Edson Arantes do Nascimento, also known as Pele, was regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, renowned for his excellent knack for scoring goals for both club and country. Titled ‘the greatest’ by FIFA, Pele was part of several Brazilian national teams that won the World Cup in 1958, 1962, and 1970.
Born on October 23, 1940, in Minas Gerais, Brazil, Pele became a world-renowned superstar and was the highest-paid football of his generation. He grew up in poverty but worked his way to the upper echelons of the world football and was an inspiration for generations to come. Brazil won its first World Cup in 1958 when Pele made his international debut at the age of 17 and led his national side to their first World Cup victory.
Pele was a phenomenal striker inside the box with his excellent dribbling and crossing abilities and was also a charismatic leader on the pitch. Brazil even declared him a national treasure in 1961 to prevent him from being transferred outside of the country.
Pele Bio
- Full Name: Edson Arantes do Nascimento
- Date of Birth: October 23, 1940
- Place of Birth: Três Corações, Brazil
- Professional Debut: 1956
- Teams: Santos, New York Cosmos
- Position: Forward
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Pele Career and Stats
Santos
Pele who grew up playing football on the street without any boots made his professional debut for Santos FC in 1956 at the age of 15. He went on to score four goals in his debut against FC Corinthians on September 7, 1956. Only a year later, Pele was the top-scorer in the Brazilian league and caught the attention of the national team.
He spent the majority of his professional career with the Brazilian club and helped them win numerous titles in his 18-year spell with the club. Pele helped Santos win six Brasileiro Serie A titles, 10 Campeonato Paulista, two Copa Libertadores titles and two Intercontinental cups. He has scored 643 goals in 659 official matches for Santos but his total count including unofficial games is expected to be well over 1,000.
New York Cosmos
The Brazilian legend came out of a semi-retirement to play for the New York Cosmos in 1975 when he was 34 years old. He played 64 games from 1975 to 1977 and helped popularise the North American Soccer League (NASL). He scored 64 goals for the Cosmos and led them to the NASL championship in 1977 during his final season. Pele can somewhat be credit with the eventual establishment of the Major Soccer League (MLS) back in 1996.
International Career
On 7 July 1957, Pele made his international debut for the Brazilian national team at the age of 16 against Argentina. Brazil lost the game 2-1 but Pele scored his side’s only goal and became the youngest player to score in an international competition at that time.
Pele was then called by the Brazil national team to participate in the 1958 World Cup and he became the youngest player to play and win the tournament. He would then go on to win the 1962 and 1970 World Cups and score a total of 77 goals in 92 international appearances for Selecao. Pele is still the only footballer in history to lift the FIFA World Cup three times.
| Club/Country | Apps | Goals |
| Santos | 659 | 643 |
| New York Cosmos | 107 | 66 |
| Brazil national team | 92 | 77 |
Pele’s Family
Brazilian football icon Pele married his first wife Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi in 1966 and welcomed three children together, Kely, Jennifer and Edinho Nascimento. Pele was never present for his first three children and the couple split several years later in the early 1908s. He had an extramarital affair with journalist Lenita Kurtz and they have a daughter named Flavia.
Pele married his second wife Assiria Lemos Seixas in 1994 and had two beautiful children, named Joshua and Celeste. After 13 years of marriage, the couple separated. At the age of 75, Pele married for the third time to Marcia Cibele Aoki who was a 42-year-old businesswoman from Brazil. Pele also had a child outside of marriage named Sandra Regina Machado. She was the daughter of Anisia Machado, a housekeeper with whom Pele had an affair before his first marriage.
Pele’s Death
The greatest Brazilian player of all time died at the age of 82 on 29th December 2022 after battling colon cancer for two years. Pele who was the only player to win three World Cups died due to multiple organ failure at Israelita Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo.
Pele’s Net Worth
Pele had a net worth in the region of $100 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth and most of this money was made outside football. Given the comparatively low earnings in football during his area, his net worth might come as a surprise to many.
Pele has worked with brands like Pepsi, American Express, Louis Vuitton, Pfizer, MasterCard and Subway. His enormous wealth came mostly through sponsorships and brand deals long after his retirement from professional football.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What made Pele so great?
A. Pele is regarded as one of the greatest footballers in football because he is the only player in the history of the game to win three World Cups.
Q. When did Pele stop playing soccer??
A. Pele concluded his official playing career on 28 August 1977 at the age of 36.
Q. How many Ballon d’Or Pele have?
A. Unfortunately, Pele has never won a Ballon d’Or.
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