Pelé Autograph

Profession:
(1940-2022) Brazilian retired professional footballer. Regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and labelled "the greatest" by FIFA, he was among the most successful and popular sports figures of the 20th century.

Year of Birth: 1940

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, widely known as 'Pelé', is a Brazilian retired professional footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He was born on October 23, 1940, in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil. His father was a footballer himself, playing for local club, Sport Clube Bahia.

Pelé began playing football at a young age, and was signed by Santos FC at the age of 15. He went on to become the top scorer in the Brazilian League in his first season and established himself as one of the greatest players of his generation. He won three FIFA World Cup titles with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and is the only player to have won the World Cup three times. He was also awarded the Ballon d'Or in 1970.

Pelé's career spanned over two decades, and he made over 1,000 appearances for club and country. He scored over 1,000 goals in his career, including 77 in 92 international appearances. He also won numerous individual awards, including the South American Footballer of the Year in 1973 and 1974. Pelé retired from professional football in 1977, at the age of 37.

In his post-playing career, Pelé has become a global ambassador for football, and a strong advocate for social causes. He has been appointed as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, and has been involved with numerous charities, including the Red Cross. He was also appointed as Brazil's Extraordinary Minister for Sport in 1995.

Pelé has also received numerous honours for his achievements in football. He was awarded the FIFA Player of the Century award in 2000, and was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in 1993. He was named the Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999, and was awarded the Order of Merit of the Brazilian Republic in 1998.

Pelé is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time, and his reputation as a global icon remains strong to this day. He is an inspiration to millions, and his legacy lives on in the hearts of football fans around the world.