Became a legend at the age of 17
Pelé, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, born on October 23, 1940 in Três Corações, became a legend at the age of 17 when he led Brazil to its first World Cup in 1958, a pioneer of fantasy with the ball and the goal that put soccer in the privileged place it occupies within the sport as ‘O Rei’. SOURCE: (EUROPA PRESS)
He shined and delighted
The Brazilian star, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 82, shone and delighted in black and white and in color.
Inventor of the ‘jogo bonito’
An innovator ahead of his time and inventor of the ‘jogo bonito’, of the show on the field and impossible goals, with the innate talent that had already been taught by Alfredo di Stéfano and would be followed by Johan Cruyff, Diego Armando Maradona and a recently reaffirmed Leo Messi, in later generations.
Debuted at the age of 15
Pelé always wanted to be a soccer player, like his father Dondinho, and debuted with Santos at the age of 15. At a time when soccer had nothing to do with what it is today, in an exercise of faith, he came out of the favelas to become the highest paid athlete in the world.
Idol in difficult times
The Brazilian was an idol in times of difficulty, who used his gift to form a personality for eternity.
The best of all time?
The debate will always be about whether Pelé, or who else, is the best of all time. The Brazilian left behind three World Cups (the most), 1,283 goals, two Libertadores Cups, six times Brazilian champion, but the possible consensus about his figure goes beyond that.
Revolutionized soccer
Pelé revolutionized soccer and as a player he had no flaws: a wonderful physique, quality with both legs and with his head, vision beyond logic.
An admired hero
Pelé was an artist on and off the field, a much-admired hero capable of making Muhammad Ali blush and eclipsing The Beatles.
Familiar and friendly
However, as a person, the South American soccer player was a normal, family-oriented, friendly and Catholic guy, who did not leave Brazil because he loved his mother’s rice and beans. He liked being at home, with an average temperature of 25 degrees and next to the sea.
«I owe it all to my parents.»
In a FIFA video for his 80th birthday, Pelé acknowledged the importance of having his parents close to him. In addition, Dondinho was the one who forced him to go to the Santos tryout to leave Bauru Athletic Club. «Everything I am I owe to my parents. They raised me to respect people. My father used to tell me ‘you are learning, never think you are better than anyone else’,» he said.
Only one child
Santos had it clear even though he was a child and so did the national team, which gave him his debut at the age of 16 and a few months as a professional, where he forged his legend in the World Cups. «Pelé is obviously a child. He is too young to respond,» read the report from Brazil’s psychologist ahead of the 1958 World Cup. «Maybe you’re right, but you don’t know anything about soccer. If his knee is fine, he will play,» was the response of coach Vicente Feola.
The youngest World Cup scorer
Pelé recovered from that injury in time and made his World Cup debut at the age of 17. When the man from Três Corações scored against Wales in the quarterfinals, he became the youngest scorer of the tournament and still is.
Unstoppable
«That goal completely boosted my confidence. The world now knew Pelé. I was unstoppable,» he confessed years later. So it was: three goals against France in the semifinals and a memorable brace against Sweden (5-2) in the final that gave Brazil its first star.
‘O Rei’ was born
O Rei’ was born there, from the recent ashes of the ‘Maracanazo’, striker of the ‘Canarinha’ between 1957 and 1971. Later, the still young player arrived at the 1962 World Cup in Chile as the best player in the world, but an injury left the baton to Garrincha in the defense of the title.
Round trip
Pele was also kicked in England ’66 and the Santos player suffered the first crisis of his career, even resigning from the national team. The striker came back for a last dance, now in color, on TVs all over the world.
Mexico 1970
Pelé vindicated himself in Mexico 1970 as the only player to have won three World Cups. The ’10’, at almost 30 years of age, scored four goals and provided six assists in one of the best teams in history, which had players like Jairzinho, Tostao, Rivelino, Gerson, Carlos Alberto or Clodoaldo and which consecrated the ‘jogo bonito’ (beautiful game).
Three-time World Champion
In the final, ‘O Rei’ bid farewell, scoring one last goal to open the scoring in a 4-1 win over Italy in front of 100,000 spectators at the Azteca Stadium.
The best soccer player of the 20th century
«I didn’t die. I’m not dead,» says Rivellino, recalling what Pelé shouted as he entered the locker room with Brazil’s third star. The IFFHS (International Federation of Football History and Statistics) and FIFA named Pelé the best footballer of the 20th century, but the South American crack did not play in Europe, nor did he win the Ballon d’Or, until the honorary one they gave him in 2014.
No Golden Ball
However, ‘France Football’, the magazine that created and now delivers together with FIFA the award for the best player in the world, acknowledged shortly afterwards that Pelé would have won seven Ballon d’Or if it had not been for the European restriction that the award had until not long ago (2007). The Brazilian did not want to leave home but, of course, he had offers from the best clubs in Europe.
Declared ‘National Treasure’
In the late 1950s, attempts to sign Pelé led the then president of Brazil, Janio Quadros, to formulate a law declaring the player a ‘National Treasure’. The Brazilian was sought after mainly by Real Madrid and Milan, but did not make the leap to the European leagues, a must for many in the Olympus comparisons even though it was little less than a matter of state.
Retires with the New York Cosmos
O Rei’ finished his career playing three seasons with the New York Cosmos until his retirement in 1977, helping a gestation soccer and opening the path of retirement to the United States that would be followed by other stars to this day.
Guinness Book of Records
Pelé left a record of 1,283 goals (Guinness World Record), almost one per game and Brazil’s top scorer until he was equaled by Neymar (77) at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
1994 and 2002 World Cups
The ‘Verdeamarela’ national team won the 1994 and 2002 World Cups after Pelé, when ‘O Rei’ handed the trophy to Cafú. This is how the pentacampeona remained, while ‘Pelé’, a name that came out as a child from mispronouncing the name ‘Bilé’ – a goalkeeper of Vasco da Gama during his childhood -, lived a retirement full of social life.
Ball touches to the moon
«I just need to go to the moon. If there was a ball on the moon, I’d go for a few touches,» he said in an interview in 2020. After his retirement on October 1, 1977, in an exhibition match between Cosmos and Santos that he played with both teams, Pelé continued to serve as Brazil’s national hero, an ambassador of soccer, but also of the racial struggle and against social inequality.
Crossed borders
His image crossed borders due to the color and universal broadcasting that arrived precisely in Mexico 1970, like the yellow cards, which were born in that World Cup to ‘protect the good guys’, as they would say now, Pelé.
On the big screen
The ex-footballer also appeared on the big screen, with his most famous role in ‘Victory’, a film with Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone.
Minister of Sports
The former player was UNSESCO Ambassador, created his Foundation and was Brazil’s Minister of Sports between 1995 and 1998. On the sentimental side, Pelé was married three times: Rosemeri Cholbi, Assiria Seixas Lemos and his wife since 2016 Marcia Aoki, and has seven recognized children.
Influence and values
The footballer ‘who stopped a war’, as it happened in Africa in 1969, leaves his values, his influence and his creativity. Pele burst into the rhythm of the planet’s growth and went far as few, those who sit at the table of the best. The Brazilian admired Di Stéfano and the ‘Saeta Rubia’ had a weakness for Pelé.
Place on Olympus
Cruyff would stick with Santos, but he did not like to rank the heroes of each era. Maradona and a Messi crowned with the World Cup in Qatar are two more in the Olympus debate or those who would vote for Cristiano Ronaldo would also ask for their place.
Ball magician
Edson, ‘Pelé’, was named after Thomas Edison and may not have invented soccer, but he was the first magician with the ball.
