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Edison Arantes do Nascimento[edit | edit source]
Best soccer player of all time[edit | edit source]
Pelé, originally named Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is a retired Brazilian professional footballer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Born on October 23, 1940, in Três Corações, Brazil, he was nicknamed "Dico" by his family. He later took the name Pelé, which has no significant meaning in Portuguese. His football career began at the age of 15 when he joined the Santos Football Club in 1956. Despite his young age, his exceptional skills quickly caught attention, leading him to his first World Cup selection in 1958.
Over the span of his career, Pelé accomplished many feats that contributed to his reputation as a legendary player. He played 1363 games and scored 1281 goals, holding the Guinness World Record for the most career goals in football history. Pelé won the FIFA World Cup with Brazil in 1958, 1962, and 1970, becoming the only player to win three World Cups. He spent the majority of his club career with Santos, where he won numerous titles, and later transferred to the New York Cosmos, determining the rise of soccer's popularity in the United States.
When Pelé retired in 1977, he did not leave the world of football behind. He has used his global influence to promote soccer and advocate for better conditions for the impoverished in Brazil. In 1995, he was awarded Brazil's Gold Medal for outstanding services to the sport, and in 1999, he was voted by the International Olympic Committee as the "Athlete of the Century". Pelé's charismatic personality, combined with his impressive athletic ability, has made him a lasting icon in the world of football.