Pelé

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known across the globe simply as Pelé, was born in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Named after Thomas Edison, Pelé grew up in poverty in Bauru, practicing by kicking a rolled-up sock stuffed with rags. Joining Santos FC at age fifteen in 1956, he immediately took Brazilian football by storm with his blistering pace, superhuman peripheral vision, two-footed striking, and sublime technical flair.

In 1958, at just seventeen years old, Pelé electrified the world at the FIFA World Cup in Sweden, scoring a hat-trick in the semi-final and two breathtaking goals in the final against the hosts, weeping tears of joy as Brazil claimed its first World Cup. Declared a non-exportable 'official national treasure' by the Brazilian government to prevent European clubs from signing him, Pelé spent nearly two decades leading Santos to two Copa Libertadores titles and two Intercontinental Cups. He crowned his international career at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, orchestrating what is widely regarded as the greatest national team in football history.

After scoring his milestone 1,000th goal ('O Milésimo') in 1969, Pelé came out of semi-retirement in 1975 to sign with the New York Cosmos, igniting unprecedented soccer enthusiasm in the United States. Following his retirement, he served as Brazil's Extraordinary Minister for Sport and a dedicated UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. Pelé passed away in São Paulo in December 2022, mourned worldwide as the eternal King of Football.