Ask many Brazilians who is the greatest footballer of all time and their answer will be simple: "Pele." The striker won three World Cups with Brazil between 1958 and 1970 and is his country's leading goalscorer with 77 goals from 92 caps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HIDE CAPTION

 

Pele: The legend

 

<<

<

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

>

>>

 

Follow us at @WorldSportCNN and like us on Facebook

(CNN) -- Brazilian legend Pele believes his country will rise above the problems which are blighting its preparations for football's global showpiece and put on a "fantastic" World Cup.

Demonstrations -- some violent -- have been taking place all over Brazil since last summer's Confederations Cup, raising concerns about security at the upcoming tournament.

They were originally organized to protest against increases in travel fares, but have since gone on to include demonstrations against staging the World Cup, corruption in government and a lack of social spending.

But Pele, who played in three winning Brazilian World Cup sides, is confident that once the competition -- which starts on June 12 -- begins these issues will become of secondary importance.

"We have had political problems," he told CNN. "But the World Cup is a big party and it will be fantastic."

 

Neymar frustrated with Santos transfer

 

Neymar: Protests must be peaceful

 

Test match held at Sao Paulo stadium

 

Brazilian army patrolling Rio de Janeiro

Despite his status as a national hero, the 73-year-old Pele came under fire for his reported criticism of protests which flared up at last year's Confederations Cup and have continued on a sporadic basis ever since.

It also apparently put him at odds with the current idol of the Brazilian fans, Barcelona's Neymar, who said he was "inspired" by the mass mobilization, which has focused on poor quality public services while billions of dollars are being spent on the World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Pele was at pains to clarify his position.

"I agree with him (Neymar) -- we accept of course we want the best for our country in terms of schools and hospitals -- but the players have nothing to do with this or political corruption," he said.

"So it's wrong to boo the players like happened in the Confederations Cup, I repeat again they have nothing to do with corruption and the other problems.

"We need to separate these things because the players always show off the best side of Brazil, let's support them -- because this is a good moment for us."

Politics aside, Pele is hoping Neymar, who starred for his old club Santos before his big money move to Barcelona last summer, will benefit from playing in European club football to help Brazil a record sixth World Cup triumph.

" A lot of Brazilians were annoyed when Santos sold him to Barcelona," he said. "But for Neymar it was fantastic as he gets more experience at the highest level and this will help the national team."

Pele played a starring role in Brazil's triumphs in the finals of the 1958 and 1970 World Cups and is hoping the current team can take their own place in footballing history.

But he is wary about tipping them as winners - "football is a box of surprises," he said-- pointing to Argentina, Italy, Spain and Germany as their most dangerous challengers.

"But Brazilian football is still the best and most beautiful in the world," he added.

問很多巴西人誰是有史以來最偉大的足球運動員和他們的答复很簡單：“貝利” 前鋒贏得了三屆世界杯與巴西1958年和1970年之間，是他的國家從92帽77球領先射手。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

隱藏字幕

 

貝利：傳說

 

<<

<

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

>

>>

 

故事突出

• 貝利相信巴西將在今年晚些時候舉辦世界杯成功
• 對基礎設施的大規模抗議和憂慮已經枯萎的準備
• 足壇名宿稱球員都無可指責的這些問題，應予以支持
• 認為內馬爾將是被演奏與巴薩更好

跟隨我們在@ WorldSportCNN和像我們在Facebook

（CNN） -巴西傳奇人物貝利認為，他的國家將超越其被耽誤了它的準備，足球在全球的樣板，並換上了“夢幻般的”世界杯的問題。

示威 - 一些暴力 - 已經發生遍布巴西自去年夏天的聯合會杯上，提高對安全在即將到來的比賽的關注。

他們最初被組織抗議增加旅遊車費，但有從那以後，包括示威反對舉辦世界杯，政府腐敗和缺乏社會支出。

但貝利，誰在三個巴西贏得世界杯雙方打，有信心，一旦競爭 - 這開始於6月12日 - 開始這些問題將成為次要的。

“我們有政治問題，”他告訴CNN。“但世界杯是一個大黨，這將是非常美妙的。”

 

內馬爾沮喪與桑托斯轉移

 

內馬爾：抗議必須是和平的

 

在聖保羅球場舉行測試賽

 

巴西軍隊巡邏里約熱內盧

儘管他的狀態作為一個民族英雄，73歲的貝利遭到攻擊他的報導抗議活動的批評而紛起在去年的聯合會杯，從此繼續在零星的基礎。

它也顯然是把他的賠率與巴西球迷，巴薩的內馬爾，誰稱他是“靈感”的群眾動員，這主要集中在質量差的公共服務，而數十億美元花在世界杯目前的偶像和2016年奧運會在里約熱內盧。

貝利是在煞費苦心地澄清自己的立場。

“我同意他（內馬爾） - 我們承認，我們當然希望在學校和醫院方面最適合我們的國家 - 但球員們無關，與這個或政治腐敗，”他說。

“所以，這是錯誤的噓聲就像發生在聯合會杯的球員，我再說一遍，他們什麼都沒有做與腐敗和其他問題。

“我們需要區分這些事情，因為球員總是炫耀巴西的最好的一面，讓我們支持他們 - 因為這是一個很好的時機，我們”

拋開政治不談，貝利希望內馬爾，誰之前，他的大資金轉會巴薩去年夏天出演他的老東家桑托斯，將受益於歐洲俱樂部足球玩，幫助巴西隊創紀錄的第六次世界杯的勝利。

“很多巴西人都惱火，當桑托斯賣給他去巴薩，”他說。“但對於內馬爾這是夢幻般的，因為他得到更多的經驗，在最高水平，這將幫助國家隊。”

貝利在1958年和1970年世界杯的決賽出戰巴西的勝利主演的角色，並希望目前的團隊可以採取自​​己的位置在足球的歷史。

但他機警的關於小費他們作為勝利者 - “足球是一箱的驚喜，”他說 - 指向阿根廷，意大利，西班牙和德國，成為他們最危險的挑戰者。

“但巴西足球仍然是最好的，最美麗的世界，”他補充說。