Pele perfectly described the Brazilian 'Ginga' style of play by explaining that "the head talks to the heart and the heart talks to the feet". That description fits the mesmerizing manner in which the iconic forward played his football, particularly his heroics during the 1970 World Cup.
England have had their fair share of exciting attackers who have showboated their way to success. Stanley Matthews was one of the most elegant dribblers of the ball and a player whom Pele insisted "taught us how football should be played".
Paul Gascoigne, John Barnes and Bobby Charlton were other Three Lions who knew how to put on a show with the ball at their feet. But Pele felt one Englishman had the flair of a Brazilian but needed to take inspiration from Ronaldinho in using their skills appropriately.
Pele On Brazilian-esque England Star
The three-time World Cup winner had advice for 'very good' trickster
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Pele always spoke of his admiration of the Premier League and claimed in 2016 that it was the "most important" league in the world. The English top-flight had finished developing into the global powerhouse we're familiar with today, boasting the highest viewership around the globe.
There were many household names who helped transform the English game, such as Eric Cantona, Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney and Kevin De Bruyne. But there were other stars who had shined brightly during the "Barclays" era, especially out wide on the wing.
Pele attended several Premier League games before passing away on December 29, 2022. The king of football visited Stamford Bridge in January 2006 and one Chelsea star caught his eye in action against Charlton Athletic. He told Sky Sports:
"The Number 10 for Chelsea, Joe Cole, is a very good player and when I saw him against Charlton he was excellent in the first half."
Chelsea were 1-0 up at half-time courtesy of Eidur Gudjohnsen's opener, but it was Joe Cole who caught the Brazilian's eye. The London-born attacker was in his third of seven seasons with the Blues and this was the best of the lot.
Cole starred in a Jose Mourinho side that retained the Premier League title and was voted the club's Player of the Year. He was a box of tricks but Pele advised him not to get carried away:
"He has the skills of a Brazilian but he needs to learn when to show the skills and when to play the simple game."
Chelsea ended up drawing 1-1 with Charlton after Ricardo Carvalho's sending off but Pele felt Cole nearly cost them a point:
"In the second half, when the game was very close, he kept losing the ball because he was trying too hard and Chelsea nearly lost the game... The tricks are fine at 3-0 or 4-0 but not at 0-0 or 1-1. That's why Ronaldinho is so good - he knows when to do the tricks and when to keep it simple."
Such sublime showings in the 2005-06 season earned him a place in England's squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He was one of the Three Lions' better performers, scoring a sensational volley against Sweden, but that was the height of a somewhat uninspiring international career.
Hasselbaink: Cole Wasn't Appreciated Enough in England
"Now you are gagging for a player like him"
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Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink spent a year with Cole at Chelsea amid coming into the final stages of his Stamford Bridge career. The Dutch striker saw the English attacking midfielder's creative genius up close and felt he warranted more recognition in England.
He told Sky Sports in November 2018 when Cole announced his retirement aged 37:
"I would have liked to have seen him playing more in England. I don't think we appreciated him enough and now you are gagging for a player like him, to have that kind of creativity. You are missing somebody like him."
Joe Cole's Career
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Cole's only starting role during a major international competition was at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He was otherwise left on the bench and handed a bit-part role for most of the 56 caps he earned for the Three Lions.
The former West Ham United hero enjoyed a fine career but injuries were a recurring issue that perhaps prevented him from realizing his full potential. Hasselbaink's claim over England "missing" a similar talent held true for several years but exciting talent such as Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka and Morgan Rogers have since emerged.
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