Pele

Birth Name

Edison Arantes do Nascimento

Nickname

The Black Pearl

Height

5' 8" (1.73 m)

Mini Biography

Simply he was, and for many people still is, the greatest football player of the world. Not a single thing was impossible for him: he won three World Cup with his National Team of Brazil (Sweden 1958, Chile 1962, Mexico 1970). He scored more than 1.200 goals during his long career (more than 1.300 official matches). He also won many national Leagues and Continental Cup ("Copa Libertadores"), with his team, the Santos Futebol Clube (of Brazilian 'São Paulo' State). In the Sixties he was nick-named "O Rei" (The King) and in the Seventies 95 peoples out of 100 knew his name. ("Wow, man, you're popular!" said Robert Redford, some years ago, after seeing Pelé give dozens of autographs in New York while he was not asked for one). In the late 1960's, when he and his team, Santos, went to Nigeria to play a few friendly matches, the ongoing civil war stopped for the duration of his visit. He finished his career in the New York Cosmos, in 1977. Now he is a United Nation's Ambassador and has been also Minister for Sports in his country, but, for the people who saw him make magics with his right foot, he is, now and forever, the biggest footballer in the world, and the one and only "King".

IMDb Mini Biography By: Sergio D'Afflitto

Spouse

Assiria	(30 April 1994 - 2008) (divorced) 2 children
Rosemary Cholbi	(1966 - 1978) (divorced) 3 children

Trivia

Pelé is by most people recognized as the world's greatest footballer ever

and was named "Footballer of the Century" in 2000. He combined skill with great flair and understanding of the game, and he was invaluable to Brazil's national team.

Known as "Pérola Negra" (The black pearl).

Played in 92 matches for Brazil and scored a remarkable 77 goals.

He is the only player to have won three FIFA World Cup titles (1958, 1962, 1970).

Played for the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League from 1975-77.

In his entire career, he officially scored 1,284 goals in 1,363 matched. He played one game as a goalkeeper.

Had a video game named after him back in the 1980s called "Pelé's Soccer".

MMA legend Jose Landi-Jons was nicknamed "Pelé" after him. Landi-Jons never missed a Pelé soccer game and remembers every field action of his hero.

Was named after Thomas A. Edison and originally named "Dico" by his family.

During his professional career, he won two Intercontinental Cups and two Liberatadores Cups (both in 1962 and 1963) with Santos FC, his club from 1956 to 1974.

His jersey number, 10, has since been worn by many of soccer's top stars such as Ronaldinho Gaúcho, 'Zinedine Zidane' and Diego Armando Maradona.

Father, with Rosemary Cholbi, of a boy named Edson Cholbi Nascimento and two girls named Kelly Cristina and Jennifer.

Had a daughter, with Anisia Machado, named Sandra Regina Machado do Nascimento (died of cancer in 2006). She was married to Oseás Felinto and had two sons named Otávio and Gabriel.

Father, with journalist Lenita Kurtz, of Flávia Christina Kurtz.

Son of Celeste and João Ramos do Nascimento (died in 1996).

Brother of Maria Lúcia and Zeca.

Father, with 'Assíria', of twins named Joshua and Celeste.

Dutch artist Dick Brynestein made a drawing of him and called him Pietje Pele.

Personal Quotes

"I am constantly being asked about individuals. The only way to win is as a team. Football is not about one or two or three star players."

"They don't love the game, they don't love the team" - on players who bring football into disrepute

Athlete, professional soccer player. Born Edson Arantes de Nascimento on October 23, 1940, in Tres Coracoes, Brazil. Although he was poor, Pelé grew up to be an international sports superstar. Throughout his childhood, he played soccer whenever and wherever he could, sometimes using a stuffed sock for a ball. He joined his first soccer team at the age of 12.

Pelé started playing professional soccer while in his teens. In 1958, he helped Brazil win its first World Cup victory. His performance in the finals—scoring two goals—made him an international sensation. He also played for the professional Brazilian team Santos from 1956 to 1974 and scored more than 1,000 goals during his time with the club. He retired from Santos in 1974, but was lured back to the game with an offer from a team in the United States the next year. He joined the New York Cosmos, a part of the North American Soccer League. As a member of the Cosmos, Pelé became a household name in the United States and fans flocked to see him play.

Retiring for the second time after the 1977 season, Pelé has pursued his own business opportunities, such as a coffee company and a sports and marketing firm. Along with his ventures, he has served as a spokesman for numerous international companies. Pelé does a lot of charity work, especially for children's organizations.