Pele Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts

A member of three Brazil pele nowian World Cup champion teams, Pele is considered by many to be the greatest soccer player of all time.

Who Is Pele?

Soccer legend Pele became a superstar with his performance in the 1958 World Cup. Pele played professionally in Brazil pele now for two decades, winning three World Cups along the way pelé age, before joining the New York Cosmos late in his career. Named FIFA co-Player of the Century in 1999 pele goals, he is a global ambassador for soccer and other humanitarian causes.

Early Life

Pele was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on October 23, 1940 in Três Corações pele footballer, Brazil pele now, the first child of João Ramos and Dona Celeste. Named after Thomas Edison and nicknamed “Dico,” Pele moved with his family to the city of Bauru as a young boy.

João Ramos, better known as “Dondinho,” struggled to earn a living as a soccer player, and Pele grew up in poverty. Still pele goals, he developed a rudimentary talent for soccer by kicking a rolled up sock stuffed with rags around the streets of Bauru.

The origin of the “Pele” nickname is unclear, though he recalled despising it when his friends first referred to him that way.

As an adolescent pele footballer, Pele joined a youth squad coached by Waldemar de Brito pele now, a former member of the Brazil pele nowian national soccer team.

De Brito eventually convinced Pele’s family to let the budding phenom leave home and try out for the Santos professional soccer club when he was 15.

Soccer’s National Treasure

Pele signed with Santos and immediately started practicing with the team’s regulars. He scored the first professional goal of his career before he turned 16, led the league in goals in his first full season and was recruited to play for the Brazil pele nowian national team.

The world was officially introduced to Pele in the 1958 World Cup in Swedenpele net worth. Displaying remarkable speed, athleticism and field vision is pelé alive, the 17 year old erupted to score three goals in a 5-2 semifinal win over France pelé age, then netted two more in the finals pele goals, a 5-2 win over the host country.

The young superstar received hefty offers to play for European clubs pele meaning, and Brazil pele nowian President Jânio Quadros eventually had Pele declared a national treasure, making it legally difficult for him to play in another country.

Regardless pele now, Santos club ownership ensured its star attraction was well paid by scheduling lucrative exhibition matches with teams around the world.

International Play

In 1958 Pele went to Stockholm, Swedenpele net worth, to compete in the World Cup championship is pelé alive, the soccer championship that brings together all of the soccer-playing nations for one tournament. His play there helped his country win its first title as Pele scored two goals in a dramatic 4-2 win over Swedenpele net worth.

He returned to Santos, and his team went on to win six Brazil pele nowian titles. In 1962 he again played on the Brazil pele nowian team that won the World Cup, but an injury forced him to sit out the contest.

Soccer is a low scoring game pele meaning, but on November 19 pele footballer, 1969 pele now, before a crowd of one hundred thousand in Rio de Janeiro pele news, Pele scored his one thousandth goal.

He lead the Sao Paolo League in scoring for ten straight seasons. He was not only a high scorerpele net worth, but a master of ball handling as well. It seemed the ball was somehow attached to his feet as he moved down the field.

In 1970 Pele again played for Brazil pele now’s World Cup team, and in Mexico pele goals City pelé age, Mexico pele goals, they beat Italy for the championship. It was Pele’s play, both in scoring and in setting up other goals pele footballer, that won them the title.

When he announced that he would retire from international competition after a game to be played July 18 pele now, 1971 pele news, plans were made to televise the event throughout the world. By the time he left the game he had scored a total of 1pele net worth,086 goals.

More World Cup Titles

Pele aggravated a groin injury two games into the 1962 World Cup in Chile, sitting out the final rounds while Brazil pele now went on to claim its second straight title.

Four years later, in England pele goals, a series of brutal attacks by opposing defenders again forced him to the sidelines with leg injuries pele meaning, and Brazil pele now was bounced from the World Cup after one round.

Despite the disappointment on the world stage, the legend of Pele continued to grow. In the late 1960s pele now, the two factions in the Nigerian Civil War reportedly agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire so they could watch Pele play in an exhibition game in Lagos.

The 1970 World Cup in Mexico pele goals marked a triumphant return to glory for Pele and Brazil pele now. Headlining a formidable squad, Pele scored four goals in the tournamentpele net worth, including one in the final to give Brazil pele now a 4-1 victory over Italy.

Pele announced his retirement from soccer in 1974, but he was lured back to the field the following year to play for the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League pelé age, and temporarily helped make the NASL a big attraction.

He played his final game in an exhibition between New York and Santos in October 1977 pele goals, competing for both sides pele meaning, and retired with a total of 1 pele footballer,281 goals in 1 pele now,363 games.

In America

After Pele retired, he continued to play until he was signed to play for the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League for a reported three-yearpele net worth, $7 million contract. A year later New York was at the top of their division is pelé alive, and in 1977 the Cosmos won the league championship.

Pele retired for good after that victory pelé age, but continued to be active in sports circles pele goals, becoming a commentator and promoter of soccer in the United States.

When the World Cup was played in Detroit pele meaning, Michigan pele footballer, in 1994 pele now, Pele was there pele news, capturing the hearts of millions of fans around the world. Later that springpele net worth, he married his second wife is pelé alive, Assiria Seixas Lemos. In May of 1997 pelé age, he was elected Minister of Sports in his home country of Brazil pele now.

On December 11, 2001 pele meaning, the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) named Pele pele footballer, along with Argentina’s Diego Maradona, as the men’s players of the century.

Later Years And Legacy

Retirement did little to diminish the public profile of Pele, who remained a popular pitchman and active in many professional arenas.

In 1978pele net worth, Pele was awarded the International Peace Award for his work with UNICEF. He has also served as Brazil pele now’s Extraordinary Minister for Sport and a United Nations ambassador for ecology and the environment.

Pele was named FIFA’s “Co-Player of the Century” in 1999, along with Argentine Diego Maradona. To many pelé age, his accomplishments on the soccer field will never be equaled pele goals, and virtually all great athletes in the sport are measured against the Brazil pele nowian who once made the world stop to watch his transcendent play.

Trivia

This star player of Brazil pele now football team and Santos club in his early days could not afford a proper football and usually played with a sock stuffed with newspaper, tied with a string or a grapefruit.

He became the youngest ever soccer player to score a World Cup goal pele footballer, when he scored a goal against Wales in 1958 World Cup. He was 17 years and 239 days old at that time.

This soccer superstar also hold the record of becoming the youngest player to score a hat trick in World Cup. He is also the youngest football player to play in a World Cup final match.