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Sports Desk • Soccer

Pelé

Pelé was the nickname of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, a Brazilian footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of soccer.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Pelé was the nickname of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, a Brazilian footballer regarded as one of the greatest in soccer history. He won three World Cups with Brazil and died in 2022 at age 82.

Early life and nickname

Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born on 23 October 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil. He became known worldwide by the nickname Pelé.

Career highlights

Pelé played most of his club career for Santos and later the New York Cosmos. He debuted for Brazil in 1957 and won the World Cup in 1958, 1962, and 1970 — the only male player to do so. He scored 77 goals in 92 appearances for Brazil, and total career goals are estimated at over 1,280.

Legacy

Pelé was widely described as a global sporting icon and one of the most famous footballers of the 20th century. He was named FIFA co-Player of the Century in 1999.

In short

  • Full name Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé.
  • Only male player to win three FIFA World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970).
  • Scored 77 goals in 92 matches for Brazil.
  • Died in São Paulo on 29 December 2022 at age 82.

Quick questions

Who is Pelé?
Pelé was the nickname of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, a Brazilian footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest players in soccer history.
How many goals did Pelé score?
For Brazil, he scored 77 goals in 92 appearances. Total career-goal figures vary by counting method; FIFA lists 1,282 first-class goals, while BBC cites 1,281 goals in 1,363 games.
Did Pelé win a World Cup?
Yes. He won three FIFA World Cups with Brazil in 1958, 1962, and 1970.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pel%C3%A9
    Supports: Full name, dates, nationality, position, and three World Cup titles.
  2. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pele-Brazilian-athlete
    Supports: Birth and death details, nationality, and World Cup debut context.
  3. Biography.com — https://www.biography.com/athletes/pele
    Supports: Age at death, full name, death date, and overview.
  4. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/Pele.html
    Supports: Birth name and general biography.
  5. BBC Sport — https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/30294679
    Supports: Career goal tally and status as a global football icon.
  6. FIFA Museum — https://www.fifamuseum.com/en/explore/fifamuseumplus/blog/Pel--a-life-in-his-o
    Supports: Career goals for Santos, Cosmos, Brazil, and first-class total.