Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele, was born on Oct. 21, 1940. However, according to the man himself, Pele insists he was born on the 23rd. And so the legend begins. Perhaps more important than when he was born, is where he was born. The son of a nation that has come to embody the very flair and essence of the game of soccer, the Brazilian is revered as the greatest soccer player of all time. In 1999, he was voted Football Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics. In that same year he was also crowned Athlete of the Century, by the International Olympic Committee.
Pele netted 1,281 goals throughout his career, and he was the driving force behind Brazil’s three World Cup victories in four finals appearances between 1958-1970. In celebration of the former Santos, Cosmos, and Brazil star’s 73rd birthday, we’ve highlighted some of the lesser-known details of Pele’s fabled career. Check out, 25 Things You Didn’t Know About Pele.
Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)
When Pele saw his father crying after Brazil lost the 1950 FIFA World Cup to Uruguay, he told him: "Don't worry. One day I'll win it."
His presence in the U.S. helped boost the average NASL attendance by almost 80 percent.
"Pele's Soccer" launched for Atari in 1980.
He holds the record for the most goals scored for the national team, a record that has stood for roughly 40 years.
On Oct. 1, 1977, Pele played his last game as Santos took on the New York Cosmos at Giants Stadium.
A young Pele used to play with grapefruits and a sock stuffed with paper, as he could not afford to buy a soccer ball.
Pele scored 92 hat tricks, four goals on 31 occasions, five on six occasions, and once scored eight.
Pele is the only player to have been a part of three World Cup winning teams.
In Brazil, Coca-Cola sponsors a Pele museum on wheels that travels throughout the country.
Pele's first football team was a bunch of friends from his neighborhood, and they called themselves the "shoeless ones".
The Brazilian government declared Pele an official national treasure in 1961 to prevent him from being transferred to foreign clubs.
Pele's first professional contract was for $10 a month when he signed for Santos in 1956.
He received the nickname Pele from a classmate, he hated it so much that he punched the student.
He wasn't a fan of diving.
Pele has helped raise millions for charities like Great Ormond Street and Harlem Street Soccer.
When he played for the New York Cosmos so many of his opponents wanted to swap shirts with him that the club had to give each of their opponents a shirt after every match.
In 1967, a 48-hour ceasefire was declared in Nigeria so that federal and rebel troops could watch Pele play on a visit to the war-torn nation.
Pele is fifth on the all-time World Cup goal scorers list with 12.
At Santos, the 19th of November is known as Pele Day, to celebrate the anniversary of his 1,000th goal.
In 1997, he was given an honorary British knighthood.
Pele served as the Brazilian Minister of Sport from 1995-98.
At 17, Pele became the youngest World Cup winner, he also scored twice in the final against Sweden.
He was discovered by fellow Brazilian, Waldemar de Brito, who proclaimed Pele would be the greatest football player in the world.
Pele signed for Santos at age 15, and proceeded to score four goals in his debut match.
Pele was named after inventor Thomas Edison, his full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimiento.
