text: who was pele's challenger?? i forgot his name, but he was also brazilian and played soccer at the same time pele did.  he also died from alcoholism. you are probabily talking about mané garrincha, he was really spetacular, he had a problem with his legs, and that gave him an special way to play and confuse the other players. unfortunately he died poor and almost anonimous, because of his drug problems.