Pele helped to grab the hearts and minds of football in the United States during his time with the New York Cosmos, the clubs former COO told Stats Jake Bailey Jersey Perform.Brazil legend Pele pa sed away on Thursday following a battle with colon cancer, with news announced by his daughter after his family travelled to be with him at Sao Paulos Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital before Christmas Day.As well as the lasting legacy he left on Brazil and Santos, Peles move to the Cosmos in 1975 also helped to ma sively grow the sport in the United States.After Pele, the only man to win the World Cup three times, joined the Cosmos, fellow superstars such as Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto followed him to the team, while others such as Johan Cruyff, Eusebio and George Best also joined clubs in the North American Soccer League (NASL).The Cosmos faded into obscurity and ultimately folded after Pele retired in 1977, but the game continued to develop in the United States and the World Cup in 1994 was hosted in the country.Erik Stover, COO of a reformed Cosmos between 2012 and 2021, lauded Peles influence on building the sport, telling Stats Perform: I Curtis Martin Jersey dont think you can really quantify it. Its so hugely impactful over generations.Before Pele came to the Cosmos, soccer in this country was a very small immigrant sport. Obviously, theres a long history of it in the United States, but it didnt grab the hearts and minds until Pele was part of the Cosmos. He was just still the greatest player in the world when he signed for Cosmos , probably. It brought immediate credibility to the NASL. It legitimised that league.He became the most valuable athlete in the United States overnight. Those playing at Bayern Munich or Manchester United or wherever in the world, they were paying attention to it.That led to players like George Best and Beckenbauer joining the NASL , some of the greatest players in the world still in their John Hannah Jersey prime coming to the NASL.Suddenly, theres youth soccer clubs popping Ty Montgomery Jersey up and leagues that had never existed before, all on that ma sive wave of what the Cosmos and Pele was able to do.Pele was just 17-years-old when he won his first World Cup in 1958, and is still the youngest player to ever win the competition.Stover acknowledged Peles enormous global impact from such a young age, adding: Youd be hard-pre sed to find someone that was at a better amba sador globally for his sport.He really, really accepted that role and carried it with relish.Wherever he went, he drew a crowd and took the time to say hello, pose for pictures, sign autographs from a very, very young age. He realised his specialty was in what responsibilities came with that.I was privileged enough to spend some time with him around the world. We went to Havana, Cuba. As an American going to Cuba, I grew up in a time where you couldnt do that.So not only to have that opportunity, largely because Pele was still part of the Cosmos, but then to see the love the Cubans had for him, he was absolutely beloved.He treated people with respect because he knows that they are going to remember that for the rest of their lives, and he didnt want Cole Strange Jersey that moment to be spoiled.