Pele holding his world cup trophies
Pelé is a Brazilian retired professional footballer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He was born on October 23, 1940, in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil. His full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, but he is better known by his nickname, Pelé.
Pelé began playing football at a young age and was signed by Santos FC, a professional football club in Brazil, at the age of 15. He made his professional debut for the club in 1956 and quickly became a star player. In his first full season with Santos, Pelé scored an impressive 58 goals in 57 games.
Pelé's talent on the football pitch was undeniable, and he helped lead Brazil to victory in the 1958 and 1962 World Cups. In 1970, he helped lead Brazil to its third World Cup win, scoring four goals in the tournament and being named the best player of the tournament.
Pelé is known for his exceptional dribbling skills and his ability to score goals from seemingly impossible angles. He is also known for his sportsmanship and his graciousness on and off the pitch. He was a role model for many young football players and is widely respected in the world of football.
In his career, Pelé scored a total of 1,281 goals in 1,363 games, an impressive feat that has yet to be matched by any other player. He played for Santos FC for 18 years, scoring 619 goals in 656 games. He also played for the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League (NASL) for three seasons, scoring 37 goals in 71 games.
Pelé was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999 and was inducted into the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame in 2006. He is also a member of the World Team of the 20th Century and the Brazilian Football Confederation's Hall of Fame.
In addition to his successful career on the pitch, Pelé was also involved in various charitable and humanitarian endeavors. He worked with organizations such as UNICEF and the Pelé Peace and Sport Foundation, which promotes the use of sport as a means of fostering peace and social inclusion.
Pelé received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including the UNESCO Peace Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has also been named a national treasure in Brazil and was inducted into the Brazilian National Hall of Fame in 1999.
Despite his many achievements, Pelé remained humble and grateful for the opportunities that football has given him. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time and his legacy in the world of sport will continue to inspire future generations of football players.