What’s up, galera? Are you ok? In our Dica today, we are going to talk about the Brazilian football player Pelé, one of the greatest names in football history. We will explore his career, unforgettable World Cup moments, life after football, curiosities, and even his connections to Xuxa and Maradona. Let’s dive deeper into the story of this incredible football legend.
O Rei do Futebol
| Full name | Edson Arantes do Nascimento |
| Known as | Pelé, O Rei, O Rei do Futebol |
| Date of birth | October 23, 1940 |
| Place of birth | Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Position | Forward / attacking midfielder |
| Teams played for | Santos FC: 1956–1974; New York Cosmos: 1975–1977 |
| Brazil national team | 1957–1971 |
| World Cups won | 1958, 1962, 1970 |
| Official goals | 767 goals in official competitive matches |
| Famous total | 1,281 goals in 1,363 matches, including friendlies and tour matches |
| Biggest legacy | The only football player to win three FIFA World Cups |
In Brazil, Pelé is known as O Rei do Futebol, which means The King of Football. This nickname is not just about numbers. It is also about the way he helped define the image of Brazilian football: creative, joyful, skillful, confident, and full of unforgettable moments.
Pelé was born in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, and started his professional career with Santos Futebol Clube, in São Paulo. At Santos, he became a global star, won national and international titles, and built the legend that would later follow him to the Brazilian national team and New York Cosmos.
With Brazil, Pelé became part of three World Cup-winning squads and helped create some of the most iconic moments in football history. That is why, for many Brazilians and football fans around the world, Pelé is still simply O Rei.
Most Important Matches
Pelé was the central figure in so many matches for Brazil and Santos, but two moments are impossible to ignore. The first is the 1958 World Cup final, when Brazil beat Sweden and Pelé scored twice at just 17 years old. One of those goals is still remembered as one of the most beautiful of his career. Let’s see the video below showing this amazing moment:
Another unforgettable match came in 1969 against Vasco da Gama, when Pelé scored the goal that would become one of the most famous moments of his career.
Pelé’s Thousandth Goal
Pelé reached his famous 1000th goal when he was only 29 years old. The moment was so emotional that the match stopped for the celebration, and even opponents joined him on the field. That is such a Brazilian football moment, right?
Pelé and the New York Cosmos
Pelé retired on October 1, 1977, playing for New York Cosmos. The team had wanted to sign Pelé as a player for years, but that did not happen until 1975. Pelé was considered to be as famous as the Pope, yes, the one from the Vatican! He helped popularize soccer in the United States and brought the New York Cosmos to the peak of their existence as a team. On Pelé’s farewell tour in 1977, the Cosmos also made history by becoming the first Western professional soccer team to play in China.
Most Important Titles with the Brazilian Team
- FIFA World Cup: 1958, 1962, 1970
- Taça do Atlântico: 1960
- Roca Cup: 1957, 1963
- Taça Oswaldo Cruz: 1958, 1962, 1968
Most Important Titles with Santos FC
- Campeonato Brasileiro: 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968
- Copa Libertadores: 1962, 1963
- Intercontinental Cup: 1962, 1963
- Intercontinental Supercup: 1968
- Campeonato Paulista: 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1973
- Torneio Rio-São Paulo: 1959, 1963, 1964, 1966
Most Important Titles with New York Cosmos
- North American Soccer League: 1977
- Atlantic Conference Championship: 1977
Pelé After Football
After retiring as a player, Pelé did not disappear from football. He became a global ambassador for the sport, representing Brazil and football at events around the world. For many people, Pelé was not only a former player, but a symbol of what football could mean: joy, talent, opportunity, and international connection.
In 1995, Pelé also became Brazil’s Extraordinary Minister for Sport under President Fernando Henrique Cardoso. During this period, he supported changes in Brazilian football, including what became known as the Pelé Law, created to modernize the sport and give players more rights.
This part of his life shows how powerful his name had become. Pelé was no longer only remembered for scoring goals. He was also helping shape how football was seen and organized in Brazil.
Pelé and Brazil’s Military Dictatorship
Pelé’s story also happened during a difficult period in Brazilian history. From 1964 to 1985, Brazil was under a military dictatorship, and the 1970 World Cup came at a time when the government wanted to use football as a symbol of national pride.
Brazil’s victory in 1970 was unforgettable on the pitch, but it was also used by the regime as propaganda. Pelé, as the biggest star of that team, became part of that public image, even though his talent and achievements were much bigger than politics.
This context helps us see Pelé’s legacy in a fuller way. He was O Rei do Futebol, but he was also a Brazilian icon living through one of the tensest periods of Brazil’s modern history.
Pelé in Films, Media, and Pop Culture
Pelé was not only a football star. He also became a media icon, appearing in films, documentaries, interviews, adverts, and TV programs around the world long before the age of social media.
One of his most famous appearances was in the 1981 film Escape to Victory, also known as Victory, where he appeared alongside Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, and Max von Sydow.
His life has also inspired films and documentaries, including Pelé: Birth of a Legend, released in 2016, and the 2021 Netflix documentary Pelé. These productions show how his story became bigger than football, turning him into one of the most famous Brazilian names in the world.
Pelé Curiosities
- Pelé had three marriages, several public relationships, and a large family.
- Many people say Pelé’s retirement was one of the reasons why the New York Cosmos ended.
- From 1981 to 1986, Pelé was romantically involved with another huge celebrity in Brazil, Xuxa. She was just 17 years old at the time, and the relationship became part of her early fame on TV.
- His nickname, Pelé, came from a mispronunciation of his favorite footballer, Bilé. He said it wrong so many times that people simply began calling him that.
- Pelé and Maradona had a rivalry that went beyond the field: they both teased each other constantly. But before he died, Maradona even said that he regretted that they were not friends, because to him Pelé was a great player.
That’s it, my friends! Now you know a little bit more about the Brazilian football player Pelé. He was not only important because of his titles and goals, but because he helped make Brazil one of the great symbols of football around the world. If you want to know more about Brazilian football and players, go to A Dica do Dia or send us a tweet to our Twitter account asking questions or making suggestions.
See you soon, guys!
Hugs from Rio de Janeiro!
Click on the links below to see more related Dicas
Rio de Janeiro Football Teams
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Online Academic Coordinator at Rio & Learn Portuguese School.
Experienced educational coordinator and teacher since 2007, adept in curriculum development, creating physical and digital educational materials, and leveraging online platforms to enhance learning outcomes