Pele paid $120,000 to tie shoes at World Cup, sparking feud between Puma and Adidas
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Pelé was paid $120,000 by a major sneaker company to bend over midfield and tie his shoe before a 1970 World Cup match...starting a bitter feud between Puma and Adidas !
Pelé's death has unearthed all sorts of stories about the footballing legend, who died aged 82 on Thursday, following a long battle with colon cancer... including when the greatest player of all time received the equivalent of $1 million (in 2022 with inflation) to strap on a Puma football boot, according to Joe Pompliano, who told the story.
It all started in 1924 when Adolf and Rudolf Dassler started a shoe company, Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory. The cobbler was successful, and Jesse Owens even wore his mark at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, where Owens dominated ahead of Hitler, winning 4 gold medals.
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Brazilian football legend Pelé dies aged 82
But, in 1948, the brothers had a falling out and decided to go their own way... each starting their own sneaker company. Adolf created Adidas and Rudolf, Puma. The brothers swore never to do business with each other.
Getty
Pelé was paid $120,000 by a major sneaker company to bend over midfield and tie his shoe before a 1970 World Cup match...starting a bitter feud between Puma and Adidas !
Pelé's death has unearthed all sorts of stories about the footballing legend, who died aged 82 on Thursday, following a long battle with colon cancer... including when the greatest player of all time received the equivalent of $1 million (in 2022 with inflation) to strap on a Puma football boot, according to Joe Pompliano, who told the story.
It all started in 1924 when Adolf and Rudolf Dassler started a shoe company, Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory. The cobbler was successful, and Jesse Owens even wore his mark at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, where Owens dominated ahead of Hitler, winning 4 gold medals.
Getty
Brazilian football legend Pelé dies aged 82
But, in 1948, the brothers had a falling out and decided to go their own way... each starting their own sneaker company. Adolf created Adidas and Rudolf, Puma. The brothers swore never to do business with each other.
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