Pelé was a Brazilian soccer player considered by most to be the greatest of all time.
- Died: December 29, 2022 (Who else died on December 29?)
- Details of death: Died at a hospital in São Paulo at the age of 82.
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Athlete of the Century
Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé grew up in poverty, learning to play soccer with a homemade ball. But his natural skill brought him to the attention of Brazil’s coaches, and by the age of 15, he was playing professionally. Just 16 when he was called up to the Brazilian national team, Pelé led them to their first World Cup victory in 1958. Brazil repeated the feat in 1962 and 1970, making Pelé the only player to win three World Cups. Along the way, he became an international icon of soccer, loved and admired for his skill, charisma, and humble sportsmanship.
After playing for 19 seasons with the Brazilian Santos Football Club, Pelé briefly retired before signing with the New York Cosmos. He played for New York for three seasons, helping bring attention to soccer in the U.S., before his 1977 retirement. He averaged almost a point per game, setting a Guinness World Record for most goals scored. Pelé was widely honored, including being named Athlete of the Century in 1999 by the International Olympic Committee and sharing FIFA Player of the Century honors with Diego Maradona (1960–2020). He popularized calling soccer “the beautiful game.”
Humanitarian
In the years after his retirement, Pelé became known as a humanitarian, advocating for the children and the poor of Brazil. He took part in the 2012 Olympic hunger summit and was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 1994. He was a United Nations ambassador for the environment, and he raised millions to support charities including Action for Brazil’s Children and the Prince’s Rainforest Project. His own Pelé Foundation works to help children in poverty worldwide.
Notable quote
“1958 was my very first World Cup and I was 17 years old. It was the first time I had travelled by plane, and in Sweden everything was new and different. It was like a dream, and then all my dreams came true because my Brazil won the World Cup. I was so young and it felt like I had achieved everything. But, of course, there was much more to come.” –from a 2018 interview for GQ
Tributes to Pelé
Full obituary: The New York Times
