Here is a look at the life of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, a professional Brazilian football (soccer) player.
During his World Cup appearances, he scored 12 goals in 14 games. He played in four World Cups, and his Brazilian team won three (1958, 1962, 1970).
Personal:
Birth date: October 23, 1940
Birth place: Três Corações, Brazil
Birth name: Edson Arantes do Nascimento
Father: João Ramos do Nascimento, known as “Dondinho,” football player
Mother: Celeste Arantes do Nascimento
Marriages: Marcia Cibele Aoki (2016-present), Assíria Lemos (1994-2010, divorced), Rosemeri Cholbi (1966-1978, divorced)
Children: with Rosemeri Cholbi: Kely, Edson and Jennifer; with Anisia Machado: Sandra (died of cancer in 2006); with Lenita Kurtz: Flávia Christina; with Assíria Lemos: Joshua and Celeste
Other Facts:
Nicknames include Pérola Negra (Black Pearl), O Rei (The King) and Dico.
Started playing football professionally at 15. His position was inside left forward (striker), his jersey number was 10, and he played for Santos Football Club from 1956-1974.
First won the World Cup at age 17.
Brazil’s president declared Pelé a national treasure, preventing him from signing on with a team outside of Brazil.
He was named after Thomas Edison.
Has multiple memoirs, including “Pelé: My Life and the Beautiful Game,” “My Life in Pictures” and “Pelé: The Autobiography.”
Appeared in several movies in the 1970s and 1980s.
He composed the soundtrack for the film “Pelé (1977),” as well as other musical pieces.
Pelé Day occurs in Santos, Brazil, on November 19 each year, to recognize the date of his 1,000th goal.
He scored 1,281 goals in his professional career (in 1,363 games).
Quote: “I was born to play football, just like Beethoven was born to write music and Michelangelo was born to paint.”
Has been a spokesman for Viagra.
Timeline:
September 7, 1956 – Scores his first professional goal in his league debut, during a match between Santos FC and Corinthians Football Club.
1967 – The two sides involved in the Nigerian civil war call a cease-fire to watch Pelé and the Santos team play an exhibition game in Lagos.
November 19, 1969 – Scores his 1,000th goal at his 909th first-class game.
1974 – Announces his retirement.
1975 – Signs a contract to play for the New York Cosmos.
October 1, 1977 – Retires from playing with an exhibition game between the Cosmos and Santos FC. He plays the first half for the Cosmos and the second half for Santos.
1978 – Receives the International Peace Award.
1993 – Is inducted into the US National Soccer Hall of Fame.
1995-1998 – Serves as Brazil’s extraordinary minister for sport.
December 3, 1997 – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II awards him an honorary knighthood.
1998 – A law passes, nicknamed the “Pelé Law,” to address corruption in Brazilian football. It goes into effect in 2001.
1999 – The International Olympic Committee names him “Athlete of the Century.”
2000 – The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) names him “Player of the Century,” jointly with Argentina’s Diego Maradona.
2005 – Receives a lifetime achievement award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year show.
November 2012 – Undergoes a successful hip operation at a hospital in Sao Paulo.
October 2013 – Is awarded two Guinness World Records certificates for “Most Career Goals” and “Most World Cup Winners’ Medals.”
November 13, 2014 – Undergoes surgery to remove kidney stones.
November 24, 2014 – Is admitted to a Brazilian hospital with a urinary tract infection. On November 29, the hospital issues two statements saying that Pelé continues to improve and that doctors plan to take him off dialysis the next day.
December 4, 2014 – The Brazilian football club Santos signs a lifetime contract with Pelé, making him its lifetime global ambassador.
December 9, 2014 – Discharged from the hospital.
May 7, 2015 – Is hospitalized to undergo prostate surgery. He is released after two days.
August 5, 2016 – It is announced that he will not light the Olympic cauldron in the opening ceremony of the 2016 summer games due to health problems.