Pele the Legend

In soccer world, there are nobodies who don't know the name of Pele. A player whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento is a hero for everyone who loves soccer. Pele was born in 23 October 1940. He was rated by many people in soccer as the greatest footballer of all time. His fame doesn't stop in the world of soccer only, but he also worldwide acknowledged by the sport community. This acknowledgment was established when the International Olympic Committee gave him the title of Athlete of the Century.

Pele is a son of João Ramos do Nascimento or known as Dondinho who is a Fluminense footballer and Maria Celeste Arantes. Pele was born in He was born in Três Corações, Brazil. He was growing up in Bauru, Sao Paolo. He lived in poverty where if there were match days on Bauru Athletic Club, Pele did shining shoes there to earn some extra cash. Because his family so poor, Pele couldn't buy some proper soccer shoes in order to play with his childhood friends.

Before Pele spotted by Waldemar de Brito, he was taught to play football by his father. Found by de Brito when he at the age of 11, Pele was brought to Santos four years later, an industrial and port city in the state of Sao Paolo, then he began his carrier in Santos Futebol Clube junior team at the age of 15 and a half. De Brito said to the club's directors that the boy would be the greatest soccer player in the world. And his prediction had been fulfilled. Pele just need a season to proved his talent, then he began his senior carrier in Santos FC. At his 16th, Pele held the top goal scorer position in the league.

Pelé scored a total of 1,220 goals between 1956 and 1974 where he scored his 1000th goal in all competitions on 19 November 1969, known as O Milesimo (The Thousandth). He scored five goals in a game six times, four goals 30 times and three goals 90 times.

It's important to be noticed that when Pelé was called to the Brazil national team in early 1969, he first didn't accept the offer, but then he accepted the offer and played in six World cup qualifying matches, where he scored six goals. Pele surely is the most gifted soccer player that Brazil and world ever have.

(Time, Wikipedia)