Pele
Pele
Edson Arantes do Nascimentoɐˈɾɐ̃tʃiz du nɐsiˈmẽtu]; born 23 October 1940), known as Pelé, is a retired Brazilian professional footballer who played as a forward. He is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time. Pelé is also credited with making the phrase "the beautiful game" synonymous with football. In 1999, he was voted World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics. The same year, France Football asked their former Ballon d'Or winners to...
NationalityBrazilian
ProfessionSoccer Player
Date of Birth23 October 1940
CityTres Coracoes, Brazil
CountryBrazil
Everybody knows my life. I won a lot of tournaments and scored more than 1,000 goals, won three World Cups but I could not play in Olympic Games.
Brazil's always had great players, both at home and abroad, but we need to put all that talent together and mould a team out of it.
When I was minister of sport in Brazil, I tried to bring in a law that would make the chairmen of clubs reveal their accounts like other businesses. It was turned down, but I think it is an important story that will make a good film.
I played for Santos at 16, and we had an excellent team, so it helped a lot. And then I played for Brazil at the Maracana against Argentina. So I get more experience. This was one year before the World Cup, and it made a lot of difference.
When you are young, you do a lot of stupid things.
Edson is the person that supports Pele. Edson is the base. Pele just comes and adds the face.
When I retired, at that time I had a lot of proposals to play in Europe, England, Italy, Spain, Mexico. But I said no, after 18 years I want to rest, because I want to retire.
I was really proud that I was named after Thomas Edison and wanted to be called Edson. I thought Pele sounded horrible. It was a rubbish name. Edson sounded so much more serious and important.
The bicycle kick is not easy to do. I scored 1,283 goals, and only two or three were bicycle kicks.
All my life I thank God. My family was very religious.
In 1962, my injury wasn't because of violence; I just kicked the ball and it happened. And that was OK because Brazil won; I didn't have any difficulty in accepting that. I still got a medal because I'd played two games.
At 17, I already had responsibility because I took care of my family, but in the football I was young; I wasn't experienced or the captain - I was just in the team.
Lionel Messi is a wonderful player. Very skillful. Highly intelligent. He is not good in the air.
I have to trust something that gives me power; I have to believe in something, but in my career I have a lot of moments I cannot explain with God.