians F.C. have honoured the greatest of all time by unveiling a brand new mural in memory of Pelé's 1972 visit to Dalymount Park.

The legendary "Perfect 10" player (real name Edson Arantes do Nascimento) passed away on December 30, 2022 from Covid complications.

Pelé was the star attraction from Santos F.C. that drew a crowd of over 30,000 for an exhibition match on on Saturday, February 26th. With punters having to fork out £2 for a ticket, around €28 nowadays, the gate was worth over £60,000 or around €850,000 in today’s money.

Pelé signing autographs on O'Connell Street in February 1972 before his club Santos played an exhibition game in Dalymount Park against a Drumcondra/Bohs selection in front of 30k expectant fans. The game ended 2-3 in favour of the Brazilians. 🇧🇷 #pele pic.twitter.com/Q4ReSQhoNC

— Éire Guide (@eireguide) December 30, 2022

The Brazilian side scored two late goals through substitute Alcindo to beat a combined Bohemians-Drumcondra selection 3-2. Santos were on a whistle-stop tour of Europe, with the game at Dalymount acting as their third in a week after they followed a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on the Monday with a 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

The then 31-year-old was one of the most recognised sporting figures of all time, and his Pelé's hurried visit to the capital caused a stir in Ireland. It took place only four weeks after the barbaric murder of 13 civilians by the British Paratroop regiment in Derry which left the country reeling.

Bohs today posted a photo of the beautiful new mural to mark the sporting occasion, which can be viewed via Dalymount Lane. The piece was designed by Niall OL and painted by Kone.

Brand new mural at Dalymount to celebrate the greatest of all time 🇧🇷

His only ever game on Irish soil took place in Dalymount in 1972 where his Santos side beat a Bohs/Drums selection 3-2.

It can be viewed via Dalymout Lane.

Design: Niall OL
Paint: Kone pic.twitter.com/zbzWiEzNad

— Bohemian Football Club (@bfcdublin) January 6, 2023

Pelé is the only player to have won the World Cup three times - in 1958, 1962 and 1970 when he was the undisputed star of the tournament in Mexico.

Born in 1940, he was the best centre-forward of his generation and played 92 times for Brazil between 1957 and 1971, finding the back of the net on 77 occasions. His career 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, including friendlies, is another world record.

He scored 618 times in 636 games for his Brazilian club side Santos and then dazzled from 1975-1977 at New York Cosmos. One of those games took place in 1972 at Dalymount Park when a touring Santos took on a League of Ireland XI, winning the match 3-2. There are famous pictures of him surrounded by kids and signing autographs on O'Connell Street.

In an immediate tribute, the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio was lit with the colours of the Brazilian shirt.