Pele is the nickname of Edson Arantes Do Nascimento (born on October 23, 1940, in Tres Coracoes in Brazil, died December 29, 2022, in Sao Paolo in Brazil), a Brazilian soccer player. He was, at one time, the most well-known and highest-paid footballer in the world. Pele was a member of three Brazilian teams who won World Cup titles (1958, 1960, and 1970 ).).
Pele, whose name is apparently without meaning, was turned down by the major clubs in Sao Paulo after he played for a lower league club at Bauru. He joined Santos Football Club in 1956. With Pele as the inside left forward at the club, they won the Sao Paulo League nine times and the Libertadores Cup (1962) and Intercontinental Club Cup (1963). He became the Brazilian national hero. Pele combined kick power, accuracy and a unique ability to predict other players’ movements. Pele’s Brazilian government declared him a treasure after the 1958 World Cup to deter European clubs from making large offers and keep Pele in Brazil. In his 909th match in first class, Pele scored his 1000th goal on November 19, 1969.
Pele’s international debut was in 1957 when he was 16 years old. He played in his first World Cup Finals game in Sweden the following year. The Brazilian coach was reluctant to start his star player at first. Pele made an instant impact when he finally entered the pitch. He smashed the goalpost with a single shot and collected an assist. Pele scored a hat-trick in Brazil’s 5-2 victory over Sweden in the final game. He also had two goals against France in the semi-final. Pele had to miss the entire 1962 World Cup Finals after tearing a thigh muscle in the second game. Brazil won its second World Cup. Pele considered retiring after the disastrous 1966 World Cup, which saw Brazil eliminated in the opening round due to rough play and injury. In 1970, Pele returned to the World Cup for one final tournament. He teamed up with Rivelino and Jairzinho to win Brazil’s 3rd title. Pele ended his World Cup with 12 goals scored in 14 matches.
Pele became a global star because of his electrifying style and love for scoring spectacular goals. Santos and his team toured the world to capitalize on Pele’s popularity. He and his team toured Nigeria in 1967 when a 48-hour ceasefire was declared to let everyone watch him.
Pele retired in 1974 but signed a contract in 1975 for a $3 million three-year deal with the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League to help promote soccer in the United States. After leading the Cosmos team to the 1977 league title, he retired.
Pele received the International Peace Award in 1978. He was honoured as Athlete Of The Century in 1980 by French Sports Magazine L’Equipe. In 1999, he also received this honour from the International Olympic Committee. The Pele Museum was opened in Santos, Brazil, in 2014. He also published best-selling books and appeared in several documentary films and semi-documentaries. In addition to his musical compositions, he also wrote the score for Pele (1977).
Abedi Ayew, born November 5, 1965, in Ghana, was a Ghanaian soccer player who won the African Football Player of the Year award three years in a row (1991-1993). Abedi Ayew Pele a Ghanaian attacking midfielder who played for Olympique Marseille in France as an attacking middle.
Abedi Pele began his nomadic football career in Ghana with Real Tamale in 1978. He was given the nickname Pele in recognition of his superior abilities, which led to comparisons between him and Brazilian legend Pele. Abedi Pele was a member of Ghana’s Black Stars team that won the African Cup of Nations, in Libya, in 1982.
Abedi Pelé led Saad Club in the 1983 Qatar National Championship. Later, he moved to France and spent 1986-1993 playing for Chamois Niortais. Mulhouse. Marseille. and Lille. He combined his attacking talent with tactical knowledge and a knack for making game-winning moves. At Marseille (1989-1990, 1991-93), Pele was a vital member of the team which won the French League in 1991 and 1993 and the Champions League in 1993. Abedi moved to Olympique Lyonnais in 1993 after a corruption scandal led the club Marseille to disintegrate. After playing in Italy, Germany and the United Arab Emirates, he retired in 1998. In the same year, Ghana’s government, in recognition of his achievements, bestowed on him its highest honour: The Order of Volta.
