Pele

by Denise I Smithson
One of the all time greats of the game of football (soccer to our American readers) if not the greatest is of course Pele. Pele, born Edison (though he prefers Edson) Arantes do Nascimento on Oct. 23, 1940 in Brazil is nothing short of a legend in the sport. Even those who have never in their life watched a football match know his name.

The game seems nearly inconceivable without him. Pele is a man who seems to have been born to play football. His ball control and speed were both unparalleled; particularly his one of a kind passing skills. Fans serious and casual alike relished every opportunity to watch Pele. It seemed that miraculous plays were in store every time Pele had the ball. In his career, Pele scored 1,283 goals, 12 during World Cup tournaments (in 1958, 1968 and 1970). At the time, Pele was the only player to ever win three World Cup trophies.

Peles skill was noticed by football star Waldemar de Brito. He began coaching Pel in 1954 when Pele was just 14 years old. He made his professional debut in 1956 for Santos Futebol Clube. By 1957, he claimed a starting position on the 1st team. He claimed his first World Cup trophy at the age of 17. It was in 1962 that he began receiving offers from European organizations and he began to entertain the idea of a move to Europe. Due to economic conditions and the benefits Pel brought to the Santos Football Club as well as Brazilian football regulations, the Brazilian government blocked any move by Pele to Europe, declaring him a national treasure.

Pele played for the team until 1972, at which point he entered semi-retirement, playing only in especially tough games. In 1975, he came out of retirement to play for the New York Cosmos, a part of the North American League. Some said Pele was past his prime, but there is no doubt that he generated a lot of interest in the game amongst Americans and had the last laugh when he led the Cosmos to a NASL championship in 1977 during his last season.

Pele still holds a legendary status in Brazil and his fame lives on worldwide. The contributions Pele made to football led to his being named ambassador of football to the world by FIFA. Using his fame both to increase interest in football and well as to raise awareness of the plight of the less privileged around the world, Pele is universally acknowledged as the King of Football, along with being a American Soccer National Soccer Hall of Famer.