Pele
Discovered as a teenager and brought to Santos in 1956, Pele exploded onto the world stage at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. At just 17 he scored a hat-trick in the semifinal and two goals in the final, leading Brazil to its first world title. He became a global superstar in 1958, the youngest player ever to win a World Cup.
A Prodigy from Bauru
Born in poverty in Minas Gerais and raised in Bauru, Pele honed his skills with makeshift balls before being discovered as a teenager. He joined Santos at 15 and quickly became the most exciting young player in Brazil.
King of the World Cup
Pele announced himself at the 1958 World Cup, scoring twice in the final at age 17. He went on to win three World Cups in 1958, 1962 and 1970, the only player ever to do so, leading Brazil's golden generation.
Global Ambassador
After dominating with Santos for nearly two decades, Pele brought his talents to the New York Cosmos and helped popularize soccer in the United States. Named FIFA Player of the Century in 1999, he remained the sport's most beloved figure until his death in 2022.
Career Timeline
- 1940Born in Tres Coracoes, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- 1956Joins Santos FC at age 15
- 1958Wins first World Cup at age 17 in Sweden
- 1962Wins second World Cup with Brazil in Chile
- 1962Leads Santos to Intercontinental Cup title
- 1969Scores his 1,000th career goal
- 1970Wins third World Cup in Mexico
- 1975Joins New York Cosmos in the NASL
- 1977Retires after final season with the Cosmos
- 1999Named FIFA Player of the Century
- 2022Dies at age 82 in Sao Paulo
Biggest Hits
- Pele scored a Guinness World Record-recognized 1,279 goals across his career, including friendlies and exhibition matches.
- His 1958 World Cup heroics at age 17 made him the youngest player ever to score in and win a World Cup final.
Portrait: Joop van Bilsen / Anefo (cropped by Bremps) · CC BY-SA 3.0 nl · via Wikimedia Commons