Growing up in West Texas in the 1950’s, there wasn’t even a soccer ball on the shelves of any sporting goods store from Abilene to El Paso….which as the crow flies is right at 454 miles (734 kilometers)…..and even though I grew up with a Dad (Pops) who used sports to teach the “life lessions” that he wanted his three sons to learn like how to play by the rules….how to play hard and to the best of your ability…..how to get up after being knocked down and get back into the fray….how to be a humble winner and how to be a loser with class….how to not judge by the color of one’s skin or by how they look, but rather by the value of one’s heart….and so many other important lessons of life…..so, Pops taught us how to play every sport that he could find / purchase the tools of the sport to teach with….as we learned football, baseball, basketball, golf, tennis, ping-pong, bowling, hunting, fishing, etc…..but we did not learn soccer….cuz in the 1950’s, he could not find a soccer ball in any sporting goods store…..and there was absolutely no soccer on television…..plus, there were no soccer leagues in Midland, Texas, youth or otherwise. The truth be known, Pops was the original Sportsphile …..and he taught his sons to be Sportsphiles also….so, had there been any soccer influence in West Texas at all in the 1950’s, we would have been playing it too….cuz we each love all sports. It wasn’t until I had sons in the 1980’s that I got a real introduction to the game of soccer…..as both of my boys played on soccer teams in Austin, Tx from the youth leagues through junior high school…..and that is when I began to really enjoy watching the sport on TV…..especially the World Cup…..and by the time I opened my sports bar in 1975…..I was drawing a large number of soccer fans to watch important major NASL and World Cup matches…..as the interest in soccer in the USA began to grow in 1975…..when the world’s # 1 international star, Pele, of Santos F.C. and the Brazilian National Team that won World Cups in 1958, 1962 and 1970, signed to play with the New York Cosmos in 1975….as he led the Cosmos to two NASL Soccer Bowl titles in his three years with the club. The truth be known, Pele was the sole reason that soccer exploded in popularity in the USA…..and albeit, I never really got to see him play during the predominance of his career from 1956 to 1977…..this was the time when I became familiar with Pele…..who in turn, was the player who really turned this Sportsphile onto “The Beautiful Game of Soccer”…..so, I am more than honored to present this story and video history of The Black Pearl, O Rei Pele….for he more than deserves his place at ImaSportsphile…..as the greatest to ever play the game of soccer.
Movie & Soccer – 2016 – A Norton American Biographical Film – “Pele: Birth of a Legend” – A Story About The Early Life of Brazilian Footballer Pelé and His Journey with Brazil to Win the 1958 FIFA World Cup
Edson Arantes do Nascimento (born 23 October 1940), known as Pelé, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a forward…..and is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time…..while being labelled “the greatest” by FIFA…..as he was among the most successful and popular sports figures of the 20th century. In 1999 he was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee…..and was included in the Time list of the 100 most important people of the 20th century. In 2000, Pelé was voted World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS)…..plus, was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the Century…..along with Diego Maradona. His 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, which includes friendlies, is recognized as a Guinness World Record.
Soccer – A Documentary Central Full Documentary – “Pelé: King Of Football”
Pelé began playing for Santos at age 15…..and the Brazil national team at 16. During his international career, he won three FIFA World Cups: 1958, 1962 and 1970…..as the only player to ever do so. Pelé is the all-time leading goal scorer for Brazil with 77 goals in 92 games…..plus, at club level he is Santos’ all-time top goal scorer with 643 goals from 659 games. In a golden era for Santos, he led the club to the 1962 and 1963 Copa Libertadores…..and to the 1962 and 1963 Intercontinental Cup…..while being credited with connecting the phrase “The Beautiful Game” with football…..for it was Pelé’s “electrifying play and penchant for spectacular goals” that made him a star around the world…..when his teams toured internationally in order to take full advantage of his popularity. During his playing days, Pelé was for a period the best-paid athlete in the world. Since retiring in 1977, Pelé has been a worldwide ambassador for football…..while making many acting and commercial ventures.
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special – “Pele: The Master Of the Beautiful Game”
Averaging almost a goal per game throughout his career, Pelé was adept at striking the ball with either foot in addition to anticipating his opponents’ movements on the field…..albeit while predominantly a striker, he could also drop deep and take on a playmaking role, providing assists with his vision and passing ability…..and he would also use his dribbling skills to go past opponents. In Brazil, he is hailed as a national hero for his accomplishments in football…..and for his outspoken support of policies that improve the social conditions of the poor. It was his emergence at the 1958 World Cup where he became the 1st black global sporting star…..and was a source of inspiration. Throughout his career and in his retirement, Pelé received several individual and team awards for his performance in the field, his record-breaking achievements and legacy in the sport.
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special Documental – “La Leyenda de Pele: O Rei” – La Historia de Uno de los Jugadores Más Grandes de la Historia
Pelé was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on 23 October 1940, in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil…..as the son of Fluminense footballer Dondinho (born João Ramos do Nascimento) and Celeste Arantes. He was the elder of two siblings…..while being after the American inventor Thomas Edison…..when his parents decided to remove the “i” and call him “Edson”, but there was a mistake on the birth certificate, leading many documents to show his name as “Edison”, not “Edson”, as he is called. He was originally nicknamed “Dico” by his family…..but received the nickname “Pelé” during his school days, when it is claimed he was given it because of his pronunciation of the name of his favorite player, local Vasco da Gama goalkeeper Bilé…..which he misspoke but the more he complained the more it stuck. In his autobiography, Pelé stated he had no idea what the name means, nor did his old friends. Apart from the assertion that the name is derived from that of Bilé…..and that it is Hebrew for “miracle” (פֶּ֫לֶא), the word has no known meaning in Portuguese. Pelé grew up in poverty in Bauru in the state of São Paulo…..where he earned extra money by working in tea shops as a servant. Pele was taught to play football by his father…..when he could not afford a proper football…..and usually played with either a sock stuffed with newspaper and tied with a string or a grapefruit. He played for several amateur teams in his youth, including Sete de Setembro, Canto do Rio, São Paulinho, and Amériquinha. Pelé led Bauru Athletic Club juniors (coached by Waldemar de Brito) to two São Paulo state youth championships…..then in his mid-teens, he played for an indoor football team called Radium…..as indoor football had just become popular in Bauru when Pelé began playing it. He was part of the 1st futsal (indoor football) competition in the region…..when Pelé and his team won the 1st championship and several others.
Soccer – 1952 To 1958 – Pele As Young Boy Special – “BuIIies Don’t Realize That The Shoe-Shine Boy They Are BuIIying Will Become A Legendary Football King”
According to Pelé, futsal (indoor football) presented difficult challenges….. while he said it was a lot quicker than football on the grass….and that players were required to think faster because everyone is close to each other in the pitch…..as Pelé credits futsal for helping him think better on the spot…..plus, futsal allowed him to play with adults when he was about 14 years old. In one of the tournaments he participated, he was initially considered too young to play…..but eventually went on to end up top scorer with 14 or 15 goals. “That gave me a lot of confidence”, Pelé said, “I knew then not to be afraid of whatever might come”.
Soccer – 2017 – Special – “The King Pelé 10 VS Falcão 12: “The ‘Garrincha of Futsal ”
In 1956, de Brito took Pelé to Santos, an industrial and port city located near São Paulo, to try out for professional club Santos FC…..while telling the directors at Santos that the 15-year-old would be “the greatest football player in the world.” Pelé impressed Santos coach Lula during his trial at the Estádio Vila Belmiro…..and he signed a professional contract with the club in June 1956…..when Pelé was highly promoted in the local media as a future superstar. He made his senior team debut on September 7, 1956 at the age of 15 against Corinthians Santo Andre…..and had an impressive performance in a 7–1 victory…..while scoring the 1st goal in his prolific career during the match.
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special – “Brazil Soccer Legend Pele: The Master and His Method Football Video”
When the 1957 season started, Pelé was given a starting place on the 1st team…..and at the age of 16, he became the top scorer in the league…..then 10 months after signing professionally, the teenager was called up to the Brazil national team. After the 1958 and the 1962 World Cup, wealthy European clubs, such as Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United, tried to sign him in vain…..when in 1958 Inter Milan even managed to get him a regular contract, but Angelo Moratti was forced to tear the contract up at the request of Santos’ chairman following a revolt by Santos’ Brazilian fans. In 1961 the government of Brazil under President Jânio Quadros declared Pelé an “official national treasure” to prevent him from being transferred out of the country.
Soccer – 1957 – Sport Brilliance Special – “Pele In 1957: Year In Review”
Soccer – 1956 Thru 1958 – Pátria das Chuteiras Presents – “Pelé Gols Nos Anos 1957 1958 1959 35 Gols” – As Pele Scored 281 Goals in Those Three Years
Soccer – 1958 – World Cup Semifinal Match Extended Highlights – Brazil Vs France – “Pele Hat Trick in 2nd Half”
Soccer – 1958 – World Cup Finals Full Match – Brazil Vs Sweden – “Brazil Wins 1st World Cup: Pele 2 Gols”
Pelé won his 1st major title with Santos in 1958 as the team won the Campeonato Paulista…..when he would finish the tournament as the top scorer, with 58 goals…..which was a record that still stands today. A year later, he would help the team earn their 1st victory in the Torneio Rio-São Paulo with a 3–0 over Vasco da Gama…..however, Santos was unable to retain the Paulista title. In 1960, Pelé scored 33 goals to help his team regain the Campeonato Paulista trophy…..but lost out on the Rio-São Paulo tournament after finishing in 8th place. In the 1960 season, Pelé scored 47 goals and helped Santos regain the Campeonato Paulista. The club went on to win the Taça Brasil that same year by beating Bahia in the finals…..while Pelé finished as top scorer of the tournament with 9 goals. The victory allowed Santos to participate in the Copa Libertadores…..which was the most prestigious club tournament in the Western hemisphere.
Soccer – 1958 – Assophis Special Highlights – Santos 6 x 1 Corinthians – 4 Gols do Pelé
Soccer – 1958 – Assophis Special Highlights – Santos 7 x 6 Palmeiras – Most Exciting Game of All Time
Soccer – 1959 – Torneio Rio-São Paulo Finals Highlights – Vasco da Gama Vs Santos – With 0 – 3 Win For 1st Finals Victory
Soccer – 1959 – Torneio Rio-São Paulo Finals Highlights – Vasco da Gama 0 Vs Santos 3 – Santos Campeão
Soccer – 1961 – Taca Brasil Finals Highlights – Santo 5 Vs 1 Bahia – With Gols Pelé (3) Coutinho (2)
Santos’s most successful Copa Libertadores season started in 1962; the team was seeded in Group One alongside Cerro Porteño and Deportivo Municipal Bolivia, winning every match of their group but one (a 1–1 away tie versus Cerro). Santos defeated Universidad Católica in the semi-finals and met defending champions Peñarol in the finals. Pelé scored twice in the playoff match to secure the first title for a Brazilian club. Pelé finished as the second top scorer of the competition with four goals. That same year, Santos would successfully defend the Campeonato Paulista (with 37 goals from Pelé) and the Taça Brasil (Pelé scoring four goals in the final series against Botafogo). Santos would also win the 1962 Intercontinental Cup against Benfica. Wearing his number 10 shirt, Pelé produced one of the best performances of his career, scoring a hat-trick in Lisbon as Santos won 5–2. Benfica goalkeeper Costa Pereira following the loss to Santos in 1962…..“I arrived hoping to stop a great man, but I went away convinced I had been undone by someone who was not born on the same planet as the rest of us.”
Soccer – 1962 – Copa Libertadores Final Match Highlights – Santos 3 Vs 0 Penarol – Pelé Finished as the 2nd Top Scorer of the Competition With 4 Goals
Soccer – 1962 – Copa Libertadores Final Match Highlights – SANTOS 3 Vs PEÑAROL 0
Soccer – 1962 – Special – Taca Brasil Finals Highlights – Santos 5 Vs Botafogo 0
Soccer – 1962 – Special – Taca Brasil Finals – Santos 5 Vs Botafogo 0 – “Há 50 Anos, O Maior Jogo já Disputado no Brasil Decidia O Campeão Brasileiro“
Soccer – 1962 – Copa Intercontinental Finals Special – Santos (3) Vs Benifica (2) – Pele Hat Trick
As the defending champions, Santos qualified automatically to the semi-final stage of the 1963 Copa Libertadores. The “ballet blanco”, the nickname given to Santos for Pelé, managed to retain the title after victories over Botafogo and Boca Juniors…..as Pelé helped Santos overcome a Botafogo team that featured Brazilian greats such as Garrincha and Jairzinho with a last-minute goal in the 1st leg of the semi-finals which made it 1–1…..then in the 2nd leg, Pelé scored a hat-trick in the Estádio do Maracanã as Santos won, 0–4…..after which Santos started the final series by winning, 3–2, in the 1st leg….and then defeated Boca Juniors 1–2, in La Bombonera…..which was a rare feat in official competitions…..with another goal from Pelé. Santos became the 1st (and to date the only) Brazilian team to lift the Copa Libertadores in Argentine soil…..when Pelé finished the tournament with 5 goals. Santos lost the Campeonato Paulista after finishing in 3rd place…..but went on to win the Rio-São Paulo tournament after a 0–3 win over Flamengo in the final….. with Pelé scoring one goal…..then, Pelé would also help Santos retain the Intercontinental Cup and the Taça Brasil against AC Milan and Bahia respectively.
Soccer – 1963 – Copa Libertadores Semifinals 2nd Leg Highlights – Botafogo (0) Vs Santos (5) – With Pele Hat Trick
Soccer – 1963 – Copa Libertadores Finals 2nd Leg Highlights – Boca Juniors (1) Vs Santos (2) – With Pele 1 Gol
Soccer – 1963 – Torneio Rio-Sao Paulo Finals Highlights – Flamengo (0) Vs Santos (3) – With Pele 1 Gol
Soccer – 1963 – Intercontinental Cup Finals – A C Milan (0) Vs Santos (1) – Full Match
Soccer – 1963 – Intercontinental Cup Finals Highlights – A C Milan (0) Vs Santos (1)
Soccer – 1964 – Primeira final do Brasileiro ’63 (Taça Brasil) – Santos (6) Vs Bahia (0) – Pele 2 Gols
In the 1964 Copa Libertadores, Santos were beaten in both legs of the semi-finals by Independiente…..whereas the club won the Campeonato Paulista, with Pelé netting 34 goals…..then Santos also shared the Rio-São Paulo title with Botafogo…..and won the Taça Brasil for the 4th consecutive year. In the 1965 Copa Libertadores, Santos reached the semi-finals and met Peñarol in a rematch of the 1962 final…..when after two matches, a playoff was needed to break the tie…..and unlike 1962, Peñarol came out on top and eliminated Santos 2–1…..albeit Pelé would, however, finish as the top scorer of the tournament with eight goals. This proved to be the start of a decline as Santos failed to retain the Torneio Rio-São Paulo. In 1966, Pelé and Santos also failed to retain the Taça Brasil as Pelé’s goals were not enough to prevent a 9–4 defeat by Cruzeiro (led by Tostão) in the final series. The club did, however, win the Campeonato Paulista in 1967, 1968 and 1969. On November 19, 1969, Pelé scored his 1,000th goal in all competitions, in what was a highly anticipated moment in Brazil…..as the goal, dubbed O Milésimo (The Thousandth), occurred in a match against Vasco da Gama…..when Pelé scored from a penalty kick, at the Maracanã Stadium.
Soccer – 1964 – Copa Libertadores Semifinals Highlights – Santos (1) Vs Independiente (2)
Soccer – 1964 – Special – Copa Intercontinental Highlights – Santos (11) Vs Botafogo (0) – Pele 8 Gols
Soccer – 1964 – Copa Rio São Paulo 1964 Finals Highlights – Santos Vs Botafogo
Soccer – 1965 – Taca Brasil Semifinal Match Highlights – Santos (4) Vs (2) Palmeiras – Pele 2 Gols
Soccer – 1965 – Taca Brasil Qualifing Match Highlights – Santos (4) Vs (2) Corinthians – Pele 2 Gols
Soccer – 1965 – Taca Brasil Competition – Highlights of Santos Win of the 1965 Taca Brasil
Soccer – 1965 – Taca Brasil Final Highlights – Santos (5) Vs (1) Vasco da Gama
Soccer – 1965 – Copa Libertadores Highlights – Santos Vs Penarol – Pele Top Scorer of Tournament With 8 Gols
Pelé stated that his most memorable goal was scored at Rua Javari stadium on a Campeonato Paulista match against São Paulo rival Clube Atlético Juventus on 2 August 1959. As there is no video footage of this match, Pelé asked that a computer animation be made of this specific goal. In March 1961, Pelé scored the gol de placa (goal worthy of a plaque), against Fluminense at the Maracanã…..when Pelé received the ball on the edge of his own penalty area…..and ran the length of the field, eluding opposition players with feints, before striking the ball beyond the goalkeeper. A plaque was commissioned with a dedication to “the most beautiful goal in the history of the Maracanã”.
Soccer – 1966 – FIFA World Cup Group Play Highlights – Portugal (3) Vs Brazil (1) – Pele Injured Early In The Match But Had To Play Entire Game
Soccer – 1966 – FIFA World Cup Group Play Highlights -Bulgaria (0) Vs Brazil (2) – Pele 1 Gol
Soccer – 1966 – FIFA World Cup Group Play Full Game -Hungary (3) Vs Brazil (1) – Pele 1 Assist
Soccer – 1966 – Taca Brasil 1st Leg Highlights – Santos (2) Vs (6) Cruzerio – Pele 1 Gol
Soccer – 1966 – Taca Brasil 2nd Leg Highlights – Santos (2) Vs (3) Cruzerio – Pele 1 Gol
In 1969, the two factions involved in the Nigerian Civil War agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire so they could watch Pelé play an exhibition game in Lagos. Santos ended up playing to a 2–2 draw with Lagos side Stationary Stores FC …..and Pelé scored his team’s goals…..then the civil war went on for one more year after this game. During his time at Santos, Pelé played alongside many gifted players, including Zito, Pepe and Coutinho…..when the latter partnered him in numerous one-two plays, attacks, and goals. Pelé’s 643 goals for Santos was the most goals scored for a single club until it was surpassed by Lionel Messi of Barcelona in December 2020.
Soccer – 1967 – Campeonato Paulista Highlights – Sao Paulo (2) Vs (2) Santos – Pele 1 Gol
Soccer – 1967 – Campeonato Paulista Highlights -Corinthians (1) Vs (2) Santos – Pele 1 Gol
Soccer – 1967 – Campeonato Paulista Highlights -Palmeiras (1) Vs (4) Santos – Pele 1 Gol
Soccer – 1968 – Campeonato Paulista Highlights -Palmeiras (1) Vs (3) Santos – Pele 2 Gol
Soccer – 1968 – Campeonato Paulista Highlights -Portuguesa (0) Vs (3) Santos – Pele 1 Gol
Soccer – 1968 – Campeonato Paulista Highlights -Corinthians (1) Vs (2) Santos – Pele 1 Gol
Soccer – 1969 – Campeonato Paulista Highlights -Corinthians (1) Vs (3) Santos – Pele 2 Gols
Soccer – 1969 – Campeonato Paulista Highlights -Palmerias (0) Vs (3) Santos – Pele 1 Gol & 1 Assist
Soccer – 1969 – Campeonato Paulista Highlights -Sao Paulo (0) Vs (3) Santos – Pele 2 Gols
Soccer – 1967 Thru 1969 – Special – “Santos TRI Campeão Paulista ”
After the 1974 season (his 19th with Santos), Pelé retired from Brazilian club football…..albeit he continued to occasionally play for Santos in official competitive matches. Two years later, he came out of semi-retirement to sign with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League (NASL) for the 1975 season. At a chaotic press conference at New York’s 21 Club, the Cosmos unveiled Pelé…..as John O’Reilly, the club’s media spokesman, stated, “We had superstars in the United States but nothing at the level of Pelé. Everyone wanted to touch him, shake his hand, get a photo with him.” Though well past his prime at this point, Pelé was credited with significantly increasing public awareness and interest of the sport in the US. During his 1st public appearance in Boston, he was injured by a crowd of fans who had surrounded him and was evacuated on a stretcher.
Soccer – 1974 – Special Highlights – Santos Vs Corinthians – “Pele’s Final Match With Santos”
Soccer & News – 1975 – Special – “Newly Signed Pelé Introduced by New York Cosmos of North American Soccer League at 21 Club”
Soccer – 1975 – Special – “Pele: The NY Cosmic Man”
Pelé made his debut for the Cosmos on June 15, 1975 against the Dallas Tornado at Downing Stadium…..while scoring one goal in a 2–2 draw. Pelé opened the door for many other stars to play in North America…..when Giorgio Chinaglia followed him to the Cosmos…..then Franz Beckenbauer and his former Santos teammate Carlos Alberto. Over the next few years other players came to the league, including Johan Cruyff, Eusebio, Bobby Moore, George Best and Gordon Banks.
Soccer – 1975 – NASL Season Opener Special & Highlights – New York Cosmos Vs Dallas Tornados – Pele’s 1st Cosmos Game
Soccer – 1975 – NASL Season Opener Special Highlights – New York Cosmos Vs Dallas Tornados – Pele’s 1st Cosmos Game
Soccer – 1975 – NASL Season Game Highlights – New York Cosmos Vs Seattle Sounders – Pele’s 1st Cosmos Season
Soccer – 1975 – NASL Season Game Highlights – New York Cosmos Vs Chicago Sting – Pele’s 2nd Cosmos Season
In 1975, one week before the Lebanese Civil War, Pelé played a friendly game for the Lebanese club Nejmeh against a team of Lebanese Premier League stars…..while scoring two goals which were not included in his official tally….. while on the day of the game, 40,000 spectators were at the stadium from early morning to watch the match.
Soccer – 1975 – Special – “Pelé, The Day He Postponed A War In Lebanon With A Friendly Match”
He led the Cosmos to the 1977 Soccer Bowl, in his 3rd and final season with the club. In June 1977, the Cosmos attracted an NASL record 62,394 fans to Giants Stadium for a 3–0 victory past the Tampa Bay Rowdies with a 37-year-old Pelé scoring a hat-trick…..then in the 1st leg of the quarter-finals, they attracted a US record crowd of 77,891 for what turned into an 8–3 rout of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Giants Stadium…..then in the 2nd leg of the semi-finals against the Rochester Lancers, the Cosmos won 4–1. Pelé finished his official playing career by leading the New York Cosmos to their 2nd Soccer Bowl title with a 2–1 win over the Seattle Sounders at the Civic Stadium in Portland, Oregon.
Soccer – 1977 – Special – “New York Cosmos: A Dream Fulfilled” – In Pele’s Final Year of Professional Soccer
Soccer – 1977 – NASL Soccer Bowl – Seattle Sounders Vs New York Cosmos – Pele Leads Cosmos To 2nd NASL Title
Soccer – 1975 Thru 1977 – Special – “Pele: All 31 Goals As A New York Cosmos FC”
On 1 October 1977, Pelé closed out his career in an exhibition match between the Cosmos and Santos…..as the match was played in front of a sold-out crowd at Giants Stadium…..and was televised in the US on ABC’s Wide World of Sports…..as well as throughout the world. Pelé’s father and wife both attended the match…..as well as Muhammad Ali and Bobby Moore. Delivering a message to the audience prior to the start of the game saying, “Love is more important than what we can take in life”…..as Pelé played the 1st half with the Cosmos and the 2nd with Santos. The game ended with the Cosmos winning 2–1…..with Pelé scoring with a 30-yard free-kick for the Cosmos in what was the final goal of his career. During the 2nd half it started to rain, prompting a Brazilian newspaper to come out with the headline the following day: “Even The Sky Was Crying.”
Soccer – 1977 – International Friendly – NY Cosmos Vs Santos – Pele’s Final Match – “Even The Sky Was Crying”
Pelé’s first international match was a 2–1 defeat against Argentina on July 7, 1957 at the Maracanã…..when in that match, he scored his 1st goal for Brazil aged 16 years and nine months…..and he remains the youngest goal scorer for his country.
Soccer – 1957 – Special Footage – “O Primeiro Gol de Pelé na Seleção Foi Contra a Argentina”
Soccer – 1957 – Campeonato Sudamericano Highlights – Brazil (1) Vs (2) Argentina
Pelé arrived in Sweden sidelined by a knee injury…..but on his return from the treatment room, his colleagues stood together and insisted upon his selection. His 1st match was against the USSR in the 3rd match of the 1st round of the 1958 FIFA World Cup…..where he gave the assist to Vavá’s 2nd goal. He was at the time the youngest player ever to participate in the World Cup. Against France in the semi-final, Brazil was leading 2–1 at halftime….. and then Pelé scored a hat-trick…..thus becoming the youngest in World Cup history to do so. On June 29, 1958, Pelé became the youngest player to play in a World Cup final match at 17 years and 249 days…..when he scored two goals in that final as Brazil beat Sweden 5–2 in Stockholm…..as Pelé hit the post and then Vavá scored two goals to give Brazil the lead…..wherein his 1st goal where he flicked the ball over a defender before volleying into the corner of the net, was selected as one of the best goals in the history of the World Cup. Following Pelé’s 2nd goal, Swedish player Sigvard Parling would later comment, “When Pelé scored the fifth goal in that Final, I have to be honest and say I felt like applauding”. When the match ended, Pelé passed out on the field, and was revived by Garrincha. He then recovered, and was compelled by the victory to weep as he was being congratulated by his teammates. He finished the tournament with six goals in four matches played, tied for 2nd place behind record-breaker Just Fontaine…..while being named the best young player of the tournament. His impact was arguably greater off the field, with Barney Ronay writing, “With nothing but talent to guide him, the boy from Minas Gerais became the first black global sporting superstar, and a source of genuine uplift and inspiration.” It was in the 1958 World Cup that Pelé began wearing a jersey with # 10…..as the event was the result of disorganization when the leaders of the Brazilian Federation did not allocate the shirt numbers of players…..and it was up to FIFA to choose the # 10 shirt for Pelé…..who was a substitute on the occasion. The press proclaimed Pelé the greatest revelation of the 1958 World Cup….as he was also retroactively given the Silver Ball…..as the 2nd best player of the tournament, behind Didi.
Soccer – 1958 – FIFA World Cup Group 4 Match Highlights – Brazil Vs USSR – 17 Yr Old Pele’s 1st World Cup Match
Soccer – 1958 – FIFA World Cup Quarterfinals Highlights – Brazil Vs Wales – ” Pelé Hits his 1st World Cup Goal Against Wales”
Soccer – 1958 – FIFA World Cup Quarterfinals Highlights – Brazil (1) Vs (0) Wales – “Pelé Hits his 1st World Cup Goal Against Wales”
Soccer – 1958 – FIFA World Cup Semifinals Highlights – Brazil (5) Vs (2) France – “17 Yr Old Pelé Has Hat Trick”
Soccer – 1958 – FIFA World Cup Semifinals Highlights – Brazil (5) Vs (2) France – “17 Yr Old Pelé Has Hat Trick”
Soccer – 1958 – FIFA World Cup Finals Highlights – Brazil (5) Vs (2) Sweden – Pele 2 Gols
Soccer – 1958 – FIFA World Cup Finals Highlights – Brazil (5) Vs (2) Sweden – Pele 2 Gols
Soccer – 1958 – FIFA World Cup Finals Highlights – Brazil (5) Vs (2) Sweden – Pele 2 Gols
Pelé also played in the South American Championship…..when in the 1959 competition he was named best player of the tournament…..while being the top scorer with 8 goals…..as Brazil came in 2nd despite being unbeaten in the tournament…..when he scored in five of Brazil’s six games…..which included two goals against Chile…..and a hat-trick against Paraguay.
Soccer – 1959 – South American Championship Highlights – Brazil (7) Vs (0) Chile – 17 Yr Old Pele Scores Hat Trick With 3 Gols
Soccer – 1960 – International Competition Highlights – Brazil (7) Vs (0) TSV Munich – 19 Yr Old Pele Scores Hat Trick With 3 Gols
When the 1962 World Cup started, Pelé was the best rated player in the world…..when in the 1st match against Mexico…..as Pelé assisted the 1st goal and then scored the 2nd one, after a run past four defenders, to go up 2–0. He injured himself in the next game while attempting a long-range shot against Czechoslovakia…..which would keep him out of the rest of the tournament…..as it forced coach Aymoré Moreira to make his only lineup change of the tournament…..with the substitute being Amarildo…..who performed well for the rest of the tournament…..however, it was Garrincha who would take the leading role and carry Brazil to their 2nd World Cup title, after beating Czechoslovakia at the final in Santiago.
Soccer – 1962 – FIFA World Cup Group 3 Play – Mexico (0) Vs. (2) Brazil – Pele 1 Gol 1 Assist
Soccer – 1962 – Copa Livertadores Finals Highlight – Santos (3) Vs (0) Penarol – Pele 2 Gols
Soccer – 1962 – South American Intercontinental Finals – Brazil (3) Vs (0) Chile – Pele Gol
Soccer – 1962 – Volksparkstadion In Hamburg, Germany Highlights – Santos Vs Hamburg – As Pele Travels With Santos to Europe to Face the Most Dangerous German team in the World and scores 2 Gols
Soccer – 1962 – International Friendly Competition Highlights – Santos (3) Vs (3) Hamburg – Pele 2 Gols
Soccer – 1962 – UEFA International Cup Final 2nd Leg Highlight – Santos Vs Benfica – One of Pele’s Hat Trick Gols
Pelé was the most famous footballer in the world during the 1966 World Cup in England…..and Brazil fielded some world champions like Garrincha, Gilmar and Djalma Santos…..with the addition of other stars like Jairzinho, Tostão and Gérson, leading to high expectations for them. Brazil was eliminated in the 1st round, playing only three matches…..when this World Cup was marked, among other things, for brutal fouls on Pelé that left him injured by the Bulgarian and Portuguese defenders. Pelé scored the 1st goal from a free kick against Bulgaria…..while becoming the 1st player to score in three successive FIFA World Cups…..but due to his injury, a result of persistent fouling by the Bulgarians, he missed the 2nd game against Hungary. His coach stated that after the 1st game he felt “every team will take care of him in the same manner”. Brazil lost that game and Pelé, although still recovering, was brought back for the last crucial match against Portugal at Goodison Park in Liverpool by the Brazilian coach Vicente Feola…..when Feola changed the entire defense, including the goalkeeper, while in midfield he returned to the formation of the 1st match. During the game, Portugal defender João Morais fouled Pelé…..but was not sent off by referee George McCabe…..which was a decision retrospectively viewed as being among the worst refereeing errors in World Cup history. Pelé had to stay on the field limping for the rest of the game…..as substitutes were not allowed at that time. After this game he vowed he would never again play in the World Cup, a decision he would later change.
Soccer – 1962 – Special – “Pele, the Santasticos and the 1962 Copa Libertadores – When Santos First Won the Copa Libertadores”
Soccer – 1966 – New York Champions Cup Finals Highlights – Santos (4) Vs (0) Benfica – Pele 2 Gols
Soccer – 1966 – World Cup Group 3 Highlights – Brazil (2) Vs (0) Bulgaria – Pele 1 Gol
Soccer – 1966 – World Cup Group 3 Highlights – Brazil (1) Vs (3) Portugal – Pele Fouled 7 Times and Injured On The Last, But Had To Play Injured Entire Game (FIFA Rules)
Pelé was called to the national team in early 1969…..which he refused at 1st …..but then accepted…..and played in six World Cup qualifying matches….. while scoring six goals. The 1970 World Cup in Mexico was expected to be Pelé’s last…..as Brazil’s squad for the tournament featured major changes in relation to the 1966 squad…..when players like Garrincha, Nilton Santos, Valdir Pereira, Djalma Santos and Gilmar had already retired…..however, Brazil’s 1970 World Cup squad…..which included players like Pelé, Rivelino, Jairzinho, Gérson, Carlos Alberto Torres, Tostão and Clodoaldo, is often considered to be the greatest football team in history. Mário Zagallo, who was Pele’s coach said of Pelé: “A kid in Sweden [1958 World Cup] gave signs of genius, and in Mexico [1970 World Cup] he fulfilled all that promise and closed the book with a golden key. And I had the privilege to see it all from close up.” The front five of Jairzinho, Pelé, Gerson, Tostão and Rivelino together created an attacking momentum…..with Pelé having a central role in Brazil’s way to the final. All of Brazil’s matches in the tournament (except the final) were played in Guadalajara…..and in the 1st match against Czechoslovakia, Pelé gave Brazil a 2–1 lead, by controlling Gerson’s long pass with his chest and then scoring. In this match Pelé attempted to lob goalkeeper Ivo Viktor from the half-way line, only narrowly missing the Czechoslovak goal. Brazil went on to win the match, 4–1. In the 1st half of the match against England, Pelé nearly scored with a header that was saved by the England goalkeeper Gordon Banks…..as Pelé recalled he was already shouting “Goal” when he headed the ball. It was often referred to as the “save of the century.” In the 2nd half, he controlled a cross from Tostão before flicking the ball to Jairzinho who scored the only goal. Against Romania, Pelé scored two goals…..which included a 20-yard bending free-kick…..with Brazil winning 3–2…..when in the quarter-final against Peru, Brazil won 4–2, with Pelé assisting Tostão for Brazil’s 3rd goal…..then in the semi-final, Brazil faced Uruguay for the 1st time since the 1950 World Cup final round match…..as Jairzinho put Brazil ahead 2–1…..and Pelé assisted Rivelino for the 3–1. During that match, Pelé made one of his most famous plays. Tostão passed the ball for Pelé to collect…..as Uruguay’s goalkeeper Ladislao Mazurkiewicz took notice of and ran off his line to get the ball before Pelé…..however, Pelé got there 1st and fooled Mazurkiewicz with a feint by not touching the ball…..thus causing it to roll to the goalkeepers left …..while Pelé went to the goalkeepers right……as he ran around the goalkeeper to retrieve the ball…..and he took a shot while turning towards the goal…..but he turned in excess as he shot…..and the ball drifted just wide of the far post. Brazil played Italy in the final at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Pelé scored the opening goal with a header after outjumping Italian defender Tarcisio Burgnich…..which was Brazil’s 100th World Cup goal…..as Pelé’s leap of joy into the arms of teammate Jairzinho in celebrating the goal is regarded as one of the most iconic moments in World Cup history. He then made assists for Brazil’s 3rd goal, scored by Jairzinho…..and the 4th finished by Carlos Alberto…..while the last goal of the game is often considered the greatest team goal of all time because it involved all but two of the team’s outfield players…..as the play culminated after Pelé made a blind pass that went into Carlos Alberto’s running trajectory…..so, he came running from behind and struck the ball to score. Brazil won the match 4–1, keeping the Jules Rimet Trophy indefinitely…..and Pelé received the Golden Ball as player of the tournament. Burgnich, who marked Pelé during the final, was quoted saying “I told myself before the game, he’s made of skin and bones just like everyone else – but I was wrong”. In terms of his goals and assist throughout the 1970 World Cup, Pelé was directly responsible for 53% of Brazil’s goals throughout the tournament.
Soccer – 1970 World Cup Group 3 Highlights – Brazil (4) Vs. (1) Czechoslovakia – Pele 1 Gol
Soccer – 1970 World Cup Group 3 Highlights – Brazil (1) Vs. (0) England – Pele 1 Assist
Soccer – 1970 World Cup Group 3 Highlights – Brazil (3) Vs. (2) Romania – Pele 2 Gols
Soccer – 1970 World Cup Quarterfinals Highlights – Brazil (4) Vs. (2) Peru – Pele 1 Assist
Soccer – 1970 World Cup Semifinals Highlights – Brazil (3) Vs. (1) Uraguay – Pele 2 Assist
Soccer – 1970 World Cup Semifinals Special Highlight – Brazil (3) Vs. (1) Uraguay – “Pele Vs Uraguay Goalie Mazurkiewicz Greatest Play Even Though a Missed Score”
Soccer – 1970 World Cup Semifinals Special Highlights – Brazil (3) Vs. (1) Uraguay – “All The Fouls”
Soccer – 1970 World Cup Finals Full Game – Brazil (4) Vs. (1) Italy – Pele Scores 1 Gol On Header That Was Brazil’s 100th World Cup Gol + 2 Assists
Soccer – 1970 World Cup Finals Highlights – Brazil (4) Vs. (1) Italy – “Pele Scores 1 Gol On Header That Was Brazil’s 100th World Cup Gol + 2 Assists”
Soccer – 2018 – ESPN Comex Masters Special – “Pelé reina en México 1970”
Pelé’s last international match was on July 18, 1971 against Yugoslavia in Rio de Janeiro…..and with Pelé on the field, the Brazilian team’s record was 67 wins, 14 draws and 11 losses. Brazil never lost a match while fielding both Pelé and Garrincha.
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special – “Pele: To 10 Impossible Goals Ever”
Pelé has also been known for connecting the phrase “The Beautiful Game” with football…..for as a prolific goal scorer, he was known for his ability to anticipate opponents in the area and finish off chances with an accurate and powerful shot with either foot. Pelé was also a hard-working team player and a complete forward…..with exceptional vision and intelligence…..who was recognized for his precise passing…..and the ability to link up with teammates and provide them with assists.
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special – “Pele: 100 Assists And All Round Playmaking”
In his early career, he played in a variety of attacking positions…..albeit he usually operated inside the penalty area as a main striker or center forward …..as his wide range of skills also allowed him to play in a more withdrawn role as an inside forward or second striker, or out wide. In his later career, he took on more of a deeper playmaking role behind the strikers…..while often functioning as an attacking midfielder. Pelé’s unique playing style combined speed, creativity and technical skill with physical power, stamina and athleticism…..while his excellent technique, balance, flair, agility and dribbling skills enabled him to beat opponents with the ball…..which often saw him use sudden changes of direction and elaborate feints in order to get past players…..such as his trademark move, the drible da vaca…..while another one of his signature moves was the paradinha, or little stop.
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special – “Pelé: Dribbling Thru 2-6 Players And Scoring 50 Goals”
Despite his relatively small stature, 1.73 metres (5 ft 8 in), he excelled in the air, due to his heading accuracy, timing, and elevation. Renowned for his bending shots, he was also an accurate free-kick taker, and penalty taker, although he often refrained from taking penalties, stating that he believed it to be a cowardly way to score. Pelé was also known to be a fair and highly influential player…..who stood out for his charismatic leadership and sportsmanship on the pitch. His warm embrace of Bobby Moore following the Brazil vs England game at the 1970 World Cup is viewed as the embodiment of sportsmanship…..with The New York Times stating the image “captured the respect that two great players had for each other. As they exchanged jerseys, touches and looks, the sportsmanship between them is all in the image. No gloating, no fist-pumping from Pelé. No despair, no defeatism from Bobby Moore.” Pelé also earned a reputation for often being a decisive player for his teams, due to his tendency to score crucial goals in important matches.
Soccer – 1970 – Special – “Pele The Last Word Verses England 1970 World Cup”
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special – “Si No Entiendes Por Qué Pelé Era Llamado ‘El Rey’ Mira Este Video”
Among the most successful and popular sports figures of the 20th century, Pelé is one of the most lauded players in the history of football…..while frequently being ranked the best player ever. Among his contemporaries, Dutch star Johan Cruyff stated, “Pelé was the only footballer who surpassed the boundaries of logic.”…..as Brazil’s 1970 FIFA World Cup-winning captain Carlos Alberto Torres opined that “His great secret was improvisation. Those things he did were in one moment. He had an extraordinary perception of the game.” According to Tostão, his strike partner at the 1970 World Cup, “Pelé was the greatest – he was simply flawless. And off the pitch he is always smiling and upbeat. You never see him bad-tempered. He loves being Pelé.”…..while his Brazilian teammate Clodoaldo commented on the adulation he witnessed saying, “In some countries they wanted to touch him, in some they wanted to kiss him. In others they even kissed the ground he walked on. I thought it was beautiful, just beautiful.” According to Franz Beckenbauer, West Germany’s 1974 World Cup-winning captain, “Pelé is the greatest player of all time. He reigned supreme for 20 years. There’s no one to compare with him.”…..and former Real Madrid and Hungary star Ferenc Puskás stated, “The greatest player in history was Di Stéfano. I refuse to classify Pelé as a player. He was above that.”…..while Just Fontaine, French striker and leading scorer at the 1958 World Cup said, “When I saw Pelé play, it made me feel I should hang up my boots.” England’s 1966 FIFA World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore commented, “Pelé was the most complete player I’ve ever seen, he had everything. Two good feet. Magic in the air. Quick. Powerful. Could beat people with skill. Could outrun people. Only five feet and eight inches tall, yet he seemed a giant of an athlete on the pitch. Perfect balance and impossible vision. He was the greatest because he could do anything and everything on a football pitch. I remember Saldanha the coach being asked by a Brazilian journalist who was the best goalkeeper in his squad. He said Pelé. The man could play in any position”. Former Manchester United striker and member of England’s 1966 FIFA World Cup-winning team Sir Bobby Charlton stated, “I sometimes feel as though football was invented for this magical player.” During the 1970 World Cup, when Manchester United defender Paddy Crerand (who was part of the ITV panel) was asked, “How do you spell Pelé?”, he replied, “Easy: G-O-D.”
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special – “Pele: Magic Skills”
Since retiring, Pelé has continued to be lauded by players, coaches, journalists and others. Brazilian attacking midfielder Zico, who represented Brazil at the 1978, 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cup, stated, “This debate about the player of the century is absurd. There’s only one possible answer: Pelé. He’s the greatest player of all time, and by some distance I might add”. French three-time Ballon d’Or winner Michel Platini said, “There’s Pelé the man, and then Pelé the player. And to play like Pelé is to play like God.” Diego Maradona, joint FIFA Player of the Century…..and the player Pelé is historically compared with, stated, “It’s too bad we never got along, but he was an awesome player”. Prolific Brazilian striker Romário, winner of the 1994 FIFA World Cup and player of the tournament, remarked, “It’s only inevitable I look up to Pelé. He’s like a God to us”…..and 5-time FIFA Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo said, “Pelé is the greatest player in football history, and there will only be one Pelé”…..while José Mourinho, 2-time UEFA Champions League winning manager, commented, “I think he is football. You have the real special one – Mr. Pelé.” Real Madrid honorary president and former player, Alfredo Di Stéfano, opined, “The best player ever? Pelé. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are both great players with specific qualities, but Pelé was better”.
Soccer – 1956 Thru 1977 – Special – “Pele: The Greatest of All Time”
Presenting Pelé the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award, former South African president Nelson Mandela said, “To watch him play was to watch the delight of a child combined with the extraordinary grace of a man in full.” US politician and political scientist Henry Kissinger stated, “Performance at a high level in any sport is to exceed the ordinary human scale. But Pelé’s performance transcended that of the ordinary star by as much as the star exceeds ordinary performance.” After a reporter asked if his fame compared to that of Jesus, Pelé joked, “There are parts of the world where Jesus Christ is not so well known.” The artist Andy Warhol (who painted a portrait of Pelé) also quipped, “Pelé was one of the few who contradicted my theory: instead of 15 minutes of fame, he will have 15 centuries.” Barney Ronay, writing for The Guardian, stated, “What is certain is that Pelé invented this game, the idea of individual global sporting superstardom, and in a way that is unrepeatable now.”
Soccer – 1956 Thru 1977 – Special Film – “Giants Of Brazil: The Golden Years Of Pele”
In 2000, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) voted Pelé the World Player of the Century. In 1999, the International Olympic Committee elected him the Athlete of the Century and Time magazine named Pelé one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century. During his playing days, Pelé was for a period of time the highest-paid athlete in the world. Pelé’s “electrifying play and penchant for spectacular goals” made him a star around the world. To take full advantage of his popularity, his teams toured internationally. During his career, he became known as “The Black Pearl” (A Pérola Negra), “The King of Football” (O Rei do Futebol), “The King Pelé” (O Rei Pelé) or simply “The King” (O Rei). In 2014, the city of Santos inaugurated the Pelé museum – Museu Pelé – which displays a 2,400 piece collection of Pelé memorabilia. Approximately $22 million was invested in the construction of the museum, housed in a 19th-century mansion.
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special – “Pele: When Football Becomes Art”
In January 2014, Pelé was awarded the 1st ever FIFA Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur as an acknowledgment from the world governing body of the sport for his contribution to world football. After changing the rules in 1995, France Football did an extensive analysis in 2015 of the players who would have won the award if it was open for them since 1956…..which was the year the Ballon d’Or award started…..and their study revealed that Pelé would have received the award a record seven times (Ballon d’or: Le nouveau palmarès)…..however the original recipients remain unchanged. In 2020, Pelé was named in the Ballon d’Or Dream Team, a greatest all-time XI.
Soccer – 1956 To 1961 – Special – “Pele: 4 Ballon d’Or With 50 Goals Proves the 20 Years Old Boy Was Already a Legend”
According to the RSSSF, Pelé is one of the most successful goal-scorers in the world, scoring 538 league goals, a total of 775 in 840 official games and a tally of 1,301 goals in 1,390 appearances during his professional senior career…..which included friendlies and tour games…..while he’s ranked among the leading scorers in football history in both official and total matches. After his retirement in 1977 he played eight exhibition games and scored three goals.
Soccer – 1956 Thru 1977 – Special – “PELÉ: Así Jugaba el Rey del Fútbol”
Pelé has married three times…..and has had several affairs…..which produced several children. On February 21, 1966, Pelé married Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi…..and they had two daughters and one son with Kelly Cristina (born 1967), Jennifer (born 1978) and their son Edson (“Edinho”, born August 1970). The couple divorced in 1982. From 1981 to 1986, Pelé was romantically linked with TV presenter Xuxa…..which was influential in launching her career…..as she was 17 when they started dating. In April 1994, Pelé married psychologist and gospel singer Assíria Lemos Seixas….. who gave birth on September 28, 1996 to twins Joshua and Celeste through fertility treatments. The couple divorced in 2008. Pelé had at least two more children from former affairs…..when Sandra Machado, who was born from an affair Pelé had in 1964 with a housemaid, Anizia Machado…..while she fought for years to be acknowledged by Pelé…..who refused to submit to DNA tests. Although she was recognized by courts as his biological daughter based on DNA evidence in 1993. Pelé also had another daughter, Flávia Kurtz, in an extramarital affair in 1968 with journalist Lenita Kurtz…..whereas Flávia was recognized by him as his daughter. At the age of 73, Pelé announced his intention to marry 41-year-old Marcia Aoki, a Japanese-Brazilian importer of medical equipment from Penápolis, São Paulo…..whom he had been dating from 2010……as they had 1st met in the mid-1980s in New York, before meeting again in 2008. They married in July 2016.
Soccer – 1940 To 2022 – Special – “Pele And His Family”
Soccer – 1940 To 2022 – Special – “Pele: Family”
Pelé is known for frequently referring to himself in the third person. In 1994, Pelé was appointed a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. In 1995, Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso appointed Pelé to the position of Extraordinary Minister for Sport…..when during this time he proposed legislation to reduce corruption in Brazilian football…..which became known as the “Pelé law.” The Brazilian President had eliminated the post of Sports Minister in 1998. In 2001 Pelé was accused of involvement in a corruption scandal that stole $700,000 from UNICEF. It was claimed that money given to Pelé’s company for a benefit match was not returned after it was cancelled…..albeit nothing was proven…..and it was denied by UNICEF. In 1997, he received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace. Pelé also helped inaugurate the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals, alongside supermodel Claudia Schiffer.
Soccer – 1956 Thru 1977 – Special – “320 goals of Rei Pelé: Why is he the GOAT”
In November 2007, Pelé was in Sheffield, England, to mark the 150th anniversary of the world’s oldest football club, Sheffield F.C…..when Pelé was the guest of honor at Sheffield’s anniversary match against Inter Milan at Bramall Lane…..as part of his visit, Pelé opened an exhibition which included the first public showing in 40 years of the original hand-written rules of football. Pelé scouted for Premier League club Fulham in 2002…..and he made the draw for the qualification groups for the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals. On August 1, 2010, Pelé was introduced as the Honorary President of a revived New York Cosmos…..who were aiming to field a team in Major League Soccer.
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special – “Pele: El Partido del Siglo”
The most notable area of Pelé’s life since football is his ambassadorial work. In 1992, he was appointed a UN ambassador for ecology and the environment. He was also awarded Brazil’s gold medal for outstanding services to the sport in 1995. In 2012, Pelé was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh for “significant contribution to humanitarian and environmental causes, as well as his sporting achievements”. In 2009, Pelé assisted the Rio de Janeiro bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics…..when in July 2009 he spearheaded the Rio 2016 presentation to the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa General Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria. On August 12, 2012, Pelé was an attendee at the 2012 Olympic hunger summit hosted by UK Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street, London….which was part of a series of international efforts which have sought to respond to the return of hunger as a high-profile global issue…..when later on the same day, Pelé appeared at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, following the handover section to the next host city for the 2016 Summer Olympics, Rio de Janeiro.
Soccer – 1940 To Present – Special – “If You Don’t Understand Why Pelé Was Called “The King”, Watch This Video”
In December 2000, Pelé and Maradona shared the prize of FIFA Player of the Century by FIFA…..as the award was originally intended to be based upon votes in a web poll…..but after it became apparent that it favored Diego Maradona since many observers complained that the Internet nature of the poll would have meant a skewed demographic of younger fans who would have seen Maradona play, but not Pelé…..so, FIFA then appointed a “Family of Football” committee of FIFA members to decide the winner of the award together with the votes of the readers of the FIFA magazine. The committee chose Pelé…..and since Maradona was winning the Internet poll…..then it was decided he and Pelé should share the award.
Soccer – 2015 – Special – “Pele VS Maradona: Legendary Tricks and Skills”
Soccer – 2011 – Special – “Maradona Interviews Pele”
Pelé’s goal scoring record is often reported by FIFA as being 1,281 goals in 1,363 games. This figure includes goals scored by Pelé in friendly club matches…..which included international tours Pelé completed with Santos and the New York Cosmos…..along with a few games Pelé played in for the Brazilian armed forces teams during his national service in Brazil…..and the Selection Team of São Paulo State for the Brazilian Championship of States (Campeonato Brasileiro de Seleções Estaduais)…..while he was listed in the Guinness World Records for most career goals scored in football. In 2000, IFFHS declared Pelé as the “World’s Best and successful Top Division Goal Scorer of all time” with 541 goals in 560 games and honored him with a trophy.
Soccer – 2021 – Special – “How Good was Pele Actually?”
Pelé is the top scorer of the Brazil national football team with 77 goals in 92 official appearances. He scored 12 goals and is credited with 10 assists in 14 World Cup appearances, including 4 goals and 7 assists in 1970. Pelé shares with Uwe Seeler, Miroslav Klose and Cristiano Ronaldo the achievement of being the only players to have scored in four separate World Cup tournaments.
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special Highlights – “Mejores Jugadas de Pelé”
In closing this story with a history of videos that proclaim the brilliance of Pele as a soccer player…..while providing evidence of why he is considered to be the greatest soccer player of all time…..which after viewing each and every video in this post, has convinced me of just how great Pele truly was….. for he was magic with his feet, his vision, his technique, his timing and his understanding of the game…..his football intelligence…..which simply makes those of us at ImaSportsphile extremely proud of this story and compilation of videos showcasing “The Black Pearl”…..”O Rei Pele”…..”O Rei de Football” …..for this legendary athlete was something very rare…..as a once in a century talent on the soccer pitch.
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special – “Pelé: G.O.A.T. (Portuguese,Spanish,Italian,French,English)” – Part 1
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special – “Pelé: G.O.A.T. (Russian,Spanish,English,Portuguese)” – Part 2
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special – “Pelé: G.O.A.T. (Portuguese)” – Part 3
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special – “Pelé: G.O.A.T. (Portuguese,Italian,German,Spanish,Russian,Armenian)” – Part 4
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special – “Pelé: G.O.A.T. (Spanish)” – Part 5
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special – “Pelé: G.O.A.T. (Portuguese)” – Part 6
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special – “Pelé: G.O.A.T. (Spanish Portuguese)” – Part 7
Soccer – 1956 To 1977 – Special – “Pelé: G.O.A.T. (English Spanish Portuguese)” – Part 8
