Pelé Biography
Edson Arantes do Nascimento "Pelé" (Brazil, 1940) has been one of the most iconic footballers in history. The Brazilian played his best years at Santos but became known to the world with the Brazilian team, with which he won 3 World Cups. His football and goals amazed the world to be recognized for many, like the best players in the history of football.
Pelé's Beginnings
Edson was the son of an unsuccessful footballer who retired very early and named his son in honor of the inventor Thomas Edison. As a child, he already showed an unusual talent for soccer and stood out every time he played with the neighborhood kids. He was so good that after scoring some goals, he decided to become a goalkeeper so as not to abuse the opponent. That's when they started calling him "Pelé", a name invented when compared to Bilé, the goalkeeper of the team his father played for.
Pelé's nickname was never separated from the boy, who, as he grew up, confirmed himself as a great promise in football in the santos' lower categories. Such was his quality that he debuted with the first team at only 16 years old. His name was well known in the São Paulo environment but not at the national level. Everything changed after an international tournament, in which he scored 3 goals in 3 games and earned a call up to the national team.
Star of the 1958 World Cup in Sweden
He debuted with Brazil at the age of 17 and less than a year after his first appearance as a professional. Pelé scored 2 goals in his first 2 games with the green and yellow, and he ended up earning a place among those summoned to the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.
The club's fans organized a friendly match with the Brazilian team with the sole objective of convincing Feola of his mistake. But Brazil won 3-1, and Luizinho did not play a great game. Throughout that training match, Pelé was kicked by Luizinho's teammates, who insisted on injuring him. As a result of those innings, Pelé hit his right knee, so he arrived very close to the World Championship.
Brazil's list did not indicate the numbers of each player, so the organization assigned him number 10 by chance. From that moment on, that number would become a number reserved for the greatest.
Pelé llorando Mundial 1958
In Sweden, Pelé would be a substitute in the first two games. Brazil debuted by beating Austria 3-0 but drew 0-0 against England in the second match. The locker room went into crisis, and the veterans threatened their coach Vicente Feola, with a rebellion if he didn't play Garrincha and above all a Pelé. The 17-year-old made his debut in the victory against the USSR (2-0) and scored his first goal in the quarterfinals against Wales (1-0). At 17 years and 239 days, Pelé is still the youngest player to score in a World Cup.
In the semifinals against France, Pelé confirmed himself as a star. O'Rei scored 3 goals in 25 minutes and was key to the victory canarinha by 5-2. In the final, the Brazilians beat Sweden by the same score. Pelé scored two beautiful goals and was proclaimed World Champion, being the star of the championship. At the end of the game, he cried like a child. A legend was born.
Pele at Santos (1957-1974)
The World Cup marked the definitive takeoff of Pelé, who became the undisputed starter and won the 1958 São Paulo tournament. In 38 games played, he scored 58 goals. At the age of 18, Pelé had to complete military service, although he continued playing with the army team. Upon his return, the forward continued scoring goals and confirmed himself as a world star who was admired around the globe. Santos took advantage of this, which began touring the 5 continents.
Pelé played for Santos for 14 years, marking an era in the São Paulo club. With the albinegro team, he won 10 São Paulo championships and 5 Brazilian Cups. His greatest success was proclaiming himself Bich champion of America in 1962 and 1963, being decisive in both finals against Peñarol and Boca Juniors. Against the Uruguayans, he scored 2 goals in the tiebreaker match, and against the Argentines, he closed the tie with a goal in La Bombonera.
The more impact they would have two Intercontinental Cups (1962-1963) won against Benfica and Milan. Against the Portuguese, Santos won 3-2 at Maracaná with two goals from Pelé that gave the Brazilians an advantage. In Lisbon, the King's display was more scandalous as he scored 3 goals and achieved a spectacular 2-5 victory.
A year later, Pelé would once again be decisive against Milan. The forward scored 2 goals in Italy but could not avoid his team's 4-2 defeat. In Maracaná, Santos came back from 0-2 down and ended up winning 4-2 with two more goals from their star. A day later, the tiebreaker match would be played on the same stage, although Pelé could not play the match. Even so, Santos won 1-0 and lifted its second Intercontinental Cup.
Pelé managed to be the top scorer in the Paulista Championship for 10 years in a row and 11 in his entire career. In 1969 Pelé achieved the milestone of achieving the 1,000th goal of his sporting career. He did it after several games chasing him and with a penalty scored against Vasco da Gama. In total, Pelé played 1,120 games for Santos, scoring 1,087 goals.
Pelé, 3 World titles with Brazil
If there is one thing Pelé can boast of, it is having won 3 World Cups. After conquering Sweden at just 17 years old, Pelé participated in the World Cups in Chile 1962 e England 1966. In both, he would suffer from the tough play of his rivals, who kicked him until he was injured. In Chile, Brazil became champion, although Pelé could only play two games. The same thing happened in England, where Coluna's marking made them abandon the championship in the second match against Portugal. On that occasion, the current champions were left out in the qualifying phase.
But Pelé and the Brazilians would have revenge in it Mexico World Cup 1970. In that championship Pelé was decisive, scoring 4 goals and leaving plays for history. A header from him caused Gordon Banks' famous save. Against Czechoslovakia, he was the first player to try to score a goal from the center of the field, and against Uruguay, he left the goalkeeper sitting to touch on a memorable goal In the final, against Italy, Pelé scored a goal with a legendary header and won for the third time the Jules Rimet Cup at the Azteca Stadium.
Between 1957 and 1971 Pelé played 103 games and scored 95 goals with the green-yellow. Participated in 14 World Cup matches, scoring 12 goals.
Retirement in the New York Cosmos (1975-1977)
After Mexico, Pelé was preparing his farewell to elite football. In 1971, he played his last game with the Brazilian team against Yugoslavia (2-2). He continued playing with Santos until 1974, and although they tried to convince him to play for him World Cup in Germany 1974, they didn't get it.
In 1975 Pelé was already retired from active football but was immersed in serious financial problems. His financial crisis caused him to receive succulent offers from all over the world to put his boots back on. Real Madrid, Juventus, Milan, and America in Mexico offered him close to 15 million dollars, although they were unable to close the signing.
The Brazilian preferred to move away from elite football and ended up accepting the offer from the New York Cosmos to play in the newly created United States league. In June 1975, he debuted in the NASL with great expectation from the North American public.
Pelé New York Cosmos
The results of the Cosmos in the first year were a failure, so by 1976 and 1977 they were reinforced with other world stars: Giorgio Chinaglia, Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto they completed a dream team that won the title in the finals and toured the entire world.
On October 1, 1977, at the age of 36, Pelé said goodbye to football forever. The only two clubs of his career met in a friendly manner at by more than 75 thousand spectators and in which Pelé played time with each team. He scored a goal with the Cosmos shirt (which he won 2-1) and received a more than deserved tribute. Pelé scored 65 goals in 111 games for the Cosmos and closed his career, reaching 1,283 in 1,367 games.
Once Pelé retired, he became a registered trademark and was an ambassador for World Football. After 20 years of professional career, Pelé was considered the best player of all time by many.
Death (12-29-22)
In September 2021, Pelé was diagnosed with colon cancer and ended up dying on the night of December 29, 2022, at the age of 82.