Given a choice, On his 75th birthday Brazilian football legend Pele will prefer a peck from Britain's Queen Elizabeth-II rather than the best cake from london!
"As a sportsman, I cannot eat one cake too much because I grow (put on weight). I prefer the kiss of Queen Elizabeth," Pele said tongue-and cheek responding to a question during a lively 45-minute session at the NSHM Knowledge Campus here.
Pele is in the city after 38 years.
The septuagenarian global football icon, who would be celebrating his birthday at the Buckingham Palace with Queen Elizabeth on October 23, was asked whether he will accept a 75-pound cake from the best cakemaker in london or a peck on the cheek from the monarch.
Pele cheerfully said he will opt for the latter. There was immediate laughter, cheers and thunderous applause, that had been reverberating through the auditorium time and again during the interaction as Pele charmed the students and other guests with his witty answers.
Not only did he patiently respond to the dozen or so questions, the "Black Pearl" dazzled his fans with anecdotes. One fan admitted that Kolkata was missing him all these years.
It was a huge surprise for all when the "King of Football" showed his prowess with the samba dance as well.
Pele was seen tapping his feet and keeping rhythm with his fingers to an Indian fusion music performance by Sourend