1. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele, is widely considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time. He was born on October 23, 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil.
2. Pele began playing professional soccer at the age of 16 for Santos FC in Brazil. He quickly became a star player and helped lead the team to numerous victories.
3. Pele is the only player in history to have won three FIFA World Cups: 1958, 1962, and 1970. He also holds the record for the most goals scored in World Cup play, with a total of 12 goals in four tournaments.
4. In addition to his World Cup victories, Pele won numerous other titles and awards during his career. He was named South American Footballer of the Year three times, and was inducted into the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame in 2002.
5. Pele was known for his exceptional skill and technique on the field, as well as his ability to score spectacular goals. He is credited with inventing the “bicycle kick,” a difficult and acrobatic move in which the player kicks the ball with their back to the goal.
6. Pele played in a total of 1,363 professional matches, scoring a staggering 1,281 goals. He spent most of his career with Santos FC, but also played for the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League (NASL) in the 1970s.
7. Pele is also known for his humanitarian work and advocacy for social causes. In 1995, he was appointed a UN ambassador for ecology and the environment, and he has worked with organizations such as UNICEF and the World Wildlife Fund to promote environmental protection and children’s rights.
8. Pele has been honored with numerous accolades and awards throughout his career. In 1999, he was named one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century by Time magazine, and in 2012 he was inducted into the International Olympic Committee’s Hall of Fame.
9. In addition to his soccer career, Pele has also had a successful acting and modeling career. He has appeared in several films and television shows, and has endorsed numerous products and brands.
10. Despite his many accomplishments on and off the field, Pele remains a humble and down-to-earth person. He is known for his kindness and generosity, and has said that he considers his greatest accomplishment to be the fact that he has always remained true to his values and principles.
