Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, is a retired Brazilian professional footballer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
He is the all-time leading goalscorer for Brazil, and he won three FIFA World Cups with the national team, in 1958, 1962, and 1970.
Pelé was a complete forward who was known for his dribbling skills, speed, and powerful shot. He was also a prolific goalscorer, scoring over 1,000 goals in his career.
Pelé was inducted into the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame and the World Football Hall of Fame, and he was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine.
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Biography
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, was born on October 23, 1940, in Três Corações, Brazil. He grew up in a poor family in the city of Bauru, in the state of São Paulo, and began playing soccer at a young age.
Pelé’s talent as a footballer was evident from an early age, and he joined his first professional club, Santos, at the age of 15.
Pelé quickly made a name for himself at Santos, scoring an impressive number of goals and helping the team to win numerous titles.
He also made his debut for the Brazilian national team in 1957, at the age of 16, and played an important role in Brazil’s victory at the 1958 World Cup.
Pelé became a national hero in Brazil and a global superstar, known for his exceptional skill and sportsmanship on the field.
Throughout his career, Pelé played for a number of clubs, including Santos, New York Cosmos, and Santos again. He retired from professional football in 1977, but continued to be involved in the sport as a coach and a commentator.
Pelé is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and he has received numerous accolades for his contributions to the sport.
In 1999, he was named FIFA World Player of the Century, and he was inducted into the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame and the World Football Hall of Fame.
Pelé is also the all-time leading goalscorer for the Brazilian national team, with 77 goals in 92 appearances.
Pelé: The Nickname
Pelé’s full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, but he is widely known by his nickname “Pelé.” It is not clear exactly how he acquired this nickname, but there are a few different theories.
One theory is that the nickname “Pelé” was given to him by his school teacher, who called him “Pelé” after the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell.
Another theory is that the nickname was given to him by his friends, who shortened his name “Edson” to “Eddie,” and then added the suffix “-inho,” meaning “little” in Portuguese. This nickname, “Eddie-inho,” was eventually shortened to “Pelé.”
Regardless of the exact origin of the nickname, Pelé has become synonymous with the sport of soccer and is widely known as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
Pelé: Achievements
Pelé is widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, and he has achieved numerous accolades and achievements during his career. Some of his most notable achievements include:
- Winning the FIFA World Cup three times with the Brazilian national team, in 1958, 1962, and 1970.
- Being the all-time leading goalscorer for the Brazilian national team, with 77 goals in 92 appearances.
- Being the all-time leading goalscorer for his club, Santos, with 643 goals in 656 appearances.
- Winning the Copa Libertadores (the South American club championship) twice with Santos, in 1962 and 1963.
- Winning the Intercontinental Cup (now known as the FIFA Club World Cup) twice with Santos, in 1962 and 1963.
- Being named FIFA World Player of the Century in 1999.
- Being inducted into the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame and the World Football Hall of Fame.
- Being named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine.
In addition to these achievements, Pelé is also known for his sportsmanship and his contributions to the sport of soccer. He is widely respected and admired by fans and players alike, and he is considered a true legend of the game.
Interesting Facts about Pelé
- Pelé is the all-time leading goalscorer for Brazil, with 77 goals in 92 appearances for the national team. He scored a total of 1,281 goals in 1,363 career appearances for club and country.
- Pelé is the only player to have won the FIFA World Cup three times. He was a key member of the Brazilian national team that won the tournament in 1958, 1962, and 1970.
- Pelé was the first player to score 1,000 career goals, a feat he achieved in 1974.
- Pelé was the first athlete to be named a United Nations ambassador for ecology and the environment.
- Pelé was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States, by President Barack Obama in 2011.
- Pelé has a number of awards and accolades named after him, including the Pelé Trophy, which is awarded to the best player in the Brazilian domestic league, and the Pelé Cup, which is awarded to the winner of the Brazilian Cup.
- Pelé has written several books, including an autobiography titled “Pelé: My Life and the Beautiful Game.”
- Pelé has also had roles in a number of movies and television shows, including “Escape to Victory,” “Victory,” and “The Simpsons.”
- Pelé was inducted into the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame and the World Football Hall of Fame, and he was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine.
Pelé’s Death
Pelé, who had a colon tumour removed in 2021, was readmitted to Albert Einstein hospital in São Paulo in November amid deteriorating health.
A hospital statement on Thursday confirmed the death of “our dear King of Football” at 3.27 pm local time, “due to the failure of multiple organs, a result of the progression of cancer of colon associated with his previous clinical condition.”
A statement from Pelé’s official Instagram page added: “Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pelé, who peacefully passed away today. On his journey, Edson enchanted the world with his genius in sport, stopped a war, carried out social works all over the world and spread what he most believed to be the cure for all our problems: love. His message today becomes a legacy for future generations. Love, love and love, forever.”
