Pelé

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known to the world as Pele, was born on October 23, 1940, in the small Brazilian town of Tres Coracoes in Minas Gerais, a place where dreams seemed as distant as the glittering lights of Rio de Janeiro. His parents named him after the great American inventor Thomas Edison, though they dropped the i from the name, and a typing error on his birth certificate would forever confuse official documents about whether he was Edison or Edson. Little did they know that their son would illuminate the world of football far more brilliantly than any electric bulb ever could. His father, Joao Ramos do Nascimento, known as Dondinho, was a struggling football player whose career never brought financial success, while his mother Celeste worked tirelessly to keep the family afloat in their grinding poverty. The family moved to Bauru in Sao Paulo state when Pele was young, seeking better opportunities but finding only more hardship.

The origin of the nickname Pele itself is one of those delightful anecdotes that perfectly capture the randomness of how legends are born. As a schoolboy, young Edson was fascinated by a goalkeeper named Bile who played for Vasco de Sao Lourenco, where his father had once been a teammate. With his thick Minas Gerais accent, the boy consistently mispronounced the goalkeeper's name as Pile, which his classmates found endlessly amusing. They began calling him Pele as a joke, much to his initial horror and embarrassment. He desperately wanted to be called by his proper name Edson, which he felt sounded serious and important, befitting someone named after the great inventor. The nickname annoyed him so much that he would get into fights at school over it, but like many childhood torments, it eventually stuck and became part of his identity. Years later, he would discover that Pele means miracle or wonder in Hebrew, a fitting coincidence for someone who would perform miracles on football pitches around the world.

Poverty shaped every aspect of Pele's early life in ways that would seem almost unimaginable to modern football stars. The family could not afford a proper football, so young Pele learned his skills by kicking around a sock stuffed with newspaper and tied with string, or sometimes a grapefruit when even that makeshift ball fell apart. To help support his family, he worked as a shoe-shine boy and later as a servant in tea shops, earning pennies that nevertheless made a crucial difference to the household budget. He once described poverty as a curse that depresses the mind, drains the spirit, and poisons life, noting that it robs people of self-respect and self-reliance while filling them with fear not of death but of life itself. This intimate understanding of hardship would later inform his humanitarian work and his ability to connect with struggling people worldwide.

The transformation from street urchin to football prodigy began when Pele joined various amateur teams as a young boy, including Sete de Setembro, Canto do Rio, Sao Paulinho, and Ameriquinha. His raw talent was unmistakable even to untrained eyes, and he led Bauru Atletico Clube juniors to two Sao Paulo state youth championships under the guidance of coach Waldemar de Brito, a former Brazilian international player. De Brito recognized something extraordinary in the skinny teenager and made one of the most prophetic statements in football history when he took fifteen-year-old Pele to Santos FC for a trial in 1956. He boldly told the skeptical club directors that this boy would become the greatest football player in the world, a claim so audacious that it must have seemed like madness at the time.

The Santos trial itself has become the stuff of legend, with various accounts describing how Pele immediately impressed coach Lula with his skill and natural ability at the Estadio Vila Belmiro. He signed his first professional contract in June 1956 and made his senior debut on September 7, 1956, at age fifteen against Corinthians de Santo Andre in a match Santos won 7-1. More remarkably, Pele scored his first professional goal in that debut, a moment that foreshadowed the extraordinary career to come. Within just one year, at age sixteen, he had become the top scorer in the league, an achievement that caught the attention of the Brazilian national team selectors and launched him onto the world stage.

The story of Pele's emergence in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden reads like a fairy tale, complete with initial setbacks, dramatic interventions, and a triumphant conclusion that no screenwriter could have invented. He arrived in Sweden nursing a knee injury that sidelined him for Brazil's first two matches, leading many to assume his World Cup was over before it began. However, his teammates staged what amounted to a rebellion, standing together and demanding his inclusion in the squad for the crucial third match against the Soviet Union. This act of solidarity from players who recognized his unique talent proved decisive, as Pele provided the assist for Vava's second goal in that match and announced himself to the world.

What followed was perhaps the most extraordinary individual performance by a teenager in World Cup history. Against Wales in the quarter-finals, seventeen-year-old Pele scored the only goal of the match, becoming the youngest player ever to score in a World Cup and sending Brazil through to the semi-finals. His goal was a thing of beauty, demonstrating the combination of skill, composure, and natural finishing ability that would define his career. But this was merely the appetizer for the main course that came in the semi-final against France, where Pele scored a hat-trick to help Brazil win 5-2. He became the youngest player in World Cup history to achieve this feat, and his performance left the French defenders looking like children chasing shadows.

The 1958 World Cup final against Sweden on June 29 provided the stage for Pele to cement his place in football immortality. At seventeen years and 249 days old, he became the youngest player ever to appear in a World Cup final, but age was irrelevant once the match began. His first goal was a masterpiece of technique and audacity, as he flicked the ball over a defender with one touch and volleyed it into the corner of the net with the next, a sequence so fluid and natural that it seemed to defy the laws of physics. His second goal helped seal Brazil's 5-2 victory and their first World Cup triumph, but perhaps more memorably, it left such an impression on Swedish defender Sigvard Parling that he later admitted feeling like applauding when the ball hit the net.

The emotional scenes following Brazil's victory revealed the humanity behind the footballing genius. Pele collapsed on the field from exhaustion and overwhelming emotion, requiring his teammate Garrincha to revive him. When he recovered consciousness, he was so overcome with joy and disbelief that he wept openly as his teammates carried him around the field. The image of the teenage phenomenon crying with happiness while draped in the Brazilian flag became one of the most iconic photographs in football history, capturing the pure joy of a boy who had just achieved the impossible.

The partnership between Pele and Garrincha, the mercurial winger known as the Joy of the People, became one of the most extraordinary collaborations in football history. These two men, so different in personality and playing style, formed a partnership that was literally unbeatable. In forty matches playing together for Brazil, they never lost a single game, recording thirty-six wins and four draws. Garrincha, who was born with both legs curved inward and his right leg six centimeters shorter than his left, complemented Pele's goal-scoring genius with his ability to torment defenders through pure trickery and unpredictability. Their relationship off the field was equally fascinating, with the disciplined and articulate Pele often serving as a stabilizing influence on the chaotic and self-destructive Garrincha, whose battles with alcoholism would eventually claim his life.

The 1962 World Cup in Chile provided another chapter in Pele's legend, though not in the way anyone expected. He started brilliantly, scoring a magnificent goal against Mexico after a run past four defenders that showcased his speed, skill, and finishing ability. However, in the second match against Czechoslovakia, disaster struck when he tore a thigh muscle while attempting a long-range shot. The injury was so severe that it kept him out for the remainder of the tournament, forcing him to watch from the sidelines as his teammates, led by the inspired Garrincha, went on to win Brazil's second consecutive World Cup. The fact that Brazil could triumph without their greatest star testified to the depth of their squad, but it also meant that Pele's second World Cup winner's medal came with a bittersweet edge.

One of the most bizarre aspects of FIFA's regulations at the time was that only players who appeared in the final were originally eligible for winner's medals, meaning that Pele technically did not receive a medal for Brazil's 1962 triumph. This absurd situation was only rectified in 2007, when FIFA changed their regulations and retroactively awarded medals to all squad members, finally giving Pele the recognition he deserved for his contribution to Brazil's success. The delay of forty-five years in receiving this medal highlights the sometimes arbitrary nature of football's governing bodies and their belated recognition of their own oversights.

The 1966 World Cup in England became a nightmare for both Pele and Brazilian football, demonstrating how even the greatest talents can be neutralized by systematic violence and poor officiating. Pele was the most famous footballer in the world by this time, and opposing teams made it clear they would target him specifically. The tournament was marked by brutal fouls against him, particularly from Bulgarian and Portuguese defenders who seemed more interested in injuring him than winning the ball. The most egregious incident came against Portugal at Goodison Park in Liverpool, when defender Joao Morais committed what many consider one of the worst fouls in World Cup history. The tackle was so blatant and dangerous that referee George McCabe's failure to send off Morais is still cited as one of the worst refereeing decisions in tournament history.

Because substitutions were not allowed at that time, Pele had to remain on the field for the rest of the match, limping helplessly as Portugal, led by the great Eusebio, eliminated Brazil from the tournament. The combination of poor protection from referees and systematic fouling had effectively ended the career of the world's greatest player at the highest level, or so it seemed. After this traumatic experience, Pele vowed never to play in another World Cup, a decision that would have deprived football of one of its greatest triumphs four years later.

Fortunately for football fans everywhere, Pele reconsidered his retirement from international football and agreed to participate in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. This decision gave the world the opportunity to witness what many consider the greatest football team ever assembled and certainly the most entertaining. The Brazilian team of 1970 featured not only Pele but also young stars like Jairzinho, Tostao, Rivelino, and captain Carlos Alberto, creating an attacking force that combined individual brilliance with collective understanding. Their style of play, known as futebol arte or football art, elevated the game to levels of beauty and creativity that had never been seen before and have rarely been matched since.

The 1970 World Cup provided Pele with the perfect stage for his farewell performance on the world's biggest stage, and he seized the opportunity with both hands. His performances throughout the tournament were a masterclass in footballing excellence, combining goals, assists, and moments of pure magic that left spectators breathless. The final against Italy on June 21, 1970, became the perfect conclusion to his World Cup career, as Brazil won 4-1 in a match that showcased everything beautiful about football. Pele scored the opening goal with a header that demonstrated his aerial ability, and his dummy for Carlos Alberto's thunderous fourth goal became one of the most celebrated assists in football history. The image of him holding aloft the Jules Rimet Trophy, which Brazil won permanently by claiming their third World Cup, remains one of the most iconic photographs in sport.

While Pele's international career provided the stage for his greatest triumphs, his club career with Santos was equally remarkable and filled with incredible anecdotes. His record of 643 goals in 656 games for Santos between 1956 and 1974 stood as the most goals scored by any player for a single club until Lionel Messi threatened to break it decades later. Santos became a global phenomenon largely because of Pele's presence, touring internationally to take advantage of his massive popularity and drawing crowds everywhere they went. One of the most extraordinary examples of his global appeal came in 1967 when Santos traveled to Nigeria during that country's civil war. Such was the world's desire to see Pele play that a forty-eight-hour ceasefire was declared specifically to allow everyone to watch the great player, turning a football match into a moment of temporary peace in a war-torn nation.

The behind-the-scenes stories from Pele's Santos days reveal a player who was not only supremely talented but also remarkably dedicated to his craft. His teammates often spoke of his incredible work ethic and his obsession with perfecting every aspect of his game. He would spend hours after training practicing free kicks, headers, and different types of shots, always seeking to add new dimensions to his play. His famous bicycle kick, which became one of his signature moves, was the result of countless hours of practice and his natural acrobatic ability. The move was so spectacular and difficult that many defenders would simply stop and watch in admiration rather than attempt to defend against it.

One of the most amusing anecdotes from Pele's career involves his relationship with referees and his ability to influence matches through sheer force of personality. There are numerous stories of referees who were so star-struck by his presence that they would bend over backward to accommodate him, while others were so determined to prove they were not influenced by his fame that they would punish him more harshly than other players. Pele learned to navigate these different approaches with remarkable diplomacy, rarely arguing with officials and maintaining the respectful demeanor that became part of his global appeal.

Perhaps the most bizarre pre-match ritual in football history occurred during the 1970 World Cup when Pele pulled off what may have been the first global sporting marketing stunt. Just before Brazil's quarter-final against Peru kicked off, Pele had the referee delay the start of the match while he ostentatiously tied his bootlaces on the center spot. According to various accounts, this was a deliberate ploy to ensure that television cameras would linger on his new signature Puma football boots, knowing that millions of viewers around the world would be watching at that exact moment. The incident demonstrated Pele's understanding of his commercial value and his willingness to use the biggest sporting stages to maximize his marketing opportunities, something that would become standard practice for superstar athletes in later decades.

The transition from Brazilian football legend to global ambassador came in 1975 when Pele made the surprising decision to join the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League. This move was orchestrated by none other than Henry Kissinger, who sat down with Pele in a Parisian cafe and convinced him that coming to America would allow him to win not just titles but an entire country for soccer. The financial package was staggering for its time, a three-year contract worth 4.75 million dollars that made him the highest-paid athlete in the world. However, the most interesting aspect of the contract negotiations was Pele's insistence that he not be identified as a soccer player in the document, a technicality designed to avoid complex tax issues that could have significantly reduced his earnings.

The press conference announcing Pele's signing with the Cosmos became a media circus that perfectly captured the cultural collision between Brazilian casualness and American punctuality. Scheduled for 11 AM at the prestigious 21 Club in Manhattan, the event was delayed for over thirty minutes while Pele remained in his hotel room with lawyers, working out last-minute contract details. Meanwhile, over two hundred journalists, photographers, and television crews waited impatiently in the Hunt Room, surrounded by mounted elk and antelope heads, speculating about the identity of the mystery guest who had warranted a police helicopter overhead and security details worthy of a head of state. When Pele finally arrived, his relaxed demeanor and warm smile immediately defused the tension, and his charm offensive on the American media began in earnest.

The early days of Pele's American adventure were far from the triumphant success story that many expected. The Cosmos initially played in front of modest crowds of ten to twenty thousand fans, hardly the massive audiences that would justify the enormous investment in his salary. The transformation came gradually as American sports fans began to understand what they were witnessing. Shep Messing, the Cosmos goalkeeper who had played against Pele while with the Boston Minutemen, described facing him as one of the most intimidating experiences of his career. During a crucial penalty shootout at Yankee Stadium, Messing managed to save Pele's penalty kick, touching the ball just enough to push it off the crossbar, a moment he still treasures as one of his greatest achievements.

The cultural impact of Pele's presence in America extended far beyond the football pitch and into the realm of celebrity relationships and social dynamics. His friendship with Muhammad Ali, another iconic athlete who transcended his sport, became one of the great sporting friendships of the era. Both men understood the burden and privilege of being global ambassadors for their respective sports, and they often appeared together at charity events and social gatherings. Pele also developed close relationships with his Cosmos teammates, particularly Franz Beckenbauer, the elegant German sweeper known as Der Kaiser, and Carlos Alberto, his former Brazil teammate who joined him in New York. These international superstars living together in America created a unique cultural melting pot that helped soccer gain credibility with American sports fans.

The most poignant moment of Pele's American career came on October 1, 1977, when he played his farewell match at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. The game itself was an exhibition between the Cosmos and his former club Santos, but it was designed as a celebration of his extraordinary career rather than a competitive match. In a gesture that perfectly captured his love for both teams, Pele played the first half for Santos, scoring what would be the 1,281st and final goal of his career, then switched jerseys at halftime to play for the Cosmos. The emotional weight of the occasion overwhelmed him as he addressed the crowd of 77,691 fans, breaking down in tears as he shouted Love! Love! Love! to the audience. Even Muhammad Ali, who was among the dignitaries present, stood respectfully silent during Pele's emotional farewell speech.

The statistical legacy that Pele left behind is staggering in its scope and continues to generate debate among football historians. His claimed total of 1,279 goals in 1,363 matches includes friendlies and unofficial games, leading to ongoing discussions about which goals should count toward official records. However, even counting only goals scored in official matches for Santos, the New York Cosmos, and Brazil, his tally of 757 goals remains one of the most impressive scoring records in football history. More important than the raw numbers were the circumstances in which many of these goals were scored, often in crucial matches against the world's best teams and players, demonstrating that he possessed not just the ability to score goals but the mental strength to perform when it mattered most.

Beyond the statistics and the trophies, Pele's most remarkable quality may have been his ability to maintain his dignity and sportsmanship despite the constant physical abuse he suffered throughout his career. Defenders routinely targeted him with violent tackles designed to injure rather than win the ball, yet he rarely retaliated or complained to referees. His approach to dealing with this systematic violence was to become even more skillful, developing the ability to ride tackles and escape from dangerous situations through pure technical ability. This response to adversity became part of his legend and helped establish him as a role model for athletes dealing with similar challenges.

The stories that teammates and opponents tell about Pele often focus on his remarkable ability to make the extraordinary seem effortless. Carlos Alberto, his longtime teammate and friend, often described how Pele would arrive at training with a new skill or trick that he had invented overnight, casually demonstrating moves that other players could never master despite years of practice. Opposing players frequently spoke of feeling helpless when facing him one-on-one, not because of his speed or strength but because of his ability to make them guess wrong about his intentions. His famous statement that football is not a star game but a team game, and that victory requires the joint efforts of all players, demonstrated his understanding that individual brilliance means nothing without collective success.

The transition from active player to global ambassador and cultural icon revealed new dimensions of Pele's personality and intelligence. Despite his lack of formal education during his playing career, he was determined to improve himself intellectually and enrolled in high school to study grammar, later earning a certificate in economics from a New York college. His appearances in over fifty films, though mostly as himself, demonstrated his natural charisma and screen presence. The 1981 war film Victory, in which he starred alongside Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine, became a cult classic and introduced him to a new generation of fans who knew him as an actor rather than a footballer.

Perhaps the most endearing aspect of Pele's later years was his willingness to poke fun at himself and his own legend through outrageous claims and statements that kept him in the public eye. His assertion that Nick Barmby was as good as Zinedine Zidane, his claim that Lionel Messi only had one skill compared to his own versatility, and his story about making an opposing goalkeeper cry so hard he had to be substituted all demonstrated his understanding of how to remain relevant in an increasingly media-saturated world. His famous response to questions about when the next Pele would be born, that his parents had closed the factory, showed his sense of humor about his own uniqueness.

The global mourning that followed Pele's death on December 29, 2022, at the age of eighty-two demonstrated the extent to which he had transcended football to become a cultural icon of the twentieth century. World leaders, fellow athletes, and ordinary fans from every continent paid tribute to a man who had used his extraordinary talents to bring joy to millions of people and to serve as an ambassador for peace, understanding, and the beautiful game. His life story, from the poverty-stricken streets of Bauru to the pinnacle of global fame, remains one of the most inspiring examples of how talent, determination, and character can overcome any obstacle and create a legacy that will endure for generations to come.