All week there have been eloquent tributes to the great Brazilian footballer Pele. The news of Pele's death came too late for last week's column but I would like to offer a belated salute, however inadequate, to this man who provided such joy to my generation. Just like Muhammad Ali in boxing, Pele transcended his own sport to become a figure of international standing.
In England he was the first foreign footballer to become truly a household name. Ask anyone in the 1960s who was the best player in the world and the answer would be Pele. At school if any of us came up with some fancy footwork the sports master would rebuke us with "Who do you think you are, Pele?"
