Edson Arantes do Nascimento

Edson Arantes Do Nascimento, fondly known by the name "Pelé" is one of the greatest players in the history of football, who adorned the sport with various remarkable moments through his distinct playing techniques and field sense. Throughout his astounding playing career, he has acquired many titles by his colleagues and followers such as "The Black Pearl", "The King Pelé", "The King of Football" and a lot more. The legendary player has scored a total of 1281 goals through his significant performances in 1363 games, the record which is enlisted in the Guinness Book. Pelé has served the national football team of Brazil for 14 years, being the only player in the history of football who has given his immense contribution in winning three FIFA World Cups, held in 1958, 1962 and 1970. Regarded as the “Football Player of the Century”, Pelé is a man with a generous soul, who gives all the credit for his success to the sport. In fact, he often has had to hit hard against fate to live his dreams in reality.

Awards & Achievements

• Entitled as the FIFA World Cup "Best Young Player" and was presented with the Silver Ball as in 1958
• Named in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team in 1958 and 1970
• Awarded the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball and entitled as "BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year" in 1970
• Selected as the Copa América Best Player as well as top scorer in 1959
• Entitled as the "South American Footballer of the Year" in 1972
• Earned the title of Campeonato Paulista Top Scorer 11 times in between 1957-1973
• Honoured as "Athlete of the Century" in 1999 by Reuters News Agency as well as by the International Olympic Committee
• Received the "FIFA Order of Merit" in 1984
• Chosen as "FIFA Player of the Century" in 2000
• Received the honour of Ballon d'Or seven times from 1958 to 1970
• Conferred with "FIFA Centennial Award" in 2004
• Bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award, being the "Sports Personality of the Year" by BBC in 2005
• Received the FIFA Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur in 2013
• With 77 goals in 92 games, he is Brazil national football team's All-time leading scorer
• All-time leading scorer of Intercontinental Cup with 7 goals
• With 541 goals, IFFHS entitled him as the world's most successful top division goal scorer
• Pelé has the Guinness World Record of securing the most number of FIFA World Cup winners' medals

If you don’t give education to people, it is easy to manipulate them.

Photo Credits: wikimedia.org

Born in a district of Brazil on 23rd October 1940, Pelé was initially named as “Edson" inspired by the famous inventor Thomas Alva Edison. An ordinary boy with extraordinary ambitions who inherited his immense love for football genetically from his father Dondinho who was a regular footballer. Having a strong yearning to learn football, he never let poverty obstruct his way and used to train himself by hitting socks stuffed with the newspaper in his childhood. Destiny expressed tenderness on his efforts, and he got a chance to join Santos football club at the age of 15. By 1962, he added his name to the list of best soccer players in the world. Pelé never failed to contribute his best on the field with his remarkable speed, control over the ball and winning strategy.

The player is an all-time top goal scorer of Brazil and was announced as the National treasure of the country in 1961. Within a successful span of 24 years at the football field; Pelé has proved himself not only a winner of his game but a winner of million hearts. Besides being a valuable player in soccer, he is also a humanitarian who considers all kind of races, ages, and nationalities on the same ground. In 1977, Pelé announced his retirement but didn’t detach from the sport. He became the President of New York Cosmos- an American professional soccer club in 2010. The legendary player is still contributing by sharing his football experiences to players, coaches as well as followers. Truly, he is a man of values, born to rule the football field as well as the heart of people.

If I pass away one day, I am happy because I tried to my best. My sport allowed me to do so much it’s the biggest sport in the world.

Credits: YouTube