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Date of birth: 21 or 23 October 1940
Place of birth: Três Corações, Brazil
Height: 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position: Forward
Biography
Edison Arantes do Nascimento also known as Pelé was one of the greatest
football players ever. Pelé started playing football at Bauru FC where
he was trained by former international Waldemar de Brito.
Soon all great clubs of Brazil were after him. He choice for de Brito´s
former club Santos FC were he made his debut at age 15. Pelé made his
debut at the World Cup with Brazil in 1958, at only 17 years of age.
He became the youngest player ever to score a goal at the World Cup by
scoring the decisive goal against Wales in the quarterfinals at 17 years
and 239 days. In the semifinals he scored a hat-trick against France in
a match that Brazil would win with 5-2.
In the final against Sweden Pelé scored another goal in the 5-2 victory.
Brazil became World Champion and Pelé was the greatest revelation of
the tournament.
At Santos Pelé dominated the Brazilian League by winning the Brazilian national championship five times in a row from 1961 to 1965. He won the Copa Libertadores(South American Champions League) in 1962 and 1963 and the 1962 Intercontinental Cup by beating Eusebio's Benfica with 5-2, Pelé scoring a hat-trick.
In Brazil's first match of the 1962 World Cup against Mexico, Pelé
assisted the first goal and scored the second goal. It looked like it
was going to be Pelé's tournament again, but it wasn't. Pelé was hiding a
groin injury to keep playing, but this became visible at Brazil's
second match against Czechoslovakia. Pelé had just shot on the post and
tried to shoot the reflected ball but injured himself.
He was forced off for the rest of the tournament, despite that Brazil
won the tournament due to a great Garrincha.
It was the 1966 FIFA World Cup, held in England. Pelé was back without injury and scored in his first match against Bulgaria, Brazil won but Pelé had been brutally fouled by the Bulgarian defenders and could not play the second match against Hungary. Brazil lost his second match and Pelé was forced to come back and play the decisive match against Portugal. Pelé was fouled again by the Portuguese players. However it was the foul João Maorais made on him that injured him. Pelé limped on the field for the rest of the game and Brazil lost with 3-1.
Pelé played his last World Cup in 1970 at age 29. Pelé scored one goal
in Brazil´s first match against Czechoslovakia which was won with 4-1.
Pelé nearly scored with a header against England but Gordon Banks saved
spectacularly. Against Romania Pelé scored twice in the 3-0 victory
against Romania and Brazil was is in the quarterfinals. They won the
quarterfinal against Peru with 4-2, Pelé did not score.
In the 3-1 victory against Uruguay in the semifinals Pelé was involved
with the last 2 goals. Brazil dominated the final against Italy, Pelé
opened the score with a header 1-0. The match was won with 4-1, the
final goal being one of the most famous goals, showing Brazil's class at
that World Cup.
Pelé became the only player ever who won the World Cup thrice.
Pelé ended his career in the US at the New York Cosmos as a "ambassador
for football". He remains one of the greatest players ever. He was great
in all aspects of the game, he was great in heading, dribbling but
above all shooting the ball with both legs. This is why he scored more
than 1200 goals.
Career
| Club Record | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Team | Apps | Goals |
| 1956-1974 | Santos | 605 | 589 |
| 1975-1977 | New York Cosmos | 64 | 37 |
| Total | 669 | 626 | |
| National Team | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Team | Apps | Goals |
| 1956-1971 | Brazil | 92 | 77 |
Honours
| Team Honours | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Trophy | Years | |
| Brazil | World Champion | 1958, 1962, 1970 | |
| Santos | Intercontinental Cup | 1962, 1963 | |
| Santos | Copa Libertadores | 1962, 1963 | |
| Santos | Brazilian Championship | 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968 | |
| New York Cosmos | U.S. Championship | 1977 | |
| Individual Honours | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Trophy | Years | ||
| FIFA Player of the Century | |||
| IFFHS Player of the Century | |||
| FIFA World Cup Golden Ball (Best Player) | 1970 | ||
| South American Footballer of the Year | 1973 | ||
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