Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known by his nickname Pele, is a legendary Brazilian footballer who is considered one of the most successful and beloved athletes in the history of the sport.
In 1999, he was awarded the prestigious title of Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee, cementing his status as a respected figure in the sporting world.
In addition, Pelé was also honored when Time magazine included him in the list of 100 most influential individuals of the 20th century.
The following year, he continued to receive wider recognition when the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) named him Player of the Century and jointly won the FIFA Player of the Century award.
With an impressive record of 1,279 goals in 1,363 matches, including friendlies, Pelé’s achievements have deservedly earned him a place in history as one of the greatest football players.
File
- Full name: Edson Arantes do Nascimento
- Stage name: Pele
- Date of birth: October 23, 1940
- Age: 82 years old.
- Place of birth: Três Corações, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Nationality: Brazilian
- Occupation: Retired soccer player
- Height: 1.73m
- Parents: Dondinho and Celeste Arantes
- Siblings: Zoca and Maria Lúcia Nascimento
- Spouse: Marcia Aoki (m. 2016–2022), Assíria Nascimento (m. 1994–2008), Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi (m. 1966–1982).
- Children: Edinho, Sandra Regina Arantes do Nascimento, Joshua Nascimento, Celeste Nascimento, Jennifer Nascimento, Flávia Christina Kurtz Nascimento and Kelly Cristina Nascimento.
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: $100 million
Early life
When Pelé was born, his parents planned to name him “Edson” by deleting letters “I.” However, a typo on his birth certificate listed his name as “Edison“ .
Despite this, he is still known as “Edson” by his family. Growing up, he was called “Dicoin his family.
During his school years, he acquired the famous nickname “Pelé”, probably due to a mispronunciation of the name of his favorite player, Bilé, the goalkeeper of Vasco da Gama.
Interestingly, Pelé revealed in his autobiography that neither he nor his friends knew the meaning of this nickname, and that it has no meaning in Portuguese.
He grew up with his two siblings, Zoca and Maria Lúcia Nascimento. Pelé’s father, Dondinho, was a professional footballer and his first coach.
Education
Growing up in poverty, Pele had no opportunity for formal education.
Instead, he had to work from a young age to help support his family, which meant he prioritized playing football over going to school.
Despite his lack of formal education, Pele’s passion for the sport and natural talent helped him overcome his circumstances and become one of the greatest soccer players in history.
His dedication and innate ability played a major role in shaping his career and cementing his legacy as a legendary Brazilian footballer.
Career
Pelé’s football career is widely regarded as legendary for his exceptional performances at both club and international level.
He spent most of his career playing for Santos FC in Brazil from 1956 to 1974 and achieved considerable success.
He won numerous honours at Santos, including multiple Campeonato Paulista titles and two prestigious Copa Libertadores titles.
Pelé also became Santos’ all-time leading goalscorer with an incredible 643 goals. After leaving Santos, he briefly played for the New York Cosmos from 1975 to 1977 before retiring from professional football.
This Brazilian footballer was a key player for the national team from 1957 to 1971. He is the only player to win three FIFA World Cups: in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
Pelé made history by becoming the youngest player to score in a World Cup final at the age of 17 in 1958.
His exceptional performance in the 1958 World Cup earned him the nickname ““O Rei” (King).
With an impressive record of 77 goals in 92 appearances for the Brazilian national team, he held the title of the national team’s top scorer for more than five decades until he was surpassed by Neymar.
Pelé’s career was marked by countless trophies, remarkable goals and unparalleled achievements, cementing his status as one of the greatest footballers ever.
Awards and nominations
- World Cup: King of the World Cup: Pelé is the only player to win the FIFA World Cup three times (1958, 1962 and 1970). He is also the youngest player to win the World Cup at the age of 17 in 1958.
- Player of the Century: Double recognition: Pelé was voted FIFA Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) in 2000.
- Copa America top scorer (1959)
- FIFA Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur (2014) – Honorary award for his contributions to football
Analysis by France Football suggests he would have won a record seven Ballon d’Or awards had the award been awarded throughout his playing career (which began in 1956).
Additional titles:
- Athlete of the Century (1999) voted by both the International Olympic Committee and L’Equipe (French sports magazine)
- Member of the FIFA World Cup All-Time Team (since 1994)
Numerous awards and recognition from his time playing in Brazil and the North American Soccer League
Guinness World Records:
Holds the record for career goals (1,279 in 1,363 games), although this figure includes friendlies.
Social media
- Instagram name: @pele
- Facebook Name: Pele
- Twitter Username: @pele
Personal life
Pelé, the legendary Brazilian soccer player, had a tumultuous personal life. He had a son, Edson (“Edinho”), with his first wife, Rosemeri Cholbi, whom he divorced in 1982.
In 2014, Edinho was sentenced to 33 years in prison for money laundering related to drug trafficking, but the sentence was later reduced to 12 years and 10 months on appeal.
Pelé was famously in a relationship with television presenter Xuxa from 1981 to 1986, when she was 17 years old.
In 1994, Pelé married psychologist and gospel singer Assíria Lemos Seixas, who gave birth to twins Joshua and Celeste in September 1996 through fertility treatments. Unfortunately, the couple divorced in 2008.
Born from an affair between Pelé and a maid named Anizia Machado in 1964, Sandra Machado fought for years to be acknowledged by Pelé as his daughter.
Although Pelé initially refused to take a DNA test, he eventually relented after a court-ordered test confirmed their relationship.
Sadly, Sandra passed away from cancer in 2006. In a surprising turn of events, at the age of 73, Pelé announced plans to marry Marcia Aoki, a 41-year-old Japanese-Brazilian medical equipment importer from Penápolis, São Paulo.
The couple have been dating since 2010 and first met in the mid-1980s in New York before reuniting in 2008. They exchanged vows in July 2016.
Net worth
Pelé, the legendary Brazilian soccer player, amassed a considerable fortune throughout his career, with an estimated net worth of $100 million at the time of his death.
His success both on and off the field has made him one of the richest athletes in history, cementing his status as a global sporting icon.
Despite his humble beginnings, Pelé’s dedication and talent helped him achieve financial prosperity, ensuring his legacy would endure for generations.
