Pelé
Who was Pelé?
Legendary Brazilian footballer who won three World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970) and scored over 1,000 career goals. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Pelé (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known worldwide as Pelé, was born on October 23, 1940, in Três Corações, Brazil, and is celebrated as the greatest footballer in history. He started his professional career at Santos FC at 15, quickly gaining recognition as an extraordinary talent. By age 16, he was playing for Brazil's national team, starting a legendary international career that would span decades and redefine football greatness.
Pelé's World Cup accomplishments are unique in football. He won his first World Cup in 1958 at age 17, becoming the youngest player to win the title. His performances in Sweden impressed global audiences and earned him the nickname "O Rei" (The King). Despite being injured early in the tournament, he helped Brazil defend their title in 1962 in Chile, and completed his World Cup trilogy in 1970 in Mexico, leading what many consider the greatest national team ever. With 77 goals in 92 international appearances, he was Brazil's all-time leading scorer for over 50 years.
At the club level, Pelé turned Santos into a global force. He scored 643 goals in 659 games for the Brazilian club, leading them to back-to-back Copa Libertadores victories in 1962 and 1963, followed by Intercontinental Cup wins in the same years. His incredible skill and breathtaking goals made Santos a highly sought-after team worldwide, spreading Brazilian football's reach. In 1975, he came out of semi-retirement to join the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League, helping to boost football's popularity in the United States.
Beyond football, Pelé ventured into acting, politics, and business. He appeared in several films and served as Brazil's Minister of Sports from 1995 to 1998. His marriages to three women—Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi, Assíria Nascimento, and Marcia Aoki—resulted in seven children and captured significant media attention during his life. He received many honors, including an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 1997 and Brazil's top civilian award, the Order of Rio Branco, in 1967. Pelé died on December 29, 2022, at Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital in São Paulo, leaving behind a legacy unmatched in world football.
Before Fame
Pelé grew up in poverty in the interior of São Paulo state. His father, João Ramos do Nascimento, was a footballer known as Dondinho who never made it as a professional. The family struggled financially, so young Edson often worked as a shoeshine boy to help out at home. He learned to play football by kicking around makeshift balls made of socks stuffed with newspaper, barefoot in the streets.
His journey to fame began when former Brazil international Waldemar de Brito spotted him while playing for the local youth team Bauru Athletic Club. Seeing the boy's incredible talent, De Brito convinced Santos FC to let him try out in 1956. Just months after joining Santos, the 15-year-old made his professional debut. He scored in his first match and quickly got noticed by the selectors of Brazil's national team.
Key Achievements
- Only player to win three FIFA World Cup titles (1958, 1962, 1970)
- Scored 1,279 goals in 1,363 career games, recognized as a Guinness World Record
- Named FIFA Player of the Century jointly with Diego Maradona in 2000
- Led Santos to consecutive Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup victories (1962-1963)
- Designated Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999
Did You Know?
- 01.His nickname 'Pelé' has no definitive origin story, and he initially disliked it, preferring to be called by his real name Edson
- 02.He is the only player to score in four different World Cup tournaments (1958, 1962, 1966, and 1970)
- 03.Pelé briefly came out of retirement in 1975 specifically to play for the New York Cosmos, earning $1.4 million per year
- 04.He scored 8 goals in a single match for Santos against Botafogo-SP in 1964, though the exact number varies in different accounts
- 05.In 1970, both sides in the Nigerian Civil War reportedly agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire so they could watch Pelé play in Lagos
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire | 1997 | — |
| Order of Rio Branco | 1967 | — |
| honorary citizen of Baltimore | 1973 | — |
| Distinguished Guest of Mexico City | 2009 | — |
| Llaves de la Ciudad de Mexico | 2009 | — |
| BBC World Sport Star of the Year | 1970 | — |
| South American Footballer of the Year | 1973 | — |
| National Order of Merit | 1991 | — |
| Ballon d'Or Dream Team | 2020 | — |
| FWA Tribute Award | 2018 | — |
| Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award | 2000 | — |
| BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award | 2005 | — |
| FIFA Order of Merit | 1984 | — |
| FIFA Player of the Century | 2000 | — |
| Silver Olympic Order | 2016 | — |
| FIFA Presidential Award | 2007 | — |
| Knight of the Legion of Honour | 1963 | — |
| Marca Leyenda | 1997 | — |
| World Cup Golden Ball | 1970 | — |
| Officer of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite | 1975 | — |