Pele -

Edson Arantes do Nascimento “Pelé”. Brazilian football player. The best footballer of all time. Definer par excellence, he scored 1,282 goals in 1,366 matches, and his record of winning the trophy in the 1958 , 1962 and 1970 World Cups stands out .

Biographical Synthesis

Born in Brazil the 23 as October as 1940 in Três Corações ( Minas Gerais ). Also nicknamed “O Rei”, he is considered one of the best players in the history of football. Son of Celeste and Joao Ramos do Nascimento , a footballer known as Dondinho who had to retire while playing for Fluminense due to injury. The child was baptized in the Church of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph with the name of Edson Arantes Do Nascimento.

Beginnings in football

Although his father was a well-known striker in the football world , the boy worked as a shoe shine and trained on the street. In Baurú , in the state of Sao Paulo , where he had just moved with his family. A former player of the National team, Waldemar de Brito , noticed his talent and took him under his wing.

At that time his nickname, Pelé, arose because he played without shoes, barefoot.

He started playing at the age of seven at the September Seven , three years later he started playing at the Radium . His youth stage is completed with his time at Canto do Rio , Amerinquinha and Baurú Atlético .

The 7 of September of 1956 without complying with the 16 and scoring a goal against the Corinthians of San Andrés, joined the Santos FC , in the city of Santos , and the only club that played in Brazil .

Sports career

Pelé, wearing the Santos shirt , dribbles a defender on the edge of the penalty area.

He developed the best of his career at Santos . In that team he remained practically his entire career, winning two Libertadores Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, a South American Recopa, an Intercontinental Cup Winners’ Cup, 15 League titles and 5 Brazil Cups, until 1975 , when already in the decline of his career he decided to try his luck in the North American Soccer League. There he stood out as the best player of the tournament and won a league title ( 1977 ), but did not achieve the goal of popularizing the sport more.

Pelé never played in European football , so his career is particular as he is the only South American footballer considered among the best in history, without having left his country in practically his entire career.

National selection

He won three world titles with his selection to the side of many of the largest in the history of the Football Brazil ( Mario Zagallo , Garrincha , Didi , Vava , Nilton Santos , Djalma Santos , Zico , etc.) in the World Championships in 1958 , 1962 and 1970 , being the youngest world champion in history, and the youngest two-time world champion in history.

His statistics are worthy of a prodigy: 1,282 goals in 1,366 games played. In addition, he is the historical scorer of the Brazilian National Team, with 77 goals.

Statistics

Played Matches: 1366
Goals Scored: 1282
Record of goals scored in a match: 8 goals, on November 21 , 1964 , in the Santos 11 x 0 Botafogo de Ribeirão Preto match
Games for the Brazilian team: 115 (92 officials)
Goals for the Brazilian team: 103
Youngest scorer in the Paulista Championship: 1957 – Santos (he was 17 years old during the competition)
Youngest World Champion: 1958 – Brazil (17 years old)
Youngest two-time World Champion: 1962 – Brazil (21 years old)
Top scorer in a season: 1959 – 127 goals
Highest scorer in the history of the Brazilian National Team: 95 goals
Top scorer in professional soccer: 1,199 goals
Largest soccer transaction until the end of the 70s: [[1975 – Para el Cosmos (US $ 7 million)
Placar Magazine Special Golden Ball : 1987
Bronze plaque affixed to the Maracanã Stadium : 1968 – By virtue of a beautiful goal scored against Fluminense , on June 12 , 1968. It gives rise to the term “Plate Goal”.

Goals

Paulista Championship

Pelé in the Copa Libertadores de América 1963

1957 – Santos (17 goals)
1958 – Santos (58 goals)
1959 – Santos (45 goals)
1960 – Santos (33 goals)
1961 – Santos (47 goals)
1962 – Santos (37 goals)
1963 – Santos (22 goals)
1964 – Santos (34 goals)
1965 – Santos (49 goals)
1969 – Santos (26 goals)
1973 – Santos (11 goals)

America Cup

1 959 – Brazil (8 goals)

Brazilian Championship of the Armed Forces

1959 – Selection of the 6th Coast Guard (11 goals)

South American Championship of the Armed Forces

1959 – Brazilian National Team of the Armed Forces (11 goals)

Brazil Cup

1961 – Santos (9 goals)
1963 – Santos (12 goals)

Rio-São Paulo Tournament

1961 – Santos (7 goals)
1963 – Santos (15 goals)
1964 – Santos (3 goals)
1965 – Santos (7 goals)

Interclub World Cup

1962 – Santos (3 goals)
1962 – Santos (did not score)

Libertadores Cup of America

1963 – Santos (11 goals)

Thousandth Goal

It was marked the 19 as November as 1969 , at 23:11, in his party No. 909, Vasco Santos 1 x 2 before 65,157 spectators.

The match was valid for the Roberto Gomes Pedrosa tournament . At 33 minutes into the second half, Vasco Renê’s defender committed a penalty. Pelé scored with his right foot, defining goalkeeper Andrada’s left post, who struggled, but could not contain it. Andrada did not want to suffer Pelé’s goal because he thought that he would cease to be known as a good goalkeeper and would go on to be remembered only as the goalkeeper of the thousandth goal.

When interviewed by reporters, Pelé said: “I thought about Christmas. I thought of the children ”Pelé wore a Vasco jersey with the number 1000 and took an Olympic lap at the Maracanã Stadium .

Titles

National championships

Santos FC – ( Brazil ) – 1958 (Paulista Championship)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1959 (Rio-Sao Paolo Tournament)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1960 (Paulista Championship)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1961 (Brazil Cup)

Pelé holding the cup received after winning the 1962 World Cup
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1961 (Paulista Championship)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1962 (Brazil Cup)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1962 (Paulista Championship)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1963 (Brazil Cup)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1963 (Rio-Sao Paolo Tournament)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1964 (Brazil Cup)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1964 (Paulista Championship)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1964 (Rio-Sao Paolo Tournament)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1965 (Brazil Cup)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1965 (Paulista Championship)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1966 (Rio-Sao Paolo Tournament)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1967 (Paulista Championship)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1968 (Paulista Championship)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1968 (Silver Cup)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1969 (Paulista Championship)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1973 (Paulista Championship)
New York Cosmos – ( United States ) – 1977

International cups

National Football Team Brazil – 1958 ( World Cup of 1958 )
Brazil National Soccer Team – 1962 (Soccer World Cup 1962)
Brazil National Soccer Team – 1970 ( 1970 Soccer World Cup).
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1962 ( Copa Libertadores )
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1962 ( Intercontinental Cup )
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1963 (Copa Libertadores)
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1963 (Intercontinental Cup
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1969 ( Recopa Sudamericana )
Santos FC – (Brazil) – 1969 ( Intercontinental Recopa )

World Cups

World Cup of 1958 – ( Brazil ) – 1958 (champion)
1962 World Cup Soccer – (Brazil) – 1962 (champion)
Football World Cup 1966 – (Brazil) – 1966 (11th place)
1970 Soccer World Cup – (Brazil) – 1970 (champion)

individual distinctions

Top scorer of the Paulista Championship (11): 1957 , 1958 , 1959 , 1960 , 1961 , 1962 , 1963 , 1964 , 1965 , 1969 and 1973 .
Best Young Player by FIFA (1): 1958.
Silver Ball by FIFA (1): 1958.
Copa América top scorer (1): 1959. * Best Copa América player (1): 1959.
Brazil Cup Goalscorer (3): 1961, 1963, 1964.
Awarded the Legion of Honor (1). 1963.
Scorer of the Rio- Sao Paulo Tournament (1): 1963.
Scorer of the Copa Libertadores (1): 1965.
Awarded the Football Sword of Honor by the England Football Yearbook (1): 1966 .
Awarded the Order of Rio Branco by the Brazilian government (1): 1967 .
Elected Commander of the Order of Rio Branco after scoring the thousandth goal: (1): 1969.
Silver ball awarded by Placar Magazine (1): 1970 .
Sports Personality of the Year by the BBC (2). 1970 and 2005 .
Awarded the Medal of the City of Paris for mayor (1): 1971 .
Recipient of the Prize of the French Academy of Sports (1): 1971.
South American Footballer of the Year (1): 1973.
Included in the team of stars by the NASL (3): 1975 , 1976 and 1977
Appointed Bauru citizen by the Sâo Paulo municipality (1): 1975.
Appointed Honorary Citizen of the City of Los Angeles by Mayor (1): 1977.
Appointed Honorary Citizen of the City of New Jersey by Mayor (1): 1977.
Awarded the World Citizen Merit Diploma by Unicef (1): 1977.
Awarded with the Grand Cross of Sports Merit awarded by the government of Brazil (1): 1977.
Elected Citizen of the World by the UN (1): 1977
Awarded the Order of Champions by the Catholic Youth Organization in USA (1): 1978 .
Awarded the International Peace Prize (1): 1978.
Athlete of the Century by L´Équipe Magazine (1): 1980 .
Distinguished as Marshal of Hispania by Hispanic Organizations in New York (1): 1981 .
Included in the all-time team of Santos FC by Placar Magazine (2): 1982 and 1994 .
Included in the world team of all time by Placar magazine (1): 1983 .
Awarded the FIFA Order as a tribute to its 80 years as a sports institution (1): 1984 .
Awarded with the Order of Sports Merit of South America by CONMEBOL (1): 1984.
Named honorary ambassador of Tourism of Brazil (1): 1987 .
Included in the world team of all time by FIGC (1): 1988 .
Awarded the National Order of Merit by the government of Brazil (1): 1991 .
Awarded with a street called Pelé Street in Montevideo ( Uruguay ): 1992 .
Elected Ambassador for Ecology and Environment by the United Nations (1): 1992.
Soccer Hall of Fame member (1): 1993 .
Elected Unesco Goodwill Ambassador (1): 1993.
Maximum exponent of the World Cup of Heroes 100 by France Football (1): 1994 .
Awarded the Cross of the Order of the Republic of Hungary (1): 1994.
Elected Minister of Sports of Brazil (1): 1994.
Included in the historical team of the FIFA World Cup (1): 1994.
Included in the Brazilian team of all time by Folha de Sâo Paulo Magazine (1): 1994.
Awarded the Human Rights Medal by the organization B´nai B´rith (1): 1995 .
Athlete of the Century by the DuPont Group (1): 1996 .
Included in the all-time world team by Planete Foot magazine (1): 1996.
Included in the Brazilian team of all time by Placar magazine (1): 1996.
Chosen as one of the 50 best historical players by Planete Foot magazine (1): 1996.
Awarded the Order of the British Empire (1): 1997 .
Included in the team of all time by the newspaper La República (1): 1997.
Chosen as one of the 100 greatest soccer players by the newspaper La República (1): 1997.
Included in the FIFA Selection of the Century (1): 1998 .
Included in the Brazilian team of all time by the magazine O Estado (1): 1998.
Included in the South American 20th century team by the MasterCard society (1): 1998.
Awarded as the player who transformed football by Sports Illustrate magazine (1): 1999 .
Chosen as one of the 10 greatest athletes of the century by the IOC (1): 1999.
Athlete of the 20th century by the IOC (1): 1999.
Chosen as one of the athletes of the 20th century by Time Magazine (1): 1999.
Personality of the 20th century by the newspaper La Nación (1): 1999.
Included in the 20th century world team by World Soccer magazine (1): 1999.
World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) (1): 1999.
Athlete of the century by Reuters agency (1): 1999.
Included in the all-time team of Santos FC by the newspaper Lance (1): 1999.
Unicef Footballer of the Century (1): 1999.
Included in the world team of all time by the magazine Voetbal International (1): 1999.
South American Jew of the Century by IFFHS (1): 1999.
Player of the Century for France Football (1). 1999.
Player of the Century for the newspaper Guerin Sportivo (1): 1999.
Chosen best player of all time by Placar magazine (1): 1999.
Laureus Prize Winner (1): 2000 .
FIFA Player of the Century (1): 2000.
Included in the Dream Team in the history of the World Cup by FIFA (1): 2002 .
FIFA 100 Player (1): 2004 .
Awarded the FIFA Order of Merit (1): 2004.
Included in the world team of all time by the newspaper A Tarde Newspaper (1) 2004.
Elected as Sports Ambassador at the Davos World Economic Forum (1): 2006 .
Included in the best team of all time by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo (1): 2006.
Chosen best Brazilian player of the century by the IFFHS (1): 2006.
Top First Division Scorer in Football History by IFFHS (1): 2006.
Chosen as the “Best Young Player” in the history of the World Cups by FIFA (1): 2006.
Included in Franz Beckenbauer’s historical team (1): 2006.
Recipient of the FIFA Presidential Award (1): 2007 .
Awarded with the key and the declaration of Distinguished Guest in Mexico DF (1): 2007.
Included in the Top 50 of the “Best of the Best” in football history (1): 2007.
Influential person of Latin American culture by Antena 3 and CAC (1): 2008 .
Elected ambassador for Rio’s bid for the 2016 Olympic Games (1): 2008.
Included in the Ideal Eleven of South America of the last 50 years by Sports Illustrated Latino (1): 2008.
Influential character of world football by Don Balon magazine (1): 2009 .
Included in the electronic museum of CONMEBOL (1): 2009.
Awarded as Guest of Honor and Sports Ambassador of Bogotá (1): 2010 .

Withdrawal from the court

After obtaining all possible titles and having counted more than a thousand goals scored in official matches, he announced his retirement from active sport in 1974 . However, Pelé (whose pseudonym apparently lacks any significance) signed for the New York Cosmos , a team made up of a group of great soccer figures in order to promote this sport in the United States .

After his definitive retirement in 1977 , Pelé carried out various activities. He even made some foray into the world of cinema, even taking part in the feature film Evasión o victoria ( 1980 ), by John Huston, in which, along with professional actors (such as Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone ), renowned figures of world football participated. (like the Argentine Osvaldo César Ardiles and the British Bobby Moore ). , and in music, as a composer of several pieces, including the complete soundtrack of the biographical film Pelé(1977). His ascendancy over sports authorities and bodies made his opinion sometimes requested, recognized and taken into account, and other times it generated harsh controversy (such as the one he had with the president of FIFA , his compatriot João Havelange , whom he accused of exercising his office with excessive presidentialism).

He was an international ambassador for sports and worked for peace and understanding through friendly athletic competition. His life took a new direction when, on 1 January of 1995 , he was appointed Extraordinary Minister of Sports of Brazil , during the presidency of Fernando Henrique Cardoso .

In the exercise of this position he fought in a strenuous way to obtain the approval of what came to be known as’ Ley Pelé ‘, which represented a true revolution of the entire legal spectrum in force in Brazil in relation to relations between clubs and players. .

The Pelé Law sought, among other objectives, to end the legislation that allowed teams to retain footballers once the contracts between both parties were finalized (the so-called Pass Law). Its most important points were: transformation of clubs into companies; recognition of the right of the clubs to formalize the first professional contract of the players from their quarry; recognition of the players’ right to be released, whatever their age, if there is no agreement between the parties; recognition of the right of clubs to form independent leagues of the Brazilian Soccer Confederation . Passed in 1998 , the Pelé Law was considered a great step for the renewal of the world of sports in Brazil.

Personal life

Pelé married Rosemeri Cholbi for the first time in 1966 , this union lasting twelve years until 1978 . The couple had three children: Kelly Cristina, Edinho, and Jennifer. In 1994 Pelé remarried, this time with Assiria Seixas Lemos, he is currently still married to her and from this union two twins emerged: Josua and Celeste.

He is also recognized for the relationships he had with the famous Brazilian singer Xuxa and with two beauty queens: Deise Nunes de Souza and Flavia Cavalcanti in the 1980s