News One is a symbol of the power of sport to unite the world, the other is the biggest icon of the planet's most popular game It was a match made in heaven when Pelé, the ‘King of Football’, welcomed the Olympic flame to his hometown of Santos on Friday (22 July) night   The three-time World Cup winner was the host as the Rio 2016 Olympic Torch visited the museum that honours his feats, which include being the all-time top goalscorer (1,279 goals in 1,363 matches according to the Guiness Book of World Records), and being named 'Athlete of the Century' by the International Olympic Committee, who also awarded him with the Olympic Order in June “We have to be thankful because not everyone has this opportunity to be involved in an event like this,” said Pelé on Friday night “So I thank God, and all the team who made this possible  Let’s go forward Brazil ” The Rio 2016 Olympic Torch Relay will pass through São Paulo, Brazil's largest city, on Sunday (24 July) It will arrive in Rio de Janeiro on 3 August, ahead of the opening ceremony at the Maracanã Stadium on 5 August Follow the torch relay here Pelé in the museum that honours his career in Santos (Photo: Rio 2016/Andre Luiz Mello) Related links World surf champion Mineirinho carries Olympic torch in home town, sets sights on Tokyo 2020 gold Basketball legend Oscar Schmidt carries Rio 2016 Olympic Torch in Natal Sixty days of diversity on the Rio 2016 Olympic Torch Relay