Pelé

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Pelé began playing for the Brazil national team at 16. He won his first World Cup in 1958 at age 17, becoming the youngest player to win the tournament. His emergence at the 1958 World Cup, where he became a Black global sporting star, was a source of inspiration. He was nicknamed O Rei (the King), a title that gained widespread use after the 1970 World Cup. In 1962, Brazil won again, though the source does not detail Pelé's specific role in that tournament. In 1970, he won his third title, becoming the only player to win three World Cups as a player. With 77 goals in 92 games for Brazil, Pelé held the record as the national team's top goalscorer for over fifty years.

In Their Own Story

At the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, a 17-year-old Pelé announced himself to the world. He scored a hat-trick in the semi-final against France and then two goals in the final against Sweden, including a stunning lob over the defender and a volley. His performance made him a global star and earned him the nickname O Rei (the King). The source does not provide specific details about the 1970 final or the Azteca Stadium moment described in the previous version, so those are omitted here.

Reader's Guide

He won three titles (1958, 1962, 1970), a record no other player has matched. He is the youngest player to win a World Cup, at 17 years old in 1958. The source does not state his total World Cup goals, Golden Ball wins, or specific goal counts for each tournament, so those details are not included. His legacy includes being named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999 and being one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the Century in 2000, alongside Diego Maradona.

Did You Know?

• Pelé was named after the American inventor Thomas Edison, but his birth certificate actually reads 'Edson' (without an 'i'), a common variation in Brazil.
• He grew up in poverty and could not afford a proper football, so he often played with a grapefruit or a sock stuffed with newspaper.
• Pelé credits playing futsal as a teenager for helping him think faster on the pitch.
• Pelé was often rumored to have been declared an 'official national treasure' by the Brazilian government in 1961 to prevent his transfer, but this claim is a myth with no official decree or law to support it.
• His 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, including exhibition games, is recognized as a Guinness World Record.