PELE--THE KING OF FOOTBALL!

Pele's retirement photo in 1977

The most famous soccer (football) player of the century, and one of my heroes, Pele, played an important role in developing the sport in the U.S.  After he retired from an illustrious career in Brazil and led his country to three World Cup championships, he returned to play for the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League for two seasons.  He said that more than the millions of dollars he earned for playing in this country, “he wanted to make soccer truly popular in the U.S.”  As I’ve watched my ten-year old granddaughter play the sport with great determination and enthusiasm, I think of Pele and how he influenced the development of soccer in this country.  His infectious smile and grace won many of us over, along with his passion for the game. It was an absolute delight to watch him play, and my husband and I were fortunate to see him play with the Cosmos when they took on the Minnesota Kicks professional team in Bloomington, Minnesota. I don’t remember the score, but I do remember the excitement before and during the game, knowing that The King of Football was in town.  No one could come close to a player of Pele’s status. 

It wasn’t always that way however.  As a child growing up in a very poor Brazilian family, Pele shined shoes to earn a little money. He played soccer with his friends because he loved the sport.  His real name was Edson, but gradually he came to like his new nickname—Pele.  When the Brazilian star player Waldemar de Brito discovered Pele in 1951 at age 11, he said, “This boy will be the greatest soccer player in the world.”  And indeed he was.  He played for his national team at age 16 and helped win a World Cup at 17, the youngest player ever to do so.  He made spectacular and seemingly impossible goals and was an enormous star world-wide.  As a forward he had tremendous athletic ability, excelling in dribbling and passing, as well as high-powered scoring.  When he scored goal number 1,000,  he dedicated it to the poor children of Brazil.  Having grown up in poverty, he wanted to improve the lives of children in his country and around the world.  Over the years he’s done a great deal of work for UNICEF children’s causes. 

Giving President Clinton a few lessons in Brazil

During the course of his soccer career, Pele averaged nearly one goal a match, which was unheard of.  He scored nearly 1,300 goals in his career and was voted Football Player of the Century by the International Olympic Committee.  His team, Santos, toured around the world.  He’s still considered a national treasure in Brazil. His #10 shirt has added meaning for me since my granddaughter is 10 years old now and loves soccer.

Pele was always quick to credit his father as being a great soccer player, although his knee injury cut short his dreams of being a top player.  He and his father used to listen to soccer matches on the radio.  Pele once said, “My father was a soccer player and once scored five goals in a game, all with his head.  That was one record I was never able to break.”  Amazingly though, he scored over 90 hat tricks in his career—quite astonishing!  At his last match for the Cosmos he met up with Muhammad Ali in the Cosmos locker room.  Ali embraced him and said, “Now there are two of the greatest.”

After Pele’s retirement in 1977, he wrote several autobiographies and appeared in documentaries and films, and even wrote musical compositions.  Check out the sound track for the 1977 film PELE.  In 1992 he was appointed a United Nations ambassador for the environment.  Five years later he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace. 

Perhaps one of the greatest compliments paid to him was by an Italian defender who played against him in the World Cup final.  He said, “I told myself before the game, he’s made of skin and bones just like everyone else, but I was wrong.”

Pele at 71

I know that the sport of soccer has had incredibly gifted players throughout the years, but to me, Pele will always represent the spirit of the game.  He seemed to play effortlessly and with great passion and always remembered the children.  He’s a real treasure around the world and I would be truly excited if he came to the U.S. again and my granddaughter had the chance to meet him. What a day for the memory book that would be!