15 fun facts about Pele

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, was a legendary Brazilian footballer who excelled as a forward. Regarded as one of the greatest players in history, he was not only successful but also immensely popular in the 20th century.

Scoring nearly a goal per game, Pelé showcased his skill by being able to strike with both feet and anticipate his opponents’ moves on the field. Despite being a striker, he could also play a playmaking role, providing assists with his passing and vision, while using his dribbling abilities to outmaneuver opponents.

In Brazil, he was celebrated as a national hero for his football achievements and his advocacy for social improvement policies. His rise to fame during the 1958 World Cup, where he became a global icon, served as an inspiration.

Throughout his career and beyond, Pelé received numerous awards for his exceptional performance, record-breaking feats, and lasting impact on the sport. Check out some intriguing facts about him.

1. Humble beginnings

Pele came from a poor background and honed his dribbling abilities by using a sock filled with rags as a makeshift soccer ball, as his family couldn’t afford to purchase a real one for him.

Due to financial constraints, he often played barefoot, leading his friends to create a team known as the Shoeless Ones. Over time, the informal matches played without footwear in empty spaces became popularly referred to as “pelada,” a term believed to be derived from Pelé’s name.

2. Meaning of the nickname Pele

His family bestowed upon him the moniker “Dico”. It wasn’t until he began attending school that he acquired the nickname Pele, after mispronouncing the name of the Vasco da Gama goalkeeper Bile as Pile. Consequently, one of his classmates dubbed him Pele.

3. Pele day

Santos commemorates November 19 as the glorious ‘Pele Day’, a joyous occasion that honors the remarkable milestone of his 1,000th goal.

4. Named after Thomas Edison

Pele was given the name Edson Arantes do Nascimento in honor of the renowned American inventor Thomas Edison.

5. Professional debut at 15

At the tender age of 15, Pele’s incredible journey in the world of professional football began. Santos recognized his immense talent and signed him up. It was on September 7, 1956, during his league debut against FC Corinthians, that Pele showcased his brilliance by scoring an impressive four goals. This remarkable start marked the beginning of a legendary career that would leave an indelible mark on the sport.

6. Youngest World Cup winner ever

Pele made history by becoming the youngest World Cup winner at the age of 17. Not only did he achieve this milestone, but he also scored two goals in the final match against the host country, Sweden.

7. Pele-Maradona rivalry

Pele and Maradona had a strained relationship. In 2010, Pele expressed his opinion about the Argentinian, stating that he was not a positive role model for the younger generation.

Pele acknowledged Maradona’s natural talent for playing football, attributing his success to luck. In response, Maradona dismissed Pele’s remarks, stating that he should be preserved in a museum.

8. Pele Scored Over 100 Hat Tricks

Throughout his illustrious career, Pele showcased his remarkable goal-scoring prowess by notching an impressive tally of 129 hat tricks. His insatiable hunger for goals was evident as he consistently strived for more than just a solitary strike.

Remarkably, he recorded an astounding 92 three-goal games, 31 four-goal games, and six five-goal games. In one extraordinary display of his talent, Pele even managed to find the back of the net eight times in a single game.

9. British Knighthood

Back in 1997, the legendary Pele was bestowed with a prestigious honorary British Knighthood.

10. Sixth-highest goalscorer in World Cup

Pele and Kylian Mbappe share the title of being the sixth-highest goalscorers in World Cup history, each with 12 goals. Pele is also the second highest-placed Brazilian, just behind Ronaldo.

11. 1000th career goal

Pele achieved a remarkable milestone by netting his 1000th career goal. The moment was so extraordinary that hundreds of fans couldn’t contain their excitement and stormed onto the field to celebrate with the Brazilian legend.

The game had to be paused for more than 30 minutes before it could continue, as the euphoria of this incredible feat engulfed the stadium.

12. He scored 1,283 goals

Pele netted an impressive 1,283 goals in his first-class career, with 77 of those coming while playing for Brazil.

13. Craze to swap shirts with Pele

During Pele’s time at New York Cosmos, the demand for swapping shirts with him was so high among his opponents that the club had to provide each opponent with a shirt after every game.

Gordon Bradley, one of the club’s coaches during that period, mentioned that Pele was the star player, and they often had to bring 25 or 30 shirts to matches to ensure they could leave the stadium safely.

14. Charitable

Pele helped raise a lot of millions of pounds for various charitable causes, such as Great Ormond Street and Harlem Street Soccer.

15. A Guinness World Record Holder

Pele achieved the Guinness World Record for the highest number of goals scored by a single player. He netted 1,279 goals between 7 September 1956 and 1 October 1977, playing in 1,363 matches.