Pele has held the record to be one of the greatest footballers that ever lived. He has earned recognition both locally and internationally.
Profile Summary
- Name– Edson Arantes do Nascimento
- Date of Birth: 23rd October 1940
- Nickname(s)-Dico, Pele, The Black Pearl
- Height (approx.)in centimeters- 173 cm
in meters- 1.73 m
in feet inches- 5’ 8” - Weight (approx.)in kilograms- 75 kg
in pounds- 165 lbs - Eye color -Black
- Hair Color -Black
- Football Debut International– On July 7, 1957, Brazil against Argentina
- Club– On September 7, 1956, for Santos against Corinthians Santo AndreJersey
- Number– #10 (Brazil)
- Died– 29 December 2022
The Iconic footballer did not grow up as a child born into a rich family. He grew up in poverty in São Paulo where he was taught to play football by his father who used to play football too.
However, Pele had often practiced with a sock stuffed with newspapers because he could not afford to buy a football.
His financial family made him work as a waiter in local tea shops while playing football as a young person.
Pele as a young player
He rose as a young player to be signed by Santos FC at 15. By the age of 16, he was the top scorer in the Brazilian league and received a call-up for the Brazilian national side.
Pele began to gain national recognition from a young age. Interest was such that the Brazilian President declared Pele a national treasure to keep him from being bought by foreign clubs such as Manchester United.
He worked hard and was soon able to develop rather quickly as a player and came into the spotlight when he scored 4 goals in a match against Vasco da Gama.
After then, the losing team’s management offered him a contract in 1985.
Pele managed to win a couple of titles for the team and was later on selected to be part of the Brazilian national team.
He also represented his country at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and emerged as the top scorer in the tournament and was secured by the giant Dutch club PSV Eindhoven in 1988.
It is during his time in the Netherlands that he came into a full circle. During his five years at the club, Pele scored a whopping 125 goals and led his club to a Cup championship and three league titles.
Individual awards and recognitions
• Copa Libertadores Top Scorer: 1965
• Campeonato Paulista Top Scorer: 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1973
• FIFA World Cup Best Young Player: 1958
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball (Best Player): 1970
• Copa América Top Scorer: 1959
• FIFA Player of the Century: 2000
• FIFA Order of Merit: 1984
• FIFA Centennial Award: 2004
• FIFA 100 Greatest Living Footballers: 2004
• Athlete of the Century, elected by International Olympic Committee: 1999
• South American Footballer of the Year: 1973
• FWA Tribute Award: 2018
• World Team of the 20th Century: 1998
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Clubs he played for
Vasco da Gama 1985–1988
PSV Eindhoven 1988–1993
Barcelona 1993–1995
Flamengo 1995–1996
Valencia 1996–1997
Flamengo 1998–1999
Vasco da Gama 2000–2002
Fluminense 2002–2004
Al Sadd 2003, loan
Vasco da Gama 2005–2006
Miami FC 2006
Adelaide United 2006
Vasco da Gama 2007
America 2009
Other interesting facts about Pele you need to know
•The Brazilian born was nicknamed “Dico”, by his friends who started calling him Pele. A name after his favorite footballer Vasco da Gama’s goalkeeper ‘Bile’, whom he mispronounced as ‘Pele’.
•In 1995, he was appointed as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
•He was the Minister of Sport, in Brazil from 1995 to 1998.
•He received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace in 1997.
•He scored his 1000th goal against Vasco da Gama from a penalty kick at the Maracana Stadium in 1969.
•The 1970 World Cup was his last World Cup. Brazil won the World Cup, and he was named the ‘Player of the Tournament
•The international Olympic committee voted him as “Athlete of the century” in 1999.
•Scoring 1281 goals in 1363 games, gave him an outstanding record, being the most by any player.
•He scored 92 hat-tricks, and scored four goals on 31 occasions, five on six occasions, and once scored eight in one match.
•Pele was married three times and had several children, some of his children were had out of wedlock.
• The Brazilian footballer has been recorded as one of the best-paid athletes in the world since the start of his era.
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