The uncomparable Pelé and the world of football

Talking about Brazil and do not mention football it is like talking about the Vatican and do not mention the Pope. Football is not an ordinary issue here. It can start as a light chat on the last goals of the domestic championships and finish in a heated discussion among several interlocutors because football is more than a passion. It is considered a theme that can really interfere in your personal life, change your mood and in some cases unbalance your mind.

Despite the latest news about the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the performance of the Argentinian player Messi, the success of the German Bayern Munchen team or the adaptation of the Brazilian star Neymar to the European football style,  the one who is the absolute king on this regard is Pelé.

Whatever are the estimates or the accomplishments, Pelé is still the most remembered star when it comes to football worldwide. He was elected the athlete of the twentieth century by French press in 1961 however since he has started his career has been collecting the glories for his victories. Few Brazilians are recognized globally as the face of Brazil and promoted the country so strongly in a time when just traditional press, radio and TV were the available media. His extraordinary sporting journey and a well-succeeded career as a businessman transformed him in an icon in the whole planet.



Because of the doubts generated by the achievements during his sporting career and the inevitable comparison with the Argentinian player Messi last year, he ordered by himself a detailed survey to get the accurate data. 

Some of the official marks can be researched in different magazines, books and specialized sites. However it is never too much to point them out:

Playing for Brazil National Team:
1957, 1962, 1970 – World Cups:  tri-world champion
1957, 1963 – Rocca Cup:  bi-champion
1958, 1962, 1968 – Osvaldo Cruz Cup : tri-champion

Playing for other teams:
1955 – Bauru Radium club – indoor football – champion
1959 – South American Army championship – champion
1959 – State of São Paulo local championship – champion

Playing for New York Cosmos:
1977 – NASL – North American Soccer League - champion

Playing for Santos Football Club, the team he has contracted for more than 18 years:
1962 – 1963 -  Liberators of America – bi-champion
1962 – 1963 – World Inter-clubs – bi-champion
1968 – Silver Cup – champion
1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 & 1965 – Brazil Cup - penta-champion
1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969 & 1973 –
State of São Paulo Cup - Ten times champion

Pelé has won 61 titles, being 25 when playing for tournaments abroad.

Pelé celebrating a goal, photo by Domicio Pinheiro in 1969 


With 1283 goals during 1.366 official matches, his average reaches 0,93 goal per game.

According to Juca Kfhouri, aclaimed Brazilian journalist, specialist in football, “Pelé is incomparable. Although Messi will certainly overcome him, Pelé has a significant number of spectacular scores that keeps him in the throne yet”.

One of the best definitions about him was given by the Brazilian poet Carlos Drummond de Andrade, who said: "The difficult, the extraordinary, it is not score a thousand goals as Pelé, but score one goal like he does".

The mark of 1283 goals is the title of a luxurious book launched in honor to the player in São Paulo last October . The weight of 15 kilos and 500 pages are compatible to the importance of Pelé in the football history. Printed in Italy, the “collectors book” was handmade produced and just 1283 editions will be commercialized – all of them autographed by him. They will be sold in New York, London and Dubai as well.

An exclusive edition of 200 books will bring hundreds of historical photos, including the one that shows the athlete wearing the World Cup jersey with a heart of sweat stamped in the middle of his chest. No wonder that the photo is titled "the heart of the king". That version will cost about US$ 2,300.00 and will bring the special shot printed in cotton with the signature of both, the idol and the Brazilian photographer Luiz Paulo Machado, who took the picture in 1971.  


The luxurious edition of  Pelé book, photo by Editora Toriba

In 2014 Pelé will be honored again with the inauguration of the Museum Pelé, established in the coastal city of Santos, where his star has shinned for about eighteen years. At that time his restrictive agreements forbidden him to leave Santos FC team and try an international career which is usual among the athletes nowadays.  Several matches took place at Urbano Caldeira stadium, at Vila Belmiro, where the club established its headquarters.


Vila Belmiro Stadium, aerial view, photo by Tadeu nascimento

The museum is part of a daring renovation project of a historical sector in downtown Santos, where two important buildings of the XIX century were located.  Known as the Valongo mansions, the buildings will be reconstructed respecting its cultural architectural heritage.

Pelé Museum project at Valongo neighborhood,  file of Ney Caldatto

Designed in a contemporary style by the Brazilian architect Ney Caldatto, the interior of the museum will be comprised by two blocks. The first one will include a gigantic twelve-meter sphere which will house an auditorium for projecting documentaries and movies as well as a venue for events. In the other block the visitors could stroll through three interconnected floors that will host the collection of personal objects, shots, awards, trophies, etc. A deep research has been made by the organizers and curators to surprise the tourists. 

Pelé Museum project, interior with the sphere, file of Ney Caldatto

Sponsored by important Brazilian and international national companies like Caio, Carbocloro, Libras Terminais and Sherwin-Williams, the museum has also received investments from other renowned ones like Gerdau, Mitsubishi, Ambev, Santander bank, Votorantim and Odebrecht, among others.

The City Hall of Santos intends to inaugurate it before the World Cup to promote the name of Santos by inserting it definitely in the route of international tourism in the future. The city already receives thousands of tourists who arrive in cruises that stop in its maritime terminal for passengers every year.

Curiosities about the king:
-     The third person singular is generally used by Edson Arantes do Nascimento (his real name) to refer to Pelé, as if he is another person.

-     The nickname Pelé was given by his fellow players when Edson played football in the streets of Bauru with other poor kids. To celebrate the goals he defended as a goalkeeper he often has shouted “Bilé”, the name of a player from a Brazilian team where his father played for. Based on what they listened, his friends that did not understand neither the context nor the expression started to call him “Pelé”, a nickname that he rejected at the beginning.

-        1.73 m tall, the Brazilian forward was an excellent dribbler who kicked with both legs.

-     Pelé ended his career in 1974 however in 1975 he joined New York Cosmos to promote   football practice in USA. In August 2010 he was named the Honorary President of the club.

-    In 1979 he scored his thousandth goal at Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro during an emotional celebration when he kissed right on the ball.

-        In the 80´s Pelé had an affair with Xuxa Meneghel, a Brazilian model in the beginning of career. Later she has introduced a new formula of entertainment show for children in Brazil and got famous as a TV host, film actress, well-succeeded singer and businesswoman.

-    From 1995 to 1998 he has managed the Extraordinary Ministry for Sports during the government of President Fernando Henrique Cardoso.

-       Occasionally the rivalry with Diego Maradona comes to the air. The controversy has been tougher when both competed for FIFA player of the century in 2010. Maradona won as the most voted by internet although Pele was elected by FIFA officials, journalists and coaches.

-       In 2011 Pelé was nominated Honorary Ambassador of Brazil for the 2014 World Cup by President     Dilma Roussef.


Pelé and President of Brazil, Dilma Roussef
photo by Roberto Stuckert - PR


Eliana Souza - SPin Brazil Tours