Pelé

Pelé, real name Edson Arantas do Nascimento was born in Trés Coracoes, Brazil in 1940. At the age of 11 Pelé was discovered by a former Brazilian World cup player named Waldermir de Brito. At the age of fifteen when Pelé was playing for De Britos’ team. De Brito took Pelé to a professional team called Santos futebol clube. De Brito told the director this boy will be the greatest soccer player in the world. At the age of 15 in his first game on sept 7th 1956 Pelé scored his first goal in a 7-1 Santos victory. In Pelé first league game for Santos, Pelé scored four goals.

 The following season Pelé was a regular starter and was the Sao Paulo league scorer with 32 goals. On July 7th 1957 Pelé not yet sixteen , had his first game for the Brazilian national team in which he scored one of two goals in a Brazil victory over Argentina . Pelé had arrived, and in 14 world cup matches he scored 12 goals. 

In four World cups Pelé brought home three World Cup Championships, during this time, Pelé was titled the King, and the quality of soccer was based on the Brazilian standard. In late 1960s while playing for Santos, in a few friendly matches in Nigeria ,the on going civil war stopped for the duration of his visit .

Pele was the greatest soccer player ever. Although Pelé made lots of money, his business ventures were not well advised and he was threatened by bankruptcy. So he accepted a three year contract with the New York Cosmos, for 4.5 million and during his last season the Cosmos won the north American soccer league Championship.

 Pelé, probably the greatest football player ever!

 

  By

 

Paul Redmond & Paul McGrath

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