The three championship years
FIFA's December 29, 2022 tribute recorded Pelé's death and his distinction as a three-time men's World Cup winner. He won his first title with Brazil in 1958 as a teenager, belonged to the successful 1962 squad despite injury limiting his participation, and helped lead the celebrated 1970 team.
The three medals describe team championships across three tournaments; they do not imply he played every minute of all three campaigns. That distinction makes the achievement more precise without diminishing it.
Source [1]Remembering a player through the record
FIFA's memorial described Pelé's imagination, skill and recognizable celebrations as part of football's worldwide appeal. His international legacy can be understood through match and tournament records rather than a contested single all-competitions goal total. This remembrance preserves the date and the championships, while current Sports coverage follows later generations. It does not turn a historical obituary into a new report of a death.
Source [2]