Pelé

:This article is about the soccer player. For other articles with the name Pele see Pele.

Biography

Edson was born in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil, the son of Fluminense footballer João Ramos do Nascimento, also known as Dondinho. He was named after American inventor Thomas Edison, and did not receive the nickname "Pelé" until his school days. He originally disliked the nickname, but the more he complained the more he was called by it. Later in life, when reflecting that the world came to know the name, he stated his belief that it was chosen for him by God.

Related Topics:
Três Corações - Minas Gerais - Brazil - Fluminense - Dondinho - Thomas Edison

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Growing up in poverty on the streets of Bauru, he could not afford a football and usually played with either a sock stuffed with papers or a grapefruit. He was given his first leather ball on his sixth birthday by his father's teammate, Sosa. At the age of eleven, Pelé was scouted by Brazilian legend Waldemar de Brito and was invited to join de Brito's amateur team, Clube Atlético Bauru. In 1956, Pele's mentor took him to the city of São Paulo, to try out for professional club Santos. De Brito told the directors at Santos that the 15-year-old would be "the greatest football player in the world". Pelé was offered professional terms and scored four goals in his first league game. When the new season started, Pelé was given a starting place in the first team and, at the age of just sixteen, became the top scorer in the league. Just ten months after signing professionally, the teenager was called up to the Brazilian national team.

Related Topics:
Bauru - Grapefruit - Sosa - Waldemar de Brito - 1956 - São Paulo - Santos - Brazilian national team

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In 1958, Pelé became the youngest ever {{Wc|}} winner in Sweden at 17, scoring two goals in the final as Brazil crushed Sweden 5-2 in Stockholm. He played in three more Brazilian World Cup teams in 1962, 1966 and 1970, two of which Brazil won (1962 and 1970). Although his contributions were limited in the 1962 and 1966 campaigns because of injuries inflicted by the dirty play of opposition players, the 1970 tournament in Mexico was to be Pelé's last. The 1970 team, featuring famous players like Rivelino, Jairzinho, and Tostão, is often considered to be the greatest team ever. Brazil defeated Italy 4-1 in the final, with Pelé scoring one and gloriously setting up Jairzinho for another in what some still consider to be the finest ever World Cup.

Related Topics:
1958 - Sweden - Sweden - In Stockholm - 1962 - 1966 - 1970 - Mexico - Rivelino - Jairzinho - Tostão - Italy

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Pelé's technique and deft touch combined with his dribbling skills and scoring ability cannot be overstated. His most spectacular signature move was probably the Bicycle kick. He scored over twelve hundred career goals in all competitions, the biggest haul by far among famous players.

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After his retirement from Brazilian football on October 3, 1974, he joined the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League. He played his last game as a professional on October 1, 1977 in front of a capacity crowd at Giants Stadium against his old club, Santos; he played the first half with the Cosmos and the second half with Santos. The exhibition game was sold out six weeks beforehand. He also played in a friendly match with the Lebanese club Nejmeh in 1974 (see Football in Lebanon).

Related Topics:
Retirement - October 3 - 1974 - New York Cosmos - North American Soccer League - October 1 - 1977 - Giants Stadium - Lebanese - Nejmeh - Football in Lebanon

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In 1995, President Cardoso appointed Pelé to the position of Minister of Sports.

Related Topics:
1995 - President Cardoso

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Pelé is a long-standing contributor for children's rights at UNICEF and acts as the figurehead of a charity for erectile dysfunction. Pelé is certainly one of the most famous men in football, with his nickname being recognized even by those unfamiliar with the sport.

Related Topics:
UNICEF - Erectile dysfunction - Nickname

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In 2005, Pelé drew international media attention due to the imprisonment of Edson Cholbi Nascimento, his son and ex-goalkeeper of Santos FC, who was arrested in an operation to dismantle a drug gang in southeastern Brazil. Nascimento, 35, was arrested along with some 50 other people after an eight-month investigation into a cocaine trafficking operation in the port city of Santos.

Related Topics:
Edson Cholbi Nascimento - Cocaine

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