Pelé Biography, Net Worth, Age, Height, Zodiac Sign

Pelé Born on October 23, 1940, in Três Corações, Brazil, soccer legend Pelé became a superstar with his performance in the 1958 World Cup. Pelé played professionally in Brazil for two decades, winning three World Cups along the way, before joining the New York Cosmos late in his career. Named FIFA co-Player of the Century in 1999, he is a global ambassador for soccer and other humanitarian causes.

Zodiac Sign	Scorpio
Date of Birth / Age	October 23, 1940 (age 81 years),
Birth Place	Três Corações, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Net Worth	$100 Million
Profession	Welsh Football Player
Career end	October 1, 1977
Full Name	Edson Arantes do Nascimento
Number	10 (Santos FC / Forward), 10 (New York Cosmos / Forward)

Pelé Weight, Height & Measurements

Weight	in kilograms- 75 kg in pounds- 165 lbs
Height	5ft 6 ½ (168.9 cm)
Eye Color	Black
Hair Color	Black

Pelé Family

Parents	João Ramos do Nascimento, Celeste Arantes
Spouse	Marcia Aoki (m. 2016), Assíria Nascimento (m. 1994–2008), Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi (m. 1966–1978)
Siblings	Zeca Nascimento, Maria Lúcia Nascimento
Children	Edinho, Sandra Regina Arantes do Nascimento & More

Pelé Social Profiles

Twitter	Pelé Twitter
Youtube	Pelé Youtube
Instagram	Pelé Instagram
Facebook	Pelé FB
Wikipedia	Pelé Wikipedia

How much is Pelé Net Worth?

Pelé latest Net Worth is $300 Million.

How tall is Pelé – Pelé Height?

Pelé Height is 5ft 6 ½ (168.9 cm), and weight is 75 kg.

What is Pelé Zodiac Sign?

Pelé zodiac sign is Scorpio.

Childhood, Family and First Steps in Football

Pelé was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on October 23, 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil, the first child of João Ramos and Dona Celeste. Named after Thomas Edison and nicknamed “Dico,” Pelé moved with his family to the city of Bauru as a young boy.

João Ramos, better known as “Dondinho,” struggled to earn a living as a soccer player, and Pelé grew up in poverty. Still, he developed a rudimentary talent for soccer by kicking a rolled-up sock stuffed with rags around the streets of Bauru. The origin of the “Pelé” nickname is unclear, though he recalled despising it when his friends first referred to him that way.

As an adolescent, Pelé joined a youth squad coached by Waldemar de Brito, a former member of the Brazilian national soccer team. De Brito eventually convinced Pelé’s family to let the budding phenom leave home and try out for the Santos professional soccer club when he was 15.

Soccer’s National Treasure

Pelé signed with Santos and immediately started practicing with the team’s regulars. He scored the first professional goal of his career before he turned 16, led the league in goals in his first full season and was recruited to play for the Brazilian national team.

The world was officially introduced to Pelé in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. Displaying remarkable speed, athleticism and field vision, the 17-year-old erupted to score three goals in a 5-2 semifinal win over France, then netted two more in the finals, a 5-2 win over the host country.

The young superstar received hefty offers to play for European clubs, and Brazilian President Jânio Quadros eventually had Pelé declared a national treasure, making it legally difficult for him to play in another country. Regardless, Santos club ownership ensured its star attraction was well paid by scheduling lucrative exhibition matches with teams around the world.

More World Cup Titles

Pelé aggravated a groin injury two games into the 1962 World Cup in Chile, sitting out the final rounds while Brazil went on to claim its second straight title. Four years later, in England, a series of brutal attacks by opposing defenders again forced him to the sidelines with leg injuries, and Brazil was bounced from the World Cup after one round.

Despite the disappointment on the world stage, the legend of Pelé continued to grow. In the late 1960s, the two factions in the Nigerian Civil War reportedly agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire so they could watch Pelé play in an exhibition game in Lagos.

The 1970 World Cup in Mexico marked a triumphant return to glory for Pelé and Brazil. Headlining a formidable squad, Pelé scored four goals in the tournament, including one in the final to give Brazil a 4-1 victory over Italy.

Pelé announced his retirement from soccer in 1974, but he was lured back to the field the following year to play for the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League, and temporarily helped make the NASL a big attraction. He played his final game in an exhibition between New York and Santos in October 1977, competing for both sides, and retired with a total of 1.281 goals in 1.363 games.

The Legend Lives On

Retirement did little to diminish the public profile of Pelé, who remained a popular pitchman and active in many professional arenas.

In 1978, Pelé was awarded the International Peace Award for his work with UNICEF. He has also served as Brazil’s Extraordinary Minister for Sport and a United Nations ambassador for ecology and the environment.

Pelé was named FIFA’s “Co-Player of the Century” in 1999, along with Argentine Diego Maradona. To many, his accomplishments on the soccer field will never be equaled, and virtually all great athletes in the sport are measured against the Brazilian who once made the world stop to watch his transcendent play.

In America

After Pelé retired, he continued to play until he was signed to play for the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League for a reported three-year, $7 million contract. A year later New York was at the top of their division, and in 1977 the Cosmos won the league championship. Pelé retired for good after that victory, but continued to be active in sports circles, becoming a commentator and promoter of soccer in the United States.

When the World Cup was played in Detroit, Michigan, in 1994, Pelé was there, capturing the hearts of millions of fans around the world. Later that spring, he married his second wife, Assiria Seixas Lemos. In May of 1997, he was elected Minister of Sports in his home country of Brazil.

Further Reading on Pele

Two books—Joe Marcus’ The World of Pele (1976) and Pele’s New World (1977) by Peter Bodo and David Hirshey—provide excellent reading, as well as illustrations. The best book on Pele is by Pele himself—My Life and the Beautiful Game (1977).

Pele’s Personal Quotes

1. “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do”

2. “A penalty is a cowardly way to score.”

3. “Everything is practice.”

4. “I don’t believe there is such a thing as a ‘born’ soccer player. Perhaps you are born with certain skills and talents, but quite frankly it seems impossible to me that one is actually born to be an ace soccer player”

5. “If you are first you are first. If you are second, you are nothing.”

6. “The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.”

7. “People argue between Pele or Maradona. Di Stéfano is the best, much more complete.”

8. “The more difficult the VICTORY,The Greater the Happiness in WINNING”