Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, had one of the most admirable careers in the history of the sport.
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The Brazilian transcended the world of football by becoming a recognizable icon for everyone who sadly passed away on December 29, 2022. Here are some milestones in the career of the round ball grandmaster.
Arrival in Santos
In 1956, at the very young age of 15, Pelé began his professional career. He quickly climbed the ladder and became a regular with his new team, even scoring in his first friendly on September 7th. It was in this city in Sao Paulo state that he built his legend by scoring no fewer than 643 goals in 660 official games for Santos.
The Beginnings with Brazil
The talented striker caused a stir in his country, so much so that the Seleçao coach at the time, Sylvio Pirillo, let him play his first game on July 7, 1957. Pelé, of course, hit the mark 32nd minute, called up as a substitute in this Copa Roca clash against Argentina. By the time he retired from international football, he had 77 achievements to his credit. This Brazilian record was matched only at the 2022 World Cup by Neymar.
The first world
Pelé made Brazil famous in 1958 when he led them to their first world title. The tournament was held in Sweden and the Brazilians defeated the local favorites 5-2 in the final. The Tres Coraçoes native, on the other hand, made the ropes tremble six times in four games.
Never two without three
The Brazilians won the World Cup again in 1962, but Pelé only played one full game at that tournament due to injury. After the disappointment of 1966, the Seleçao regained the title by beating Italy in the final four years later. The team’s star contributes effectively to this encounter with a goal and an assist.
transfer to the United States
Pelé, Santos FC and even the Brazilian government have insisted that the player remain in Brazil throughout his career, saying he was “a treasure of the country”. Several European clubs tried their luck, but each time they encountered a closed door. On June 10, 1975, he joined the Cosmos in New York, having decided to retire a year earlier. Pelé had huge debts to pay off and bounced back by signing a three-year, $4.7 million deal.
A legendary last game
On October 1, 1977, the football world watched Pele’s last game at Giants Stadium. In front of 75,000 fans, the 37-year-old played half in the Cosmos shirt and half in the Santos colors. The career of the man considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time is celebrated by everyone including another legend present on the day, boxer Mohamed Ali.