On the 22nd of October 2006, fans witnessed two of the greatest sportsmen of all time together on the centre stage, Brazilian Footballer Pele awarded Michael Schumacher the “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his tremendous career in F1.
Schumacher was set to retire from the sport at the end of the 2006 season. The German, widely regarded as the greatest racer of all time, would sign off his illustrious career with Ferrari where he claimed 7 World Championship titles.
And to honour the feat, 3-time FIFA World Cup winner Pele was invited. Pele shook hands with the German before awarding him the trophy and kissing the racer on his cheek with a warm embrace.
Although Schumi would return to the sport 3 years later with Mercedes, it was an emotional sight for Football fans and F1 fans alike.
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An emotional final race for Michael Schumacher
With Pele in the grandstand, Michael Schumacher’s finale was anticipated by millions of fans cheering worldwide. This emotional final race was his last with Ferrari, a team with whom he secured 5 consecutive titles between 2000-2004.
But for the German, it wasn’t simple, unlike his previous 91 race wins. Schumacher was 10 points behind Fernando Alonso in the title race. That means the Spaniard needed only a single point to secure his 2nd championship.
Schumacher would only manage to qualify 10th but dropped last after an early puncture. He would put up a fight in the dying laps, setting fastest lap after fastest lap. But would only finish P5 in his last race.
Michael Schumacher’s amazing comeback from bog last (after Fisichella punctured his rear tyre), where he emerged 65 seconds down on race leader Felipe Massa. He finished p4, just 24 seconds behind his race-winning Ferrari team-mate at 2006 Brazil #F1 pic.twitter.com/0JFKgkQ0cR
— Motorsports in the 2000s 🇭🇰🇬🇧 (@CrystalRacing) October 22, 2021
The race brought an end to F1’s most dominant driver-constructor combination. And an adieu to one of the greatest the sport has ever seen
But for the Brazilian fans, the race will be remembered for Felippe Massa’s emphatic home win. Massa became the first Brazilian driver to win his home Grand Prix since Ayrton Senna in 1993.
Footballer Pele passes away on the same date as Michael Schumacher’s tragic accident
Brazilian Footballer Pele dies at the age of 82 after a long battle with cancer. The Brazilian, regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, is the only footballer to have won the FIFA World Cup thrice.
Pele passed away on 29 December at the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital, Sao Paulo, where his health was being monitored. Eerily, the date of his death coincides with the date of Michael Schumacher’s tragic accident.
On the 29th December 2013, Schumacher suffered a skiing accident which the driver hasn’t fully recovered from. The former Ferrari driver suffered a coma and multiple surgeries and hasn’t made any public appearances since.
Pelé died Thursday at the age of 82. pic.twitter.com/hxwFLFHfHv
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 29, 2022
The F1 community poured in their tributes for the footballer. Including a statement from the CEO of Formula One Group Stefano Dominicalli who wrote, “He was a shining light for Brazil and millions around the world. His skill, smile and brilliance will live on forever. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.”
Lewis Hamilton also posted a picture of the late footballer holding a signed Brazilian jersey that he had gifted. Hamilton wrote, “Thank you for sharing your talent, genius and love with us. Pele’s legacy will inspire us forever and always.”
