Early Life
Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, he grew up in Bauru, São Paulo state, playing with improvised balls and joined Santos FC as a teenager.
Career
He made his Brazil debut at 16 and, at 17, starred in Brazil's victory at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. He won further titles in 1962 and 1970, making him the only player to win three World Cups. He spent most of his career at Santos and then played for the New York Cosmos from 1975 to 1977.
Legacy
Pelé is credited with more than 1,200 goals in his career, although that count includes friendlies. He shared FIFA's Player of the Century award in 2000 and died in December 2022 at age 82.
Sources and further reading
Last updated: 2026-09-24