View source for Pelé

{{Short description|Brazilian footballer (1940–2022)}}
{{Redirect2|Pele|O Rei|the Hawaiian goddess|Pele (deity)|the Portuguese footballer with the same nickname|Eusébio|other uses}}
{{Pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Pp-move}}
{{Portuguese name|[[Arantes (surname)|Arantes]]|[[Nascimento (surname)|Nascimento]]}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox person <!-- SEE TALK PAGE FOR DISCUSSION -->
| name           = <!-- defaults to article title when left blank -->
| image          = Pele con brasil (cropped).jpg
| caption        = Pelé with [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in 1970
| birth_name     = Edson Arantes do Nascimento
| birth_date     = {{birth date|1940|10|23|df=y}}{{refn|group=note|According to Pelé, his birth certificate listed 21 October 1940 incorrectly.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 December 2022 |title=Pelé, who rose from a Brazilian slum to become the world's greatest soccer player, dies at 82 |url=https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2022-12-29/pele-soccer-brazil-dies-obit |access-date=29 December 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times |archive-date=29 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229185702/https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2022-12-29/pele-soccer-brazil-dies-obit |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
| birth_place    = [[Três Corações]], Brazil
| death_date     = {{Death date and age|2022|12|29|1940|10|23|df=y}}
| death_place    = [[São Paulo]], Brazil
| resting_place  = [[Memorial Necrópole Ecumênica]], Santos, São&nbsp;Paulo
| height         = 1.73 m
| occupation     = {{hlist|Footballer|humanitarian}}
| spouse         = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi|1966|1982|reason=div}}
* {{marriage|Assíria Lemos Seixas|1994|2008|reason=div}}
* {{marriage|Marcia Aoki|2016}}
}}
| children       = 7, including [[Edinho (footballer, born 1970)|Edinho]] and [[Joshua Nascimento]]
| signature      = Firma de Pelé.svg
| signature_size = 110x110px
| father         = [[Dondinho]]
| relatives      = [[Zoca]] (brother)
| module         = {{Infobox football biography
| embed          = yes
| header-color   = lavender
| position       = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]], [[attacking midfielder]]
| youthyears1    = 1953–1956
| youthclubs1    = [[Bauru Atlético Clube|Bauru]]
| years1         = 1956–1974
| years2         = 1975–1977
| clubs1         = [[Santos FC|Santos]]
| clubs2         = [[New York Cosmos (1970–1985)|New York Cosmos]]
| caps1          = 583<!--READ THIS BEFORE CHANGING: This infobox counts LEAGUE AND STATE LEAGUE APPS, PER [[WP:FOOTY/Players]], the much-quoted stat that Pele scored over 1,000 goals in over 1,000 games for Santos counts unofficial and cup matches too, so should not be displayed here. This does NOT include Rio-São Paulo apps -->
| goals1 = 569<!--READ THIS BEFORE CHANGING: This infobox counts LEAGUE AND STATE LEAGUE GOALS, PER [[WP:FOOTY/Players]], the much-quoted stat that Pele scored over 1,000 goals in over 1,000 games for Santos counts unofficial and cup matches too, so should not be displayed here. This does NOT include Rio-São Paulo goals-->
| caps2          = 64
| goals2         = 37
| totalcaps      = 647
| totalgoals     = 606
| nationalyears1 = 1957–1971
| nationalteam1  = [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]]
| nationalcaps1  = 92{{refn|group=note|name=InternationalApps}}
| nationalgoals1 = [[List of international goals scored by Pelé|77]]
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|Brazil}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958 Sweden]]|}}
{{Medal|W|[[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962 Chile]]|}}
{{Medal|W|[[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970 Mexico]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Copa América|South American Championship]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1959 South American Championship (Argentina)|1959 Argentina]]|}}
}}
| module2            = {{Infobox officeholder
| embed       = yes
| office      = 1st [[Ministry of Sports (Brazil)|Minister of Sports]]
| term_start  = 1 January 1995
| term_end    = 30 April 1998
| president   = [[Fernando Henrique Cardoso]]
| predecessor = ''Office established''
| successor   = [[Rafael Greca]] {{avoid wrap|(<!-- Minister of -->Sports and Tourism)}}
}}
}}
{{Pelé series}}

<!--Pelé was a KBE but not a Commonwealth citizen. Therefore he may not be called "Sir" and the KBE suffix should not be used. -->
'''Edson Arantes do Nascimento''' ({{IPA|pt-BR|ˈɛdsõ aˈɾɐ̃tʃiz du nasiˈmẽtu|lang}}; 23 October 1940 – 29 December 2022), better known by his nickname '''Pelé''' ({{IPA|pt|peˈlɛ}}), was a Brazilian professional [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Forward (association football)|forward]]. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time,<!-- Please discuss on the talk page before changing --> he was among the most successful and popular sports figures of the 20th century.<ref name="fifa" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Luhn |first=Michele |date=29 December 2022 |title=Pelé, Brazilian soccer star and the only player to win the World Cup three times, dies at age 82 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/29/pel-brazilian-soccer-star-dies-at-age-82.html |access-date=12 January 2023 |publisher=CNBC |archive-date=12 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112164059/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/29/pel-brazilian-soccer-star-dies-at-age-82.html |url-status=live }}</ref> His 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, which includes [[Exhibition game|friendlies]], is recognised as a [[Guinness World Records|Guinness World Record]].<ref name="GWR" /> In 1999, he was named Athlete of the Century by the [[International Olympic Committee]] and was included in the ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' list of the [[Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century|100 most important people of the 20th century]]. In 2000, Pelé was voted [[IFFHS World's Best Player#The World's Best Player of the Century (1901–2000)|World Player of the Century]] by the [[International Federation of Football History & Statistics]] (IFFHS) and was one of the two joint winners of the [[FIFA Player of the Century]], alongside [[Diego Maradona]]. 

Pelé began playing for [[Santos FC|Santos]] at age 15 and the [[Brazil national football team|Brazil national team]] at 16. During his international career, he won three [[FIFA World Cup]]s: [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]], [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962]] and [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]], the only player to do so and the youngest player to win a World Cup (17). He was nicknamed '''{{lang|pt|O Rei}}''' (The King) following the 1958 tournament. With 77 goals in 92 games{{refn|group=note|name=InternationalApps|This includes a match for Brazil against the [[World XI|rest of the world]], which [[FIFA]] does not recognise, played for the 10th anniversary of their [[1958 World Cup|first World Cup title]]<ref name="internationalgoals"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/neymar-breaks-pele-brazil-scoring-record-tribute|publisher=[[FIFA]]|date=9 September 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=27 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527202739/https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/neymar-breaks-pele-brazil-scoring-record-tribute|access-date=27 May 2024|title=A tribute to record-breaking Neymar}}</ref>}} for Brazil, Pelé held the record as the [[Brazil national football team#Top goalscorers|national team's top goalscorer]] for over fifty years. At club level, he is Santos's [[List of Santos FC records and statistics|all-time top goalscorer]] with 643 goals in 659 games. In a [[Os Santásticos|golden era]] for Santos, he led the club to the [[1962 Copa Libertadores|1962]] and [[1963 Copa Libertadores]], and to the [[1962 Intercontinental Cup|1962]] and [[1963 Intercontinental Cup]]. Credited with connecting the phrase "[[The Beautiful Game]]" with football, Pelé's "electrifying play and penchant for spectacular goals" made him a global star, and his teams toured internationally to take full advantage of his popularity.<ref name="britannica" /> During his playing days, Pelé was for a period the best-paid athlete in the world. After retiring in 1977, Pelé was a worldwide ambassador for football and made many acting and commercial ventures. In 2010, he was named the honorary president of the [[New York Cosmos (2010)|New York Cosmos]].

Pelé averaged almost a goal per game throughout his career and could strike the ball with either foot, as well as being able to anticipate his opponents' movements. While predominantly a striker, he could also be a [[playmaker]], providing assists with his vision and passing ability. He would often use his [[Dribbling#Association football|dribbling]] skills to go past opponents. In Brazil, he was hailed as a national hero for his accomplishments in football and for his outspoken support of policies that improve the social conditions of the poor. His emergence at the 1958 World Cup, where he became a black global sporting star, was a source of inspiration.<ref name="Ronay" /> Throughout his career and in his retirement, Pelé received numerous individual and team awards for his performance on the field, his record-breaking achievements, and his legacy in the sport.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.squawka.com/en/pele-legendary-career-in-numbers/|title=Pele's legendary career told in numbers: Just how good was Brazil's emblematic forward?|publisher=squawka.com|author=Ben Green|date=30 December 2022|access-date=24 February 2024|archive-date=6 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206135520/https://www.squawka.com/en/pele-legendary-career-in-numbers/|url-status=live}}</ref> 
{{TOC limit|3}}

== Early years ==

[[File:Praça do Pelé.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Pelé's birthplace, [[Três Corações]] in Minas Gerais, with his commemorative statue in the city's plaza pictured. Pelé also has a street named after him in the city{{snds}}Rua Edson Arantes do Nascimento.]]

Pelé was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on 23 October 1940 in [[Três Corações]], Minas Gerais, the son of [[Fluminense FC|Fluminense]] footballer [[Dondinho]] (born João Ramos do Nascimento) and Celeste Arantes (1922–2024).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2024/06/21/muere-celeste-arantes-madre-de-pele-a-los-101-anos/|title=Muere Celeste Arantes, madre de Pelé, a los 101 años|publisher=Infobae|language=ES|date=June 21, 2024|access-date=June 21, 2024}}</ref> He was the elder of two siblings,{{sfn|Pelé|Fish|1977|p=18–19}} with brother [[Zoca]] also playing for Santos, albeit not as successfully.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.santosfc.com.br/morreu-zoca-o-escudeiro-do-rei/|title=Morreu Zoca, o escudeiro do Rei|trans-title=Zoca has died, the King's squire|date=26 March 2020|accessdate=2 February 2023|website=santosfc.com.br|language=Portuguese|archive-date=2 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202011105/https://www.santosfc.com.br/morreu-zoca-o-escudeiro-do-rei/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was named after the American inventor [[Thomas Edison]].{{sfn|Pelé|2008|p=14}} His parents decided to remove the "i" and call him "Edson", but there was a [[typo]] on his birth certificate, leading many documents to show his name as "Edison", not "Edson", as he was called.{{sfn|Pelé|2008|p=14}}<ref name="Name">{{cite web|last1=Narcía|first1=Eva|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/spanish/seriemilenio08.htm|title=Un siglo, diez historias|publisher=[[BBC World Service]]|language=es|access-date=21 June 2010|archive-date=11 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111034444/https://www.bbc.co.uk/spanish/seriemilenio08.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> He was originally nicknamed "Dico" by his family.{{sfn|Pelé|Fish|1977|p=18–19}}<ref name=Guardian-nick>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/may/13/sport.comment9|title=From Edson to Pelé: my changing identity|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=1 October 2006|location=London|date=12 May 2006|archive-date=14 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114203817/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/may/13/sport.comment9|url-status=live}}</ref> He received the nickname "Pelé" during his school days, it is claimed,{{by whom|date=October 2023}} after mispronouncing the name of his favourite player, [[CR Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]] goalkeeper Bilé. In his autobiography released in 2006, Pelé stated he had no idea what the name means, nor did his old friends, and the word has no meaning in Portuguese.{{sfn|Pelé|Fish|1977|p=18–19}}{{refn|group=note|Pelé presumed that it was an insult since the word had no meaning in Portuguese. He discovered in the 2000s that the word meant "miracle" in Hebrew.<ref>{{cite news|first=Denise|last=Winterman |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4578032.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123121709/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4578032.stm|archive-date=23 November 2008|title=Taking the Pelé|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=11 January 2023|date=4 January 2006|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Pelé grew up in poverty in [[Bauru]] in the state of [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]]. He earned extra money by working in tea shops as a servant. Taught to play by his father, he could not afford a proper football and usually played with either a sock stuffed with newspaper and tied with string or a grapefruit.<ref name="pelebio">{{cite web|url=https://www.biography.com/people/pel%C3%A9-39221|title=Pelé|publisher=[[Biography.com]], via [[A&E Television Networks]]|access-date=18 July 2017|archive-date=13 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013134917/https://www.biography.com/athlete/pele|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Pelé|Fish|1977|p=18–19}} He played for several amateur teams in his youth, including ''Sete de Setembro'', ''Canto do Rio'', ''São Paulinho'', and ''Ameriquinha''.{{sfn|Heizer|1997|p=173}} Pelé led ''[[Bauru Atlético Clube]]'' juniors (coached by [[Waldemar de Brito]]) to two [[São Paulo]] state youth championships.{{sfn|Magill|1999|p=2950}} In his mid-teens, he played for an indoor football team called Radium. Indoor football had just become popular in Bauru when Pelé began playing it. He was part of the first [[futsal]] (indoor football) competition in the region. Pelé and his team won the first championship and several others.<ref name="salao1" />

According to Pelé, futsal (indoor football) presented difficult challenges: he said it was a lot quicker than football on the grass, and that players were required to think faster because everyone is close to each other in the pitch. Pelé credits futsal for helping him think better on the spot. In addition, futsal allowed him to play with adults when he was about 14 years old. In one of the tournaments he participated in, he was initially considered too young to play, but eventually went on to end up top scorer with 14 or 15 goals. "That gave me a lot of confidence", Pelé said, "I knew then not to be afraid of whatever might come".<ref name=salao1>{{cite web|title=Pele Speaks of Benefits of Futebol de Salão|url=http://www.icfds.com/leeds/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=2|publisher=International Confederation of Futebol de Salão|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112150737/http://www.icfds.com/leeds/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=2|archive-date=12 January 2016|date=24 May 2006}}</ref>

== Club career ==

=== Santos ===
{{Main|Os Santásticos}}

==== 1956–1962: early years with Santos and declared a national treasure ====

[[File:Pele photo 1962.jpg|thumb|upright=0.65|Pelé in 1962, by then rated the best player in the world{{sfn|Freedman|2014|p=47}}]]
In 1956, de Brito took Pelé to [[Santos (São Paulo)|Santos]], an industrial and port city located near São Paulo, to try out for professional club [[Santos FC]], telling the club's directors that the 15-year-old would be "the greatest football player in the world".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Massarela |first=Louis |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/exclusive-interview-pele-his-santos-years |title=Exclusive interview: Pele on his Santos years |date=7 September 2016 |website=FourFourTwo |access-date=28 July 2017 |archive-date=22 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622055212/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/exclusive-interview-pele-his-santos-years |url-status=live }}</ref> Pelé impressed Santos coach [[Luis Alonso Perez|Lula]] during his trial at the [[Estádio Vila Belmiro]], and he signed a professional contract with the club in June 1956.{{sfn|Marcus|1976|p=20}} Pelé was highly promoted in the local media as a future superstar. He made his senior team debut on 7 September 1956 at the age of 15 against [[Corinthians de Santo André]] and had an impressive performance in a 7–1 victory, scoring the first goal in his prolific career during the match.<ref name="dayinhistory"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Da Mata|first1=Alessandro|title=Mesário da estréia de Pelé lembra atrapalhada|url=http://www.lancenet.com.br/noticias/07-10-29/183561.stm|publisher=LANCE!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514032427/http://www.lancenet.com.br/noticias/07-10-29/183561.stm|location=Sâo Paulo|archive-date=14 May 2008|language=pt|date=26 October 2007}}</ref>

When the 1957 season started, Pelé was given a starting place in the first team and, at the age of 16, became the top scorer in the league. Ten months after signing professionally, the teenager was called up to the [[Brazil national football team|Brazil national team]]. After the [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]] and the [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962 World Cup]], wealthy European clubs, such as [[Real Madrid]], [[Juventus]] and [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], tried to sign him in vain.<ref>{{Cite web|language=it|url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Juventus/18-08-2018/pele-rivelazione-ero-alla-juve-fa-auguri-cr7-290268124077.shtml|title=Pelé, auguri a Ronaldo. E rivela: "Sono stato vicino alla Juve"|date=18 August 2018|website=La Gazzetta dello Sport|access-date=30 August 2018|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108080910/https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Juventus/18-08-2018/pele-rivelazione-ero-alla-juve-fa-auguri-cr7-290268124077.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1958, [[Inter Milan]] even managed to get him a regular contract, but [[Angelo Moratti]] was forced to tear the contract up at the request of Santos's chairman following a revolt by Santos's Brazilian fans.<ref>{{cite news |language=it |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Inter/26-05-2016/moratti-pele-era-inter-ma-presidente-santos-cambio-idea-150846346845.shtml?refresh_ce-cp |title=Moratti: "Pelé era dell'Inter, ma il presidente del Santos cambiò idea..." |trans-title=Moratti: "Pelé was Inter's, but the president of Santos changed his mind ..." |last=Cecere |first=Nicola |date=26 May 2016 |newspaper=[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]] |access-date=30 August 2018 |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082246/https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Inter/26-05-2016/moratti-pele-era-inter-ma-presidente-santos-cambio-idea-150846346845.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Valencia CF]] also arranged an agreement that would have brought Pelé to the club after the 1958 World Cup, however after his performances at the tournament, Santos declined to let the player leave.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chilet |first=Vicent |date=23 December 2019 |title=Cuando el Valencia pudo haber fichado a Pelé |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/deportes/20191223/cuando-valencia-pudo-haber-fichado-pele-viaje-cubells-brasil-7785396 |access-date=24 December 2022 |website=elperiodico |language=es |archive-date=24 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224174940/https://www.elperiodico.com/es/deportes/20191223/cuando-valencia-pudo-haber-fichado-pele-viaje-cubells-brasil-7785396 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 March 2019 |title=El Valencia llegó a tener un acuerdo para fichar a Pelé |url=https://www.elespanol.com/deportes/futbol/20190318/valencia-llego-tener-acuerdo-fichar-pele/384212116_0.html |access-date=24 December 2022 |website=El Español |language=es |archive-date=24 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224164727/https://www.elespanol.com/deportes/futbol/20190318/valencia-llego-tener-acuerdo-fichar-pele/384212116_0.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1961 the [[government of Brazil]] under President [[Jânio Quadros]] declared Pelé an "official national treasure" to prevent him from being transferred out of the country.<ref name="pelebio"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Chelala|first1=Cesar|title=Pele, Maradona and Messi: soccer's holy trinity|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/04/11/commentary/world-commentary/pele-maradona-and-messi-soccers-holy-trinity/|work=[[The Japan Times]]|year=2014|access-date=21 July 2017|archive-date=29 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929072756/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/04/11/commentary/world-commentary/pele-maradona-and-messi-soccers-holy-trinity/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Pelé won his first major title with Santos in 1958 as the team won the [[Campeonato Paulista]]; he would finish the tournament as the top scorer, with 58 goals,<ref>{{cite news|title=Campeonato Paulista: Artilheiros da história – 2|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/especial/2008/campeonatopaulista/artilheiros_da_historia-2.shtml|work=Brasil em Folhas|date=17 January 2008|language=pt|access-date=18 August 2010|archive-date=1 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501110603/http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/especial/2008/campeonatopaulista/artilheiros_da_historia-2.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> a record that still stands today. A year later, he would help the team earn their first victory in the [[Torneio Rio-São Paulo]] with a 3–0 over Vasco da Gama.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Unzelte|first1=Celso|last2=Varanda|first2=Pedro|last3=Cammarota|first3=Giuseppe|last4=Barreto Berwanger|first4=Alexandre Magno|title=Fichas Técnicas De Jogos Que Decidiram O Torneio Rio-Sâo Paulo|url=http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/miscellaneous/matdecrjsp.htm|publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]|language=pt|year=2011|access-date=18 August 2010|archive-date=23 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423195647/http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/miscellaneous/matdecrjsp.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Santos was unable to retain the Paulista title. In 1960, Pelé scored 33 goals to help his team regain the Campeonato Paulista trophy but lost out on the Rio-São Paulo tournament after finishing in 8th place.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Matta |first1=Fernando |last2=Varanda |first2=Pedro |last3=Barreto Berwanger|first3=Alexandre Magno|last4=Unzelte|first4=Celso|last5=Leme de Arruda|first5=Marcelo|title=Torneio Rio-São Paulo 1960 |url=http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/tablesrz/rjsp1960.htm|publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091216095534/http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/tablesrz/rjsp1960.htm|archive-date=16 December 2009|language=pt|year=2009}}</ref> In the 1960 season, Pelé scored 47 goals and helped Santos regain the Campeonato Paulista. The club went on to win the [[Taça Brasil]] that same year, beating [[Esporte Clube Bahia|Bahia]] in the finals; Pelé finished as the top scorer of the tournament with nine goals. The victory allowed Santos to participate in the [[Copa Libertadores]], the most prestigious club tournament in the Western hemisphere.<ref>{{cite news|title=Santos revive spirit of Pele|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2769331.stm|work=[[BBC Sport]]|access-date=5 May 2011|date=16 February 2003|archive-date=12 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112150822/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2769331.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== 1962–1965: Copa Libertadores success ====
{{Quote box|width=30%|align=right|quote="I arrived hoping to stop a great man, but I went away convinced I had been undone by someone who was not born on the same planet as the rest of us."|source=—Benfica goalkeeper [[Costa Pereira]] following the loss to Santos in 1962.<ref name="FIFA quotes">[https://web.archive.org/web/20190627023833/https://www.fifa.com/news/what-they-said-about-pele-1321917 "What they said about Pele"]. FIFA. 16 Jul 2019.</ref>}}
Santos's most successful Copa Libertadores season started in [[1962 Copa Libertadores|1962]];{{sfn|Dunmore|2015|p=290}} the team was seeded in Group One alongside [[Cerro Porteño]] and Deportivo Municipal Bolivia, winning every match of their group but one (a 1–1 away tie versus Cerro). Santos defeated Universidad Católica in the semi-finals and met [[1961 Copa Libertadores|defending champions]] [[C.A. Peñarol|Peñarol]] in the finals. Pelé scored twice in the playoff match to secure the first title for a Brazilian club.<ref name="copa62">{{cite web|last1=Pierrend|first1=José Luis|last2=Beuker|first2=John|last3=Ciullini|first3=Pablo|last4=Gorgazzi|first4=Osvaldo|url=https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa62.html|title=Copa Libertadores de América 1962|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=29 January 2016|archive-date=27 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027180000/https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa62.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Pelé finished as the second top scorer of the competition with four goals. That same year, Santos would successfully defend the Campeonato Paulista (with 37 goals from Pelé) and the Taça Brasil (Pelé scoring four goals in the final series against Botafogo). Santos would also win the [[1962 Intercontinental Cup]] against [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]].<ref name="Intercontinental">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120506041330/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/matchreport/newsid%3D512321.html "Intercontinental Cups 1962 and 1963"]. FIFA. 15 January 2015</ref> Wearing his [[Squad number (association football)|number 10 shirt]], Pelé produced one of the best performances of his career, scoring a [[hat-trick]] in Lisbon as Santos won 5–2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1782903.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114145154/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1782903.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 November 2012|title=Extraordinary Pele crowns Santos in Lisbon|publisher=FIFA|date=11 October 2012|access-date=22 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Vickery|first1=Tim|title=Will South Africa 2010 produce a new Pele?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvickery/2009/11/pele.html|access-date=5 May 2011|work=BBC Sport|date=23 December 2009|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108113259/https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvickery/2009/11/pele.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Pele Netherlands 1962 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Pelé with Santos in the Netherlands, October 1962]]
Pelé states that his most memorable goal was scored at the [[Estádio Rua Javari]] on a Campeonato Paulista match against São Paulo rival [[Clube Atlético Juventus]] on 2 August 1959. As there is no video footage of this match, Pelé asked that a computer animation be made of this specific goal.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pele receives tribute for 1959 goal|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20060831/sport/pele-receives-tribute-for-1959-goal.42828|access-date=16 July 2017|work=The Times|location=Malta|date=31 August 2006|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108080910/https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/the-dghajsa-under-threat.4282|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 1961, Pelé scored the ''gol de placa'' (goal worthy of a plaque), against [[Fluminense Football Club|Fluminense]] at the Maracanã.<ref name="placa"/> Pelé received the ball on the edge of his own penalty area, and ran the length of the field, eluding opposition players with [[Dummy (football)#Association football|feints]], before striking the ball beyond the goalkeeper.<ref name="placa">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/y=2011/m=3/news=remembering-pele-gol-placa-1392726.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913225947/http://www.fifa.com/news/y=2011/m=3/news=remembering-pele-gol-placa-1392726.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 September 2015|title=Remembering Pele's gol de placa|publisher=FIFA|access-date=10 May 2011}}</ref> A plaque was commissioned with a dedication to "the most beautiful goal in the history of the Maracanã".{{sfn|Bellos|2003|p=244}}

[[File:PELÉ - 1963 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Pelé before facing [[Boca Juniors]] in the second leg of the [[1963 Copa Libertadores Finals]] at [[La Bombonera]]]]

As the defending champions, Santos qualified automatically to the semi-final stage of the [[1963 Copa Libertadores]]. The ''balé branco'' (white ballet), the nickname given to Santos at the time, managed to retain the title after victories over [[Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas|Botafogo]] and [[Boca Juniors]]. Pelé helped Santos overcome a Botafogo team that featured Brazilian greats such as [[Garrincha]] and [[Jairzinho]] with a last-minute goal in the first leg of the semi-finals which made it 1–1. In the second leg, Pelé scored a hat-trick in the [[Estádio do Maracanã]] as Santos won, 0–4, in the second leg. Santos started the final series by winning, 3–2, in the first leg and defeating Boca Juniors 1–2, in [[Estadio Alberto J. Armando|La Bombonera]]. It was a rare feat in official competitions, with another goal from Pelé.<ref name="1963 Copa">{{cite web|title=1963: With an amazing Pele, Brazil's Santos wins their second Copa Libertadores Tournament|url=http://www.conmebol.com/en/09102015-1742/1963-amazing-pele-brazils-santos-wins-their-second-copa-libertadores-tournament|publisher=CONMEBOL|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106171452/http://www.conmebol.com/en/09102015-1742/1963-amazing-pele-brazils-santos-wins-their-second-copa-libertadores-tournament|archive-date=6 November 2018|access-date=17 January 2019|date=12 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Santos became the first Brazilian team to lift the Copa Libertadores in Argentine soil. Pelé finished the tournament with five goals. Santos lost the Campeonato Paulista after finishing in third place but went on to win the Rio-São Paulo tournament after a 0–3 win over [[Clube de Regatas do Flamengo|Flamengo]] in the final, with Pelé scoring one goal. Pelé would also help Santos retain the Intercontinental Cup and the Taça Brasil against [[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]] and Bahia respectively.<ref name="Intercontinental" />

In the [[1964 Copa Libertadores]], Santos was beaten in both legs of the semi-finals by [[Club Atlético Independiente|Independiente]]. The club won the Campeonato Paulista, with Pelé netting 34 goals. Santos also shared the Rio-São Paulo title with Botafogo and won the Taça Brasil for the fourth consecutive year. In the [[1965 Copa Libertadores]], Santos reached the semi-finals and met Peñarol in a rematch of the 1962 final. After two matches, a playoff was needed to break the tie.<ref name="Red21">{{cite web|last1=Bassorelli|first1=Gerardo|title=En los años sesenta, Peñarol y Santos protagonizaron inolvidables batallas por la Libertadores, generando una rivalidad que transformó a este duelo en el primer clásico que tuvo la Copa.|url=https://www.lr21.com/deportes/457144-en-los-anos-sesenta-penarol-y-santos-protagonizaron-inolvidables-batallas-por-la-libertadores-generando-una-rivalidad-que-transformo-a-este-duelo-en-el-primer-clasico-que-tuvo-la-copa|publisher=LaRed21|access-date=30 July 2017|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108080905/https://www.lr21.com/deportes/457144-en-los-anos-sesenta-penarol-y-santos-protagonizaron-inolvidables-batallas-por-la-libertadores-generando-una-rivalidad-que-transformo-a-este-duelo-en-el-primer-clasico-que-tuvo-la-copa|url-status=dead}}</ref> Unlike 1962, Peñarol came out on top and eliminated Santos 2–1.<ref name="Red21"/> Pelé would, however, finish as the top scorer of the tournament with eight goals.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Andrés|first1=Juan Pablo |last2=Ballesteros |first2=Frank |last3=Di Maggio|first3=Robert|title=Copa Libertadores – Topscorers|url=https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copalibtops.html|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031101245/http://www.rsssf.com/sacups/copalibtops.html|archive-date=31 October 2015}}</ref>

==== 1965–1974: ''O Milésimo'' and final years with Santos ====
[[File:Pelé Mar del Plata 1965.PNG|thumb|upright|Pelé with Santos in 1965]]
In December 1965, Santos won the [[1965 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|Taça Brasil]], their fifth straight Brazilian league title, with Pelé scoring the last goal in the final series.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Trusdell |first1=Brian |title=Pelé : Soccer Star & Ambassador |date=2014 |publisher=ABDO |page=39}}</ref> In 1966, Santos failed to retain the Taça Brasil as Pelé's goals were not enough to prevent a 9–4 defeat by [[Cruzeiro Esporte Clube|Cruzeiro]] (led by [[Tostão]]) in the final series. The club did, however, win the Campeonato Paulista in 1967, 1968, and 1969. On 19 November 1969, Pelé scored his 1,000th goal in all competitions, in what was a highly anticipated moment in Brazil. The goal dubbed ''O Milésimo'' (The Thousandth), occurred in a match against Vasco da Gama, when Pelé scored from a penalty kick, at the Maracanã Stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/why-pele-milesimo-1000th-goal-still-matters-50-years-on/article64890042.ece|title=Why Pele's 1000th goal still matters, 50 years on|access-date=29 December 2022|date=19 November 2019|website=[[Sportstar]]|archive-date=29 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229191651/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/why-pele-milesimo-1000th-goal-still-matters-50-years-on/article64890042.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

Various sources have said that the two factions involved in the [[Nigerian Civil War]] agreed to a 48-hour [[ceasefire]] in 1969 so they could watch Pelé play an [[exhibition game]] in [[Lagos]]. An early source for this story was [[Ebony (magazine)|''Ebony'' magazine]] in 1975.<ref>{{cite news |title=Can Pelé bring the big payday to U.S. soccer?|work=Ebony|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iVx7JXZQWgEC&dq=pele+biafra&pg=PA136 |access-date=12 May 2024 |publisher=Johnson Publishing Company |date=September 1975 |page=137}}</ref> Santos ended up playing to a 2–2 draw with Lagos side Stationary Stores FC and Pelé scored his team's goals. The civil war went on for one more year after this game.<ref>{{cite web|url =https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1633945-pel-recalling-the-moments-that-defined-his-career|title =Pele: Recalling the Moments That Defined His Career|website =[[Bleacher Report]]|access-date =15 August 2020|archive-date =26 September 2021|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20210926162727/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1633945-pel-recalling-the-moments-that-defined-his-career|url-status =live}}</ref> In his autobiography, Pelé was unsure that there was a ceasefire, but said that there was an increased security presence at the game.<ref>{{cite book |title=Pele: The Autobiography |date=4 September 2008 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-84739-488-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NalAgJSnEUUC&dq=pele+biafra+war+ceasefire&pg=PT182 |access-date=12 May 2024|quote=It is said that there really was a 48-hour ceasefire in the war, made just for us … I’m not sure that is completely true}}</ref> Some sources, including Santos's website, say that the ceasefire was instead for the friendly in [[Benin City]], bordering Biafra. Local researchers have not found contemporary reports of any ceasefire.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Edwards |first1=Daniel |title=Did Pele and Santos really stop a war in Nigeria in 1969? |url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/did-pele-and-santos-really-stop-a-war-in-nigeria-in-1969/yhomuw4g6fyr1fdvda0pu58b3 |access-date=12 May 2024 |publisher=Goal.com |date=29 December 2022 |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512231550/https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/did-pele-and-santos-really-stop-a-war-in-nigeria-in-1969/yhomuw4g6fyr1fdvda0pu58b3 |url-status=live }}</ref>

During his time at Santos, Pelé played alongside many gifted players, including [[José Ely de Miranda|Zito]], [[José Macia|Pepe]], and [[Antônio Wilson Vieira Honório (Coutinho)|Coutinho]]; the latter partnered him in numerous one-two plays, attacks, and goals.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151009172821/http://www.fifa.com/news/y=2007/m=4/news=pele-edges-eusebio-santos-defend-title-510495.html Santos – Pelé edges Eusébio as Santos defend title] FIFA. 23 April 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2011</ref> After Pelé's 19th season with Santos, he left Brazilian football.<ref name="auto1">{{cite news |last=Apple |first=R. W. Jr. |date=4 July 1975 |title=Pele to Play Soccer Here for $7-Million |page=A1 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/04/archives/pele-to-play-soccer-here-for-7million-pele-agrees-to-cosmos-pact.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=5 August 2019 |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108081642/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/04/archives/pele-to-play-soccer-here-for-7million-pele-agrees-to-cosmos-pact.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Pelé's 643 goals for Santos were the most goals scored for a single club until it was surpassed by [[Lionel Messi]] of [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] in December 2020.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lionel Messi passes Pele for most goals with one club (VIDEO)|url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2020/12/22/lionel-messi-most-goals-one-club-barcelona-pele-video|access-date=23 December 2020|magazine=Sports Illustrated|archive-date=5 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105173143/https://www.si.com/soccer/2020/12/22/lionel-messi-most-goals-one-club-barcelona-pele-video|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/22/european-roundup-lionel-messi-pele-record-barcelona-juventus-fiorentina-atletico-madrid |title=Lionel Messi breaks Pelé's record for goals at a single club |newspaper=The Guardian |date=23 December 2020 |access-date=23 December 2020 |archive-date=14 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014141307/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/22/european-roundup-lionel-messi-pele-record-barcelona-juventus-fiorentina-atletico-madrid |url-status=live }}</ref> <!--For anyone who can contribute, more information is needed from the period 1969-1974. -->

=== Tours with Santos ===
[[File:Pele in Egypt 2.jpg|thumb|Pelé cheering crowds in [[Cairo International Airport|Cairo Airport]], February 1973]]

Even though he never played in a European league, Pelé played exhibition games in several countries all over the world in tours with Santos. He played in Spain against [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] and [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]], in [[Italy]] against [[Juventus FC|Juventus]], [[Inter Milan]], [[AC Milan]] and [[AS Roma]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-12-30 |title=Loyal to Santos, Pele toured and scored in Europe |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/article-loyal-to-santos-pele-toured-and-scored-in-europe/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA |archive-date=31 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231005605/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/article-loyal-to-santos-pele-toured-and-scored-in-europe/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Pelé travelled to [[Egypt]] in 1973, and played with Santos against [[Al Ahly SC|Al Ahly]]. This trip was days after his team's trip to [[Kuwait]] to play a match against [[Qadsia SC|Qadsia]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alaa Abdel-Ghani |date=3 Jan 2023 |title=When Pelé played in Egypt |url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/50/483614/AlAhram-Weekly/When-Pel;-played-in-Egypt.aspx |access-date=17 March 2024 |archive-date=17 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240317142938/https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/50/483614/AlAhram-Weekly/When-Pel;-played-in-Egypt.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

In [[Kuwait]], Pelé met by chance the Egyptian movie star [[Zubaida Tharwat]], who was in Kuwait attending a cinematic event. The two had a couple of photos and he admired her beauty. She said in a television interview about this incident that: she had traveled to [[Kuwait City]] in 1973 at the invitation of the Kuwaiti Minister of Culture at the time, and when she went to the hotel where she was going to stay, she was surprised by the presence of many people and flowers inside the hotel, and among these people came to her "Pelé" wearing a collar of roses, and he removed it from him and put it on her.<ref>{{Cite web |last=كمال قبيسي |date=30 December 2022 |title=حين عشق بيليه ممثلة مصرية وطلب منها الزواج في الكويت |url=https://www.alarabiya.net/last-page/2020/10/26/حين-عشق-بيليه-ممثلة-مصرية-وطلب-منها-الزواج-في-الكويت}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pele and the Arab World |url=https://www.kuwaitmoments.com/pele-and-the-arab-world-548794.html |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Kuwait Moments |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Pele and Zubaida Tharwat.jpg|thumb|upright=0.95|Pelé and [[Zubaida Tharwat]] in Kuwait, February 1973]]

When she asked what was going on and who was this person, whom she did not know because she did not like football, the hotel staff told her that he was the famous Brazilian football player, and that the hotel was crowded with his fans who wanted to see him. Zubaida Tharwat stated that after he saw her for the first time inside the hotel where they happened to be, he kept chasing her day and night, and wanted to take her with him to Brazil.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-13 |title=قصة حب البرازيلى بيليه لـ زبيدة ثروت وإعجابه بها من أول نظرة فى الكويت |url=https://www.youm7.com/story/2021/12/13/%D9%82%D8%B5%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%87-%D9%84%D9%80-%D8%B2%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%AB%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AA-%D9%88%D8%A5%D8%B9%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%85%D9%86/5577152 |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=اليوم السابع |archive-date=17 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240317143318/https://www.youm7.com/story/2021/12/13/%D9%82%D8%B5%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%87-%D9%84%D9%80-%D8%B2%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%AB%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AA-%D9%88%D8%A5%D8%B9%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%85%D9%86/5577152 |url-status=live }}</ref> By chance, the next stop for Pelé's tour was to [[Cairo]], and he met again with Tharwat, who stated that she could not communicate with him as he did not speak [[English language|English]] at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A big surprise... Pele's love story with this late Arab artist? (photo) |url=https://dearborn.org/en/preview/a-big-surprise-peles-love-story-with-this-late-arab-artist-photo-19882 |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=dearborn.org |language=en |archive-date=17 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240317141114/https://dearborn.org/en/preview/a-big-surprise-peles-love-story-with-this-late-arab-artist-photo-19882 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Get to Know about Pelé-Zubaida Tharwat Love Story {{!}} Sada Elbalad |url=https://see.news/get-to-know-about-pele-zubaida-tharwat-love-story |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=see.news |language=en}}</ref>

=== New York Cosmos ===

[[File:President_Nixon_meeting_with_Edson_%22Pele%22_Arantes_do_Nacimento,_retired_professional_Brazilian_soccer_player_and..._-_NARA_-_194508.tif|thumb|left|Pelé signing a [[Ball (association football)|football]] for US president [[Richard Nixon]] at the [[White House]] in 1973, two years before joining the [[New York Cosmos (1970–85)|New York Cosmos]]]]

After the 1974 season (his 19th with Santos), Pelé retired from Brazilian club football although he continued to occasionally play for Santos in official competitive matches. A year later, he came out of semi-retirement to sign with the [[New York Cosmos (1970–85)|New York Cosmos]] of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|North American Soccer League]] (NASL) for the [[1975 North American Soccer League season|1975 season]].<ref name="auto1"/> At a chaotic press conference at New York's [[21 Club]], the Cosmos unveiled Pelé. John O'Reilly, the club's media spokesman, stated, "We had superstars in the United States but nothing at the level of Pelé. Everyone wanted to touch him, shake his hand, get a photo with him."<ref>{{cite news |first=Gavin |last=Newsham |title=When Pele and Cosmos were kings |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/jun/10/sport.comment |date=9 June 2005 |access-date=1 September 2020 |newspaper=The Guardian |archive-date=17 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517012754/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/jun/10/sport.comment |url-status=live }}</ref> Though well past his prime at this point, Pelé was credited with significantly increasing public awareness and interest of the sport in the US.<ref name="theG">{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Michael |date=30 September 2017 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/sep/30/pele-soccer-america-new-york-cosmos |title=How Pelé lit up soccer in America and left a legacy fit for a king |work=The Guardian |access-date=14 August 2020 |archive-date=1 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101031643/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/sep/30/pele-soccer-america-new-york-cosmos |url-status=live }}</ref> During his first public appearance in Boston, he was injured by a crowd of fans who had surrounded him and was evacuated on a stretcher.<ref>{{cite news |last=Yaisinis |first=Alex |date=21 June 1975 |title=Swarming Fans Injure Pele |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/21/archives/swarming-fans-injure-pele-pele-hurt-when-fans-rush-field.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=5 August 2019 |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108081643/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/21/archives/swarming-fans-injure-pele-pele-hurt-when-fans-rush-field.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Pele debut v tornado.jpg|thumb|upright|Pelé entering the field to play his first game with the Cosmos, 15 June 1975]]

Pelé made his debut for the Cosmos on 15 June 1975 against the [[Dallas Tornado]] at Downing Stadium, scoring one goal in a 2–2 draw.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Michael |date=2 June 2015 |title=40 years on: how New York Cosmos lured Pelé to a football wasteland |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/jun/02/40-years-on-how-new-york-cosmos-lured-pele-to-a-football-wasteland |work=The Guardian |access-date=5 August 2019 |archive-date=18 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118150827/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/jun/02/40-years-on-how-new-york-cosmos-lured-pele-to-a-football-wasteland |url-status=live }}</ref> Pelé opened the door for many other stars to play in North America. [[Giorgio Chinaglia]] followed him to the Cosmos, then [[Franz Beckenbauer]] and his former Santos teammate [[Carlos Alberto Torres|Carlos Alberto]]. Over the next few years other players came to the league, including [[Johan Cruyff]], [[Eusébio]], [[Bobby Moore]], [[George Best]] and [[Gordon Banks]].<ref name="theG" />

In 1975, one week before the [[Lebanese Civil War]], Pelé played a friendly game for the Lebanese club [[Nejmeh SC|Nejmeh]] against a team of [[Lebanese Premier League]] stars,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mepc.org/journal/football-and-politics-shadow-cedars-2000-2015|title=Football and Politics in the Shadow of the Cedars, 2000–2015|website=mepc.org|date=3 June 2018 |publisher=Middle East Policy Council|access-date=18 January 2019|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108081643/https://mepc.org/journal/football-and-politics-shadow-cedars-2000-2015|url-status=live}}</ref> scoring two goals which were not included in his official tally.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/lebanon-s-national-teams-fly-above-entrenched-sectarianism-among-supporters-1.810861|title=Lebanon's national teams fly above entrenched sectarianism among supporters|website=The National|date=8 January 2019|access-date=18 January 2019|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108080905/https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/lebanon-s-national-teams-fly-above-entrenched-sectarianism-among-supporters-1.810861|url-status=live}}</ref> On the day of the game, 40,000 spectators were at the stadium from early morning to watch the match.<ref name=":0" />

Pelé led the Cosmos to the [[Soccer Bowl '77|1977 Soccer Bowl]], in his third and final season with the club.{{sfn|Dunmore|2011|p=198}} In June 1977, the Cosmos attracted an NASL record 62,394 fans to [[Giants Stadium]] for a 3–0 victory past the [[Tampa Bay Rowdies]] with a 37-year-old Pelé scoring a hat-trick. In the first leg of the quarter-finals, they attracted a US record crowd of 77,891 for what turned into an 8–3 rout of the [[Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1977–1983)|Fort Lauderdale Strikers]] at Giants Stadium. In the second leg of the semi-finals against the [[Rochester Lancers (1967–1980)|Rochester Lancers]], the Cosmos won 4–1.<ref name="theG"/> Pelé finished his official playing career on 28 August 1977, by leading the New York Cosmos to their second Soccer Bowl title with a 2–1 win over the [[Seattle Sounders (1974–83)|Seattle Sounders]] at the [[Civic Stadium (Portland, Oregon)|Civic Stadium]] in [[Portland, Oregon]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Gustkey |first=Earl |date=28 August 1999 |title=Pele's Contributions Gave Soccer a Foothold |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-28-sp-4571-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=17 September 2021 |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082158/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-28-sp-4571-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 1 October 1977, Pelé closed out his career in an exhibition match between the Cosmos and Santos. The match was played in front of a sold-out crowd at Giants Stadium and was televised in the US on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[Wide World of Sports (U.S. TV series)|Wide World of Sports]]'' as well as throughout the world. Pelé's father and wife both attended the match, as well as [[Muhammad Ali]] and Bobby Moore.{{sfn|Freedman|2014|p=165}} Delivering a message to the audience before the start of the game—"Love is more important than what we can take in life"—Pelé played the first half with the Cosmos, the second with Santos. The game ended with the Cosmos winning 2–1, with Pelé scoring with a 30-yard free-kick for the Cosmos in what was the final goal of his career. During the second half, it started to rain, prompting a Brazilian newspaper to come out with the headline the following day: "Even The Sky Was Crying."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/10/02/archives/love-love-love-cries-pele-to-75646-in-farewell-love-love-cries-pele.html|title='Love! Love! Love!' Cries Pele to 75,646 in Farewell|newspaper=The New York Times|date=2 October 1977|access-date=13 August 2020|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108080905/https://www.nytimes.com/1977/10/02/archives/love-love-love-cries-pele-to-75646-in-farewell-love-love-cries-pele.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== International career ==

Pelé's first international match was a 2–1 defeat against [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] on 7 July 1957 at the Maracanã.<ref>{{cite web|title=Seven the number for Pele|publisher=FIFA|year=2007 |url=https://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/news/y=2007/m=12/news=seven-the-number-for-pele-662886.html|access-date=5 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218172536/http://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/news/y=2007/m=12/news=seven-the-number-for-pele-662886.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="young">{{cite news|title=Top 10: Young sporting champions|work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/3280088/Top-10-Young-sporting-champions.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/3280088/Top-10-Young-sporting-champions.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |location=UK|date=28 October 2008|access-date=5 May 2011|first=Bob|last=Williams}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In that match, he scored his first goal for Brazil aged 16 years and eight months, and he remains the youngest goalscorer for his country.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jack|last=Lang|title=60 years ago today, Pele scored his first Brazil goal and began a career that would change football |work=The Independent |date=7 July 2017 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/pele-brazil-goal-60-years-on-how-peles-changed-football-a7829346.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/pele-brazil-goal-60-years-on-how-peles-changed-football-a7829346.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Morrison|first1=Neil|last2=Gandini|first2=Luca|last3=Villante|first3=Eric|title=Oldest and Youngest Players and Goal-scorers in International Football|publisher=Rec. Sport. Soccer Statistics Foundation|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/oldest-youngest.html|access-date=3 February 2023|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726065645/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/oldest-youngest.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 1958 World Cup ===

[[File:Pelé vs swedish defenders 1958.jpg|thumb|left|Pelé (number 10) dribbles past three Swedish players at the [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958 World Cup]].]]

Pelé arrived in Sweden sidelined by a knee injury but on his return from the treatment room, his colleagues stood together and insisted upon his selection.<ref>{{cite news|title=Simply the best ever|url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldcup2002/history/legends/pele.htm|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|date=25 April 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030102003500/http://www.abc.net.au/worldcup2002/history/legends/pele.htm|archive-date=2 January 2003}}</ref> His first match was against the [[USSR national football team|USSR]] in the third match of the first round of the 1958 FIFA World Cup, where he gave the assist to Vavá's second goal.<ref>{{cite news|title=Copa 1958|url=http://esportes.terra.com.br/futebol/copa2006/interna/0,,OI683679-EI5499,00.html|work=[[Terra Networks]]|year=2006|language=pt|access-date=24 October 2010|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082158/https://www.terra.com.br/busca/?q=futebol/copa2006/interna/0,,OI683679-EI5499,00.html&curl=http://esportes.terra.com.br/futebol/copa2006/interna/0,,OI683679-EI5499,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was at the time the youngest player ever to participate in the World Cup.{{refn|group=note|The mark was surpassed by [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]]'s [[Norman Whiteside]] in the [[1982 FIFA World Cup]].}}<ref name="young"/> He scored his first World Cup goal against [[Wales national football team|Wales]] in the quarter-finals, the only goal of the match, to help Brazil advance to the semi-finals while becoming the youngest ever World Cup goalscorer at 17 years and 239 days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thesefootballtimes.co/2015/07/09/norman-whiteside-world-beater-at-17-retired-by-26/|title=Norman Whiteside: world beater at 17, retired by 26|last=Gault|first=Matt|date=9 July 2015|work=These Football Times|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082518/https://thesefootballtimes.co/2015/07/09/norman-whiteside-world-beater-at-17-retired-by-26/|url-status=live}}</ref> Against [[France national football team|France]] in the semi-final, Brazil was leading 2–1 at halftime, and then Pelé scored a hat-trick, becoming the youngest player in World Cup history to do so.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hawkes|first1=Will |title=Flashback No 6. Sweden 1958: Pele's genius propels Brazil to first title |work=[[The Independent]]|date=26 May 2010 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/flashback-no-6-sweden-1958-peles-genius-propels-brazil-to-first-title-1983746.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/flashback-no-6-sweden-1958-peles-genius-propels-brazil-to-first-title-1983746.html |archive-date=25 May 2022}}</ref>

[[File:1958 VM-final Sverige-Brasilien.jpg|thumb|17-year-old Pelé cries on the shoulder of goalkeeper [[Gylmar dos Santos Neves|Gilmar]] after Brazil won the [[1958 FIFA World Cup final|1958 World Cup final]].]]

On 29 June 1958, Pelé became the [[FIFA World Cup records|youngest player to play in a World Cup final match]] at 17 years and 249 days. He scored two goals in [[1958 FIFA World Cup Final|that final]] as Brazil beat [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]] 5–2 in Stockholm, the capital. Pelé hit the post and then [[Vavá]] scored two goals to give Brazil the lead. Pelé's first goal, where he flicked the ball over a defender before [[Volley (football)|volleying]] into the corner of the net, was selected as one of the best goals in the history of the World Cup.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080930212802/http://www.fifa.com/newscentre/news/newsid=82406.html FIFA World Cup Goal of the Century] FIFA. 30 May 2002. Retrieved 5 May 2011</ref> Following Pelé's second goal, Swedish player [[Sigvard Parling]] would later comment, "When Pelé scored the fifth goal in that Final, I have to be honest and say I felt like applauding".<ref name="Quotes"/> When the match ended, Pelé passed out on the field, and was revived by Garrincha.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Pelé|title=How a teenager took the world by wizardry|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/may/13/sport.bookextracts|date=13 May 2006|access-date=16 July 2017|work=The Guardian|archive-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922080813/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/may/13/sport.bookextracts|url-status=live}}</ref> He then recovered, and was compelled by the victory to weep as he was being congratulated by his teammates. He finished the tournament with six goals in four matches played, tied for second place, behind record-breaker [[Just Fontaine]], and was named best young player of the tournament.<ref name="fifa.com">[https://web.archive.org/web/20150407144418/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/sweden1958/awards/index.html 1958 FIFA World Cup Sweden – Awards] FIFA. Retrieved 6 May 2011</ref> His impact was arguably greater off the field, with Barney Ronay writing, "With nothing but talent to guide him, the boy from Minas Gerais became the first black global sporting superstar, and a source of genuine uplift and inspiration."<ref name="Ronay"/>

It was in the 1958 World Cup that Pelé began wearing a jersey with the number 10, which was the result of disorganization: the leaders of the Brazilian Federation did not allocate the shirt numbers of players and it was up to [[FIFA]] to choose the number 10 shirt for Pelé, who was a substitute on the occasion.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Spencer|first1=Jamie|title=The Fascinating Stories Behind 13 Famous Shirt Numbers|url=http://www.90min.com/posts/2491270-the-fascinating-stories-behind-13-famous-shirt-numbers|publisher=90 Min|date=7 September 2015|access-date=9 July 2017|archive-date=11 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111015033/https://www.90min.com/posts/2491270-the-fascinating-stories-behind-13-famous-shirt-numbers|url-status=live}}</ref> The press proclaimed Pelé the greatest revelation of the 1958 World Cup, and he was also retroactively given the Silver Ball as the second best player of the tournament, behind [[Valdir Pereira|Didi]].<ref name="Quotes"/>

=== 1959 South American Championship ===

Pelé also played in the [[Copa America|South American Championship]]. In the [[1959 South American Championship (Argentina)|1959 competition]] he was named best player of the tournament and was the top scorer with eight goals, as Brazil came second despite being unbeaten in the tournament.<ref name="Quotes"/><ref name="rsssf1">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/sachampfulltrivia.html|last=Tabeira|first=Martín|title=The Copa América Archive – Trivia|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|date=19 July 2007|access-date=16 June 2014|archive-date=27 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727041229/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/sachampfulltrivia.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He scored in five of Brazil's six games, including two goals against [[Chile national football team|Chile]] and a hat-trick against [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]].<ref name="Scorers">{{cite web |last1=Tabeira |first1=Martín |year=2009 |title=Southamerican Championship 1959 (1st Tournament) |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/59-1safull.html |publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]] |access-date=3 February 2023 |archive-date=21 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121212500/https://www.rsssf.org/tables/59-1safull.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 1962 World Cup ===

[[File:Italy v Brazil, 12 May 1963 - Trapattoni and Pelé.jpg|thumb|upright|Pelé with Brazil taking on Italy's [[Giovanni Trapattoni]] at the [[San Siro]], Milan, in 1963]]

When the 1962 World Cup started, Pelé was considered the best player in the world.<ref name="ifhof">{{cite web|title=PELE – International Football Hall of Fame|url=http://www.ifhof.com/hof/pele.asp|website=ifhof.com|access-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182600/http://www.ifhof.com/hof/pele.asp|archive-date=3 March 2016 }}</ref> In the first match of the 1962 World Cup in Chile, against [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]], Pelé assisted the first goal and then scored the second one, after a run past four defenders, to go up 2–0.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://remezcla.com/features/sports/pele-legendary-assault-on-mexico-defense-1962-world-cup/|title=A Look Back at Pelé's Legendary Takedown of Mexico's Defense at the 1962 World Cup|last=Kunti|first=Samindra|date=23 October 2015|website=Remezcla|access-date=29 July 2017|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082243/https://remezcla.com/features/sports/pele-legendary-assault-on-mexico-defense-1962-world-cup/|url-status=live}}</ref> He got injured in the next game while attempting a long-range shot against [[Czechoslovakia national football team|Czechoslovakia]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Downie|first1=Andrew|title=Brazilians look to Pele and 1962 for Cup-winning omen|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-world-bra-pele-neymar-idINKBN0FB0QO20140706|access-date=16 July 2017|work=Reuters|date=6 July 2014|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108080906/https://www.reuters.com/?edition-redirect=in|url-status=dead}}</ref> This would keep him out of the rest of the tournament, and forced coach [[Aymoré Moreira]] to make his only lineup change of the tournament. The substitute was [[Amarildo Tavares da Silveira|Amarildo]], who performed well for the rest of the tournament. However, it was Garrincha who would take the leading role and carry Brazil to their second World Cup title, after beating Czechoslovakia at the final in Santiago.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Moore|first1=Glenn|title=Pele: The Greatest|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/pele-the-greatest-480876.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/pele-the-greatest-480876.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=5 May 2011|work=The Independent|date=3 June 2006}}</ref> At the time, only players who appeared in the final were eligible for a medal before FIFA regulations were changed in 1978 to include the entire squad, with Pelé receiving his winner's medal retroactively in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|title= Pele and Greaves to get World Cup winners medals|url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/nov/25/newsstory.sport9|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130928205102/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/nov/25/newsstory.sport9|archive-date=28 September 2013 |url-status=live|work=The Guardian|date=25 November 2007}}</ref>

=== 1966 World Cup ===

Pelé was the most famous footballer in the world during the [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966 World Cup]] in England, and Brazil fielded some world champions like Garrincha, [[Gilmar]] and [[Djalma Santos]] with the addition of other stars like Jairzinho, Tostão and [[Gérson]], leading to high expectations for them.<ref name="fifa66">[https://web.archive.org/web/20150406162655/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/england1966/groups/index.html#534 "1966 FIFA World Cup England: Group 3"]. FIFA. Retrieved 16 January 2015</ref> Brazil was eliminated in the first round, playing only three matches.<ref name="fifa66"/> The World Cup was marked, among other things, for brutal fouls on Pelé that left him injured by the Bulgarian and Portuguese defenders.<ref name="conspiracy">{{cite web|last1=Burnton|first1=Simon|title=Why not everyone remembers the 1966 World Cup as fondly as England.|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/jul/24/1966-world-cup-final-conspiracy-refereeing-50-years|work=The Guardian|date=24 July 2016|access-date=17 July 2019|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108081642/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/jul/24/1966-world-cup-final-conspiracy-refereeing-50-years|url-status=live}}</ref>

Pelé scored the first goal from a free kick against [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]], becoming the first player to score in three successive FIFA World Cups, but due to his injury, a result of persistent fouling by the Bulgarians, he missed the second game against [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]].<ref name="fifa66"/> His coach stated that after the first game he felt "every team will take care of him in the same manner".<ref name="conspiracy" /> Brazil lost that game and Pelé, although still recovering, was brought back for the last crucial match against [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] at [[Goodison Park]] in Liverpool by the Brazilian coach [[Vicente Feola]]. Feola changed the entire defense, including the goalkeeper, while in midfield he returned to the formation of the first match. During the game, Portugal defender [[João Morais]] fouled Pelé, but was not sent off by referee [[George McCabe]]; a decision retrospectively viewed as being among the worst refereeing errors in World Cup history.<ref name="tgraph"/> Pelé had to stay on the field limping for the rest of the game since substitutes were not allowed in football at that time.<ref name="tgraph">{{cite news|last1=Collins|first1=Nick|title=World Cup final: 10 top World Cup refereeing errors|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/7880551/World-Cup-final-10-top-World-Cup-refereeing-errors.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/7880551/World-Cup-final-10-top-World-Cup-refereeing-errors.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|date=9 July 2010|access-date=8 May 2011|work=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Brazil lost the match against the Portuguese led by Eusébio and were eliminated from the tournament as a result.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/1966england/match-center/1598|title=1966 FIFA World Cup Portugal v Brazil – Report|publisher=FIFA|access-date=15 December 2022|archive-date=15 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215232242/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/1966england/match-center/1598|url-status=live}}</ref> After this game he vowed he would never again play in the World Cup, a decision he would later change.<ref name="ifhof" />

=== 1970 World Cup ===

[[File:Brazil 1970.JPG|thumb|The [[Brazil at the 1970 FIFA World Cup|Brazil team of 1970]], with Pelé front row second from right]]

Pelé was called to the national team in early 1969, he refused at first, but then accepted and played in six [[1970 FIFA World Cup qualification|World Cup qualifying]] matches, scoring six goals.<ref name="internationalgoals">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/pele-intlg.html|title=Edson Arantes do Nascimento "Pelé" – Goals in International matches|last=Mamrud|first=Roberto|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=1 May 2011|archive-date=27 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627023832/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/pele-intlg.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970 World Cup]] in Mexico was expected to be Pelé's last. Brazil's squad for the tournament featured major changes to the 1966 squad. Players like Garrincha, Nilton Santos, Valdir Pereira, Djalma Santos, and Gilmar had already retired. However, Brazil's 1970 World Cup squad, which included players like Pelé, [[Rivellino]], Jairzinho, Gérson, Carlos Alberto Torres, Tostão and [[Clodoaldo]], is often considered to be the greatest football team in history.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bell |first=Jack |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/11/sports/soccer/11poll.html |title=1970 Brazilian Soccer Team Voted Best Ever |access-date=5 May 2011 |work=The New York Times |date=11 July 2007 |archive-date=10 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110133439/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/11/sports/soccer/11poll.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="greatest">{{cite news|last=Joseph|first=Paul|title=The boys from Brazil: On the trail of football's dream team|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/the-boys-from-brazil-on-the-trail-of-footballs-dream-team-806939.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/the-boys-from-brazil-on-the-trail-of-footballs-dream-team-806939.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=14 May 2011|work=The Independent|date=9 April 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Baxter |first=Kevin |title=World Cup: The 10 best teams of all time |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-world-cup-best-teams-ever-20140511-story.html |access-date=7 September 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=10 May 2014 |quote=1. Brazil 1970: The 1970 team that won the third of Brazil's record five World Cups is widely considered the best. |archive-date=7 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907131502/https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-world-cup-best-teams-ever-20140511-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The front five of Jairzinho, Pelé, Gerson, Tostão, and Rivellino together created an attacking momentum, with Pelé having a central role in Brazil's way to the final.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mexico in thrall to Brazilians' beautiful game|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2007/m=3/news=mexico-thrall-brazilians-beautiful-game-502136.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427201924/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2007/m=3/news=mexico-thrall-brazilians-beautiful-game-502136.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 April 2015|publisher=FIFA|access-date=17 July 2017}}</ref> All of Brazil's matches in the tournament (except the final) were played in [[Guadalajara, Mexico|Guadalajara]], and in the first match against Czechoslovakia, Pelé gave Brazil a 2–1 lead, by controlling Gerson's 50-yard pass with his chest and then scoring.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pele and 1970: How the greatest player of all time cemented his legend |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62712350 |access-date=9 September 2023 |publisher=BBC |archive-date=5 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005082608/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62712350 |url-status=live }}</ref> In this match Pelé attempted to [[Chip (association football)|lob]] goalkeeper [[Ivo Viktor]] from the halfway line, only narrowly missing the Czechoslovak goal.<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news|last=Hughes|first=Rob|title=The Greatest? For Century, Pele Eclipses Muhammad Ali|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/29/sports/IHT-the-greatestfor-century-pele-eclipses-muhammad-ali.html|access-date=5 May 2011|work=The New York Times|date=29 December 1999|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108201047/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/29/sports/IHT-the-greatestfor-century-pele-eclipses-muhammad-ali.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Brazil went on to win the match, 4–1. In the first half of the match against [[England national football team|England]], Pelé nearly scored with a header that was saved by the England goalkeeper Gordon Banks. Pelé recalled he was already shouting "Goal" when he headed the ball. It was often referred to as the "save of the century".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/jun/30/sport.comment|title=And God created Pelé|access-date=5 May 2011|work=The Guardian|first=Simon|last=Hattenstone|date=30 June 2003|location=London|archive-date=8 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008130900/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/jun/30/sport.comment|url-status=live}}</ref> In the second half, he controlled a cross from Tostão before flicking the ball to Jairzinho who scored the only goal.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2159702.stm|title=Jairzinho and Banks reunited|date=2 August 2002|publisher=BBC|access-date=28 July 2022|archive-date=17 October 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021017221956/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2159702.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Panini pele photo only.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Pelé [[association football trading card|trading card]] from the [[1970 FIFA World Cup|Mexico 70]] series issued by [[Panini Group|Panini]]]]
Against [[Romania national football team|Romania]], Pelé scored two goals, which included a 20-yard bending free-kick, with Brazil winning 3–2. In the quarter-final against [[Peru national football team|Peru]], Brazil won 4–2, with Pelé assisting Tostão for Brazil's third goal. In the semi-final, Brazil faced [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] for the first time since the [[Uruguay v Brazil (1950 FIFA World Cup)|1950 World Cup final round match]]. Jairzinho put Brazil ahead 2–1, and Pelé assisted Rivellino for the 3–1. During that match, Pelé made [[Pelé runaround move|one of his most famous plays]]. Tostão passed the ball for Pelé to collect which Uruguay's goalkeeper [[Ladislao Mazurkiewicz]] took notice of and ran off his line to get the ball before Pelé. However, Pelé got there first and fooled Mazurkiewicz with a feint by not touching the ball, causing it to roll to the goalkeeper's left, while Pelé went to the goalkeeper's right. Pelé ran around the goalkeeper to retrieve the ball and took a shot while turning towards the goal, but he turned in excess as he shot, and the ball drifted just wide of the far post.<ref name="NYTimes" /><ref name="skysports">{{cite news|last1=Joyce|first1=Stephen|title=Mexico 1970: Brazilians show all how beautiful game should be played|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/world-cup-2010/story/0,27032,17286_5688110,00.html|work=Sky Sports|date=12 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210151216/http://www.skysports.com/football/world-cup-2010/story/0%2C27032%2C17286_5688110%2C00.html|archive-date=10 February 2010}}</ref>
{{Quote box
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Brazil played [[Italy national football team|Italy]] in the [[1970 FIFA World Cup final|final]] at the [[Azteca Stadium]] in Mexico City.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100106062034/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/technicaldevp/50/09/67/wc%5f70%5ftr%5f313.pdf "World Championship – Jules Rimet Cup 1970 Final"]. FIFA. Retrieved 17 December 2014</ref> Pelé scored the opening goal with a header after out jumping Italian defender [[Tarcisio Burgnich]]. Brazil's 100th World Cup goal, Pelé's leap of joy into the arms of teammate Jairzinho in [[Goal celebration|celebrating the goal]] is regarded as one of the most iconic moments in World Cup history.<ref>{{cite news|title=Coca-Cola Memorable Celebrations 1: Pele's Iconic Leap of Joy After Scoring Brazil's Century Goal|url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/3066/coca-cola-memorable-celebrations/2010/06/10/1968420/coca-cola-memorable-celebrations-1-peles-iconic-leap-of-joy|access-date=8 October 2018|work=[[Goal (website)|Goal]]|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108083004/https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/coca-cola-memorable-celebrations-1-peles-iconic-leap-of-joy/blt4879de725ae7fd7e|url-status=live}}</ref> He then made assists for Brazil's third goal, scored by Jairzinho, and the fourth finished by Carlos Alberto. The last goal of the game is often considered the greatest team goal of all time because it involved all but two of the team's outfield players. The play culminated after Pelé made a blind pass that went into Carlos Alberto's running trajectory. He came running from behind and struck the ball to score.<ref>Benson, Andrew (2 June 2006) [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/brazil/4759831.stm "The perfect goal"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830031204/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/brazil/4759831.stm |date=30 August 2018 }}. BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2011.</ref> Brazil won the match 4–1, keeping the [[FIFA World Cup Trophy#Jules Rimet Trophy|Jules Rimet Trophy]] indefinitely, and Pelé received the [[FIFA World Cup awards#Golden Ball|Golden Ball]] as the player of the tournament.<ref name="Quotes"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=73382.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202115728/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=73382.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 December 2008|title=Brazil's heroes of 1970 relive their days of glory|publisher=FIFA|date=10 June 2000|access-date=6 May 2011}}</ref> Burgnich, who marked Pelé during the final, was quoted saying, "I told myself before the game, ''he's made of skin and bones just like everyone else''&nbsp;– but I was wrong".<ref name="wrong"/> In terms of his goals and assists throughout the 1970 World Cup, Pelé was directly responsible for 53% of Brazil's goals throughout the tournament.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/spain-s-2010-conquerors-in-numbers-2904843 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180607103350/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/spain-s-2010-conquerors-in-numbers-2904843 |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 June 2018 |title=Spain's 2010 conquerors in numbers |publisher=FIFA |date=22 August 2017 |access-date=18 May 2020 }}</ref>

Pelé's last international match was on 18 July 1971 against [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] in Rio de Janeiro. With Pelé on the field, the Brazilian team's record was 67&nbsp;wins, 14&nbsp;draws, and 11&nbsp;losses.<ref name="internationalgoals"/> Brazil never lost a match while fielding both Pelé and Garrincha.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stevenson|first1=Jonathan|title=Remembering the genius of Garrincha|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7197754.stm|access-date=8 December 2013|publisher=BBC|date=20 January 2008|archive-date=28 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228045741/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7197754.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Pelé's 77 goals (in 92 games){{refn|group=note|name=InternationalApps}} for Brazil saw him hold the record as the [[Brazil national football team#Top goalscorers|national team's top goalscorer]] for over fifty years until it was surpassed by [[Neymar]] (in his 125th game) in September 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=Neymar passes Pele to become Brazil's record goalscorer |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023/0909/1404347-neymar-passes-pele-to-become-brazils-record-goalscorer/ |access-date=13 September 2023 |publisher=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]] |archive-date=10 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230910102811/https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023/0909/1404347-neymar-passes-pele-to-become-brazils-record-goalscorer/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Neymar overtakes Pele as Brazil's leading male goalscorer: 'I never imagined reaching this record' |url=https://www.tntsports.co.uk/football/neymar-overtakes-pele-as-brazils-leading-male-goalscorer-i-have-never-imagined-reaching-this-record_sto9788302/story.shtml |access-date=13 September 2023 |publisher=TNT Sports |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030213611/https://www.tntsports.co.uk/geoblocking.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 19 December 1973, Pelé played for a Brazil XI side against the [[World XI|Rest of The World]] in a farewell game for Garrincha, scoring the equalizer in an eventual 2–1 win.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/brazil-v-rest-of-the-world-19-december-1973-232676/ |title=Brazil v Rest of the World, 19 December 1973 |website=11v11.com |accessdate=24 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://terceirotempo.bol.uol.com.br/noticias/o-jogo-de-despedida-de-garrincha-que-completaria-82-anos |title=O jogo de despedida de garrincha, que completaria 82 anos |trans-title=Garrincha's farewell game, which would have turned 82 years old |language=pt |website=terceirotempo.bol.uol.com.br |accessdate=24 October 2024}}</ref> On 21 July 1983, the 42-year-old Pelé played for another Brazil XI side against a South Brazil team in [[Goiânia]] in a friendly match organized by [[Zico (footballer)|Zico]] to benefit the victims of a flood in [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina]]; he scored a free-kick in a 1–2 loss.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.zapcatalao.com.br/ultimo-gol-de-pele-com-a-camisa-do-brasil-foi-em-amistoso-em-goiania-em-1983/ |title=Último gol de Pelé com a camisa do Brasil foi em amistoso em Goiânia, em 1983 |trans-title=Pelé's last goal with the Brazil shirt was in a friendly in Goiânia, in 1983 |language=pt |website=www.zapcatalao.com.br |date=30 December 2022 |accessdate=24 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.podergoias.com.br/materia/12883/em-detalhes-a-ultima-vez-que-pele-jogou-em-goiania-em-1983 |title=Em detalhes: a última vez que Pelé jogou em Goiânia, em 1983 |trans-title=In detail: the last time Pelé played in Goiânia, in 1983 |language=pt |website=www.zapcatalao.com.br |date=29 December 2022 |accessdate=24 October 2024}}</ref>

== Style of play ==

[[File:Pelé 1960.jpg|thumb|Pelé dribbling past a defender while playing for Brazil, May 1960]]

Pelé was known for connecting the phrase "[[The Beautiful Game]]" with football.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/10887009/The-World-Cup-will-show-why-football-is-still-a-beautiful-game.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/10887009/The-World-Cup-will-show-why-football-is-still-a-beautiful-game.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=The World Cup will show why football is still a beautiful game|work=The Telegraph|issue=12 June 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> A prolific goalscorer, he was known for his ability to anticipate his opponents’ movements and finish off chances with an accurate and powerful shot with either foot.<ref name="britannica">{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pele-Brazilian-athlete|title=Pelé (Brazilian Athlete)|encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|access-date=18 July 2017|archive-date=11 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711132912/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pele-Brazilian-athlete|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="perfect player"/><ref name="Who is the greatest of all-time">{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11096/9766424/messi-ronaldo-pele-maradona-who-is-the-greatest-of-all-time|title=Messi? Ronaldo? Pele? Maradona? Who is the greatest of all-time?|publisher=Sky Sports|last=Bate|first=Adam|date=19 March 2015|access-date=27 February 2017|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082202/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11096/9766424/messi-ronaldo-pele-maradona-who-is-the-greatest-of-all-time|url-status=live}}</ref> Pelé was also a hard-working and complete player with exceptional vision and intelligence, who was recognised for his precise passing and the ability to provide teammates with [[Assist (football)|assists]].<ref name="Just who is the best No.10 of all-time">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/pele-or-puskas-maradona-or-messi-just-who-best-no10-all-time#:LI88bVyLMf3plA|title=Pele or Puskas? Maradona or Messi? Just who is the best No.10 of all-time?|magazine=[[FourFourTwo]]|last=Massarella|first=Louis|date=5 November 2015|access-date=11 February 2016|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108081642/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/pele-or-puskas-maradona-or-messi-just-who-best-no10-all-time#:LI88bVyLMf3plA|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Maradona's greatness">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2994491/Maradonas-genius-cannot-eclipse-Brazilian-master.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2994491/Maradonas-genius-cannot-eclipse-Brazilian-master.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Maradona's genius cannot eclipse Brazilian master|work=The Telegraph|last=Miller|first=David|date=12 December 2000|access-date=27 February 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://m.espn.com/soccer/blogs/blogpost?id=2706295&blogname=arsenal&wjb|title=Mesut Ozil's assists at Arsenal make a compelling case for player of the year|publisher=ESPN FC|last=Adams|first=Tom|date=9 November 2015 |access-date=27 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106192834/http://m.espn.com/soccer/blogs/blogpost?id=2706295&blogname=arsenal&wjb|archive-date=6 November 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In his early career, he played in a variety of [[Forward (association football)|attacking positions]]. Although he often operated inside the penalty area as a [[Striker (association football)|striker]] or [[centre forward]], his wide range of skills allowed him to play as an [[inside forward]] or a  [[second striker]].<ref name="NYTimes" /><ref name="Just who is the best No.10 of all-time" /><ref name="different number tens">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/y=2001/m=1/news=pele-and-maradona-two-very-different-number-tens-76134.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710124450/http://www.fifa.com/news/y=2001/m=1/news=pele-and-maradona-two-very-different-number-tens-76134.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 July 2015|title=Pelé and Maradona – two very different number tens|publisher=FIFA|date=25 January 2001|access-date=14 October 2012}}</ref> In his later career, he took on a [[Playmaker|playmaking]] role behind the strikers, often functioning as an [[attacking midfielder]].{{sfn|Pelé|2008|p=41}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/pele_(Enciclopedia-dello-Sport)/|title=PELE (Edson Arantes do Nascimento)|publisher=Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport (2002)|language=it|last=Pastorin|first=Darwin|access-date=27 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218092300/http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/pele_(Enciclopedia-dello-Sport)|archive-date=18 December 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Pelé's unique playing style combined speed, creativity, and technical skill with physical power, stamina, and athleticism. His technique, flair, agility, and [[Dribbling#Association football|dribbling]] skills allowed him to beat opponents with the ball, and frequently saw him use sudden changes of direction and elaborate feints to get past players, such as his trademark move, the ''drible da vaca''.<ref name="NYTimes" /><ref name="different number tens" /><ref name="Io, tra Herrera, Pelè e Berselli">{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/rubriche/la-storia/2010/04/21/news/mario_corso-3506629/|title=La vita mancina di Mario Corso "Io, tra Herrera, Pelè e Berselli"|work=La Repubblica|language=it|last=Marino|first=Giovanni|date=21 April 2010|access-date=28 February 2017|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082202/https://www.repubblica.it/rubriche/la-storia/2010/04/21/news/mario_corso-3506629/|url-status=live}}</ref> Another one of his signature moves was the ''paradinha'', or little stop.{{refn|group=note|Pelé would stop in the middle of a run-up to a penalty kick before shooting the ball; goalkeepers complained that this gave strikers an unfair advantage, however, and in the 1970s, FIFA banned this move from competitions.{{sfn|Pelé|2008|p=112}}}}{{sfn|Pelé|2008|p=112}}

Pelé excelled in the air, due to his heading accuracy, timing, and elevation.<ref name="perfect player" /><ref name="Maradona's greatness" /><ref name="Io, tra Herrera, Pelè e Berselli" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.corriere.it/sport/cards/40-anni-fa-l-addio-calcio-pele-storia-o-rei-tre-volte-campione-mondo/quel-talento.shtml |title=40 anni fa l'addio al calcio di Pelé: la storia di O Rei, tre volte campione del mondo |work=Il Corriere della Sera |language=it |last1=Radogna |first1=Fiorenzo |date=1 October 2017 |access-date=10 December 2018 |archive-date=24 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724034413/https://www.corriere.it/sport/cards/40-anni-fa-l-addio-calcio-pele-storia-o-rei-tre-volte-campione-mondo/quel-talento.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Renowned for his [[Curl (association football)|bending]] shots, he was also an accurate [[Direct free kick|free-kick]] taker and [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty]] taker, although he often refrained from taking penalties, stating that he believed it to be a cowardly way to score.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.us/blog/espn-fc-united-blog/68/post/2488254/pele-best-moments|title=Pele Top 10: World Cup glory, with Bobby Moore and goals, goals goals|publisher=ESPN FC|last=Miller|first=Nick|date=15 June 2015|access-date=27 February 2017|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108065924/https://www.espn.com/soccer/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2014/05/26/palleggio-volante-ed-esterno-destro-il-mondo-conobbe-il-bambino-pele47.html|title=Palleggio volante ed esterno destro il mondo conobbe il bambino Pelé|work=La Repubblica|language=it|last=Crosetti|first=Maurizio|date=26 May 2014|access-date=27 February 2017|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082508/https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2014/05/26/palleggio-volante-ed-esterno-destro-il-mondo-conobbe-il-bambino-pele47.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Pelé was also known to be a fair and highly influential player, who stood out for his charismatic leadership and sportsmanship on the pitch. His warm embrace of Bobby Moore following the Brazil vs England game at the 1970 World Cup is viewed as the embodiment of sportsmanship, with ''[[The New York Times]]'' stating the image "captured the respect that two great players had for each other. As they exchanged jerseys, touches, and looks, the sportsmanship between them was all in the image. No gloating and no fist-pumping from Pelé. No despair, no defeatism from Bobby Moore."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/sports/soccer/15iht-SOCCER.html |title=A Shot That Captured the Bigger Meaning in Sports |work=The New York Times |date=15 September 2010 |access-date=21 October 2018 |archive-date=23 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123203235/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/sports/soccer/15iht-SOCCER.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Pelé also earned a reputation for being a “big game player” due to his tendency to score crucial goals in important matches.<ref name="mastino">{{cite web |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio-estero/2010/10/15/pele_70_anni_intervista_tarcisio_burgnich.html |title=Il mastino Burgnich: "Il mio Pelé, il migliore di tutti" |publisher=[[Sky Italia]] |language=it |last1=Longhi |first1=Lorenzo |date=18 October 2010 |access-date=28 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402012708/https://sport.sky.it/calcio-estero/2010/10/15/pele_70_anni_intervista_tarcisio_burgnich.html |archive-date=2 April 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxsports.it/2018/06/28/mondiali-germania-eliminata-maledizione-campioni/ |title=Mondiali, la maledizione dei campioni in carica continua |publisher=foxsports.it |language=it |last1=Fiori |first1=Stefano |date=27 June 2018 |access-date=28 June 2018 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806031652/https://www.foxsports.it/2018/06/28/mondiali-germania-eliminata-maledizione-campioni/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/approfondimenti/20-calciatori-determinanti-decisivi-mondiali.html |title=Da Pelé a Grosso, i 20 calciatori più determinanti e decisivi ai Mondiali |publisher=Sky Italia |language=it |last1=Motisi |first1=Domenico |date=5 October 2017 |access-date=28 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402012707/https://sport.sky.it/calcio/approfondimenti/20-calciatori-determinanti-decisivi-mondiali.html |archive-date=2 April 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Legacy ==

[[File:Pele celebrating 1970.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Pelé being held aloft after winning the [[1970 FIFA World Cup final|1970 World Cup final]] in Mexico City. He is the only player to win three World Cups.]]

Among the most successful and popular sports figures of the 20th century,<ref>{{Cite web|title=ESPN.com – ENDOFCENTURY – Wide World of Sports athlete of the century|url=http://www.espn.com/endofcentury/s/century/wwos.html|access-date=4 June 2020|publisher=ESPN|archive-date=18 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518235718/http://www.espn.com/endofcentury/s/century/wwos.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Pelé is one of the most lauded players in the history of football and has been frequently ranked the best player ever.<ref name=fifa>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/news/pele-the-greatest-them-all-1656982 |title=FIFA: Pele, the greatest of them all |date=28 June 2012 |publisher=FIFA |access-date=11 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109195631/https://www.fifa.com/news/pele-the-greatest-them-all-1656982 |archive-date=9 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/5051768.stm|title=Pele tops World Cup legends poll|work=BBC News|date=12 June 2006|access-date=21 January 2016|archive-date=26 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326070105/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/5051768.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Best of the Best|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/bestbest.html|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126041553/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/bestbest.html|archive-date=26 January 2010}}</ref><ref>Various sources:

* {{Cite web |last=Le Miere |first=Jason |date=7 October 2014 |title=Top 50 Greatest Footballers Of All-Time – Pelé, Maradona, Messi And Ronaldo Included In The Best Soccer Players Ever List |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/top-50-greatest-footballers-all-time-pele-maradona-messi-ronaldo-included-best-soccer-1624974 |access-date=9 December 2022 |website=[[International Business Times]] |archive-date=21 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121015549/https://www.ibtimes.com/top-50-greatest-footballers-all-time-pele-maradona-messi-ronaldo-included-best-soccer-1624974 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Rob |date=27 May 2018 |title=Pelé has been voted the greatest footballer of all time |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/pele-greatest-footballer-brazil-messi-ronaldo-maradona-voted-a8371576.html |access-date=9 December 2022 |website=[[The Independent]] |archive-date=16 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716235713/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/pele-greatest-footballer-brazil-messi-ronaldo-maradona-voted-a8371576.html |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite news |last=Mahmood |first=Zahid |date=12 June 2018 |title=Vincent Kompany: 'Pele is the greatest player of all time' |publisher=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/12/sport/vincent-kompany-world-cup-spt-intl/index.html |access-date=9 December 2022 |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209151828/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/12/sport/vincent-kompany-world-cup-spt-intl/index.html |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite news |last=Rostance |first=Tom |date=24 October 2020 |title=Pele at 80: Where does he rank among the GOATs? |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54543144 |access-date=9 December 2022 |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209171112/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54543144 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite web |date=4 December 2022 |title=Wenger's 'idol' and the 'best ever' for Klinsmann |url=https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/video/wengers-idol-best-ever-klinsmann-134600181.html |access-date=9 December 2022 |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209171117/https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/video/wengers-idol-best-ever-klinsmann-134600181.html |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite web |last=Benedict |first=Oreva |date=19 December 2022 |title=Pele is still the GOAT ahead of Messi, Ronaldo – Oliseh |url=https://www.kemifilani.ng/sport/pele-is-still-the-goat-ahead-of-messi-ronaldo-oliseh |access-date=22 December 2022 |archive-date=24 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224010508/https://www.kemifilani.ng/sport/pele-is-still-the-goat-ahead-of-messi-ronaldo-oliseh |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite web |date=21 December 2022 |title=Ex-England ace Reid believes Pele is the greatest of all time |url=https://myinfo.com.gh/2022/12/ex-england-ace-reid-believes-pele-is-the-greatest-of-all-time/ |access-date=22 December 2022 |archive-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113130108/https://myinfo.com.gh/2022/12/ex-england-ace-reid-believes-pele-is-the-greatest-of-all-time/ |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite web |date=21 December 2022 |title=Leboeuf: Messi Can Never Overhaul GOAT Pele; Martinez Should Grow Up! Zidane To Succeed Deschamps |url=https://www.completesports.com/leboeuf-messi-can-never-overhaul-goat-pele-martinez-should-grow-up-zidane-to-succeed-deschamps/ |access-date=22 December 2022 |archive-date=22 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222070900/https://www.completesports.com/leboeuf-messi-can-never-overhaul-goat-pele-martinez-should-grow-up-zidane-to-succeed-deschamps/ |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite web |last=Chakraborty |first=Sushan |date=19 December 2022 |title=10 greatest football players of all time |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/10-greatest-football-players-time-pele-messi-maradona-ronaldo#keeda-comments-container |access-date=22 December 2022 |archive-date=9 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109144722/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/10-greatest-football-players-time-pele-messi-maradona-ronaldo#keeda-comments-container |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite web |last=Dalglish |first=Kenny |date=1 January 2023 |title=Sir Kenny Dalglish on Pele: The greatest-ever was so humble but left me starstruck |url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/kenny-dalglish-pele/ |access-date=23 January 2023 |archive-date=23 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123144101/https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/kenny-dalglish-pele/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Following his emergence at the 1958 World Cup he was nicknamed ''O Rei'' ("The King").<ref>{{cite news |title=O Rei arrives in style: 100 great World Cup moments |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/100-great-world-cup-moments-qatar-2022-11-pele-1958-sweden-youngest-scorer |access-date=4 December 2022 |publisher=FIFA |archive-date=3 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203225330/https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/100-great-world-cup-moments-qatar-2022-11-pele-1958-sweden-youngest-scorer |url-status=live }}</ref> Among his contemporaries, Dutch star Johan Cruyff stated, "Pelé was the only footballer who surpassed the boundaries of logic."<ref name="FIFA quotes"/> Brazil's 1970 World Cup-winning captain Carlos Alberto Torres opined: "His great secret was improvisation. Those things he did were in one moment. He had an extraordinary perception of the game."<ref name="FIFA quotes"/> According to Tostão, his strike partner at the 1970 World Cup: "Pelé was the greatest – he was simply flawless. And off the pitch he is always smiling and upbeat. You never see him bad-tempered. He loves being Pelé."<ref name="FIFA quotes"/> His Brazilian teammate Clodoaldo commented on the adulation he witnessed: "In some countries they wanted to touch him, in some they wanted to kiss him. In others they even kissed the ground he walked on. I thought it was beautiful, just beautiful."<ref name="FIFA quotes"/> According to Franz Beckenbauer, West Germany's 1974 World Cup-winning captain: "Pelé is the greatest player of all time. He reigned supreme for 20 years. There's no one to compare with him."<ref name="Quotes"/>

{{Quote box
|quote    = "I used to go out and people said Pelé! Pelé! Pelé! Pelé! all over the world, but no one remembers Edson. Edson is the person who has the feelings, who has the family, who works hard, and Pelé is the idol. Pelé doesn't die. Pelé will never die. Pelé is going to go on for ever. But Edson is a normal person who is going to die one day, and the people forget that." — Pelé on his lasting legacy.<ref>{{cite web |title= And God created Pele |url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/jun/30/sport.comment |website= The Guardian |date= 30 June 2003 |access-date= June 30, 2003 |archive-date= 8 October 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161008130900/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/jun/30/sport.comment |url-status= live }}</ref>
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Former Real Madrid and Hungary star [[Ferenc Puskás]] stated: "The greatest player in history was [[Alfredo Di Stéfano|Di Stéfano]]. I refuse to classify Pelé as a player. He was above that."<ref name="FIFA quotes"/> Just Fontaine, French striker and the leading scorer at the 1958 World Cup said "When I saw Pelé play, it made me feel I should hang up my boots."<ref name="FIFA quotes"/> England's 1966 FIFA World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore commented: "Pelé was the most complete player I've ever seen, he had everything. Two good feet. Magic in the air. Quick. Powerful. Could beat people with skill. Could outrun people. Only five feet and eight inches tall, yet he seemed a giant of an athlete on the pitch. Perfect balance and impossible vision. He was the greatest because he could do anything and everything on a football pitch. I remember [[João Saldanha]] the coach being asked by a Brazilian journalist who was the best goalkeeper in his squad. He said Pelé. The man could play in any position".<ref name="perfect player">{{cite news|first=Frank|last=Malley|title=Pele, the perfect player |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/pele-the-perfect-player-743002.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/pele-the-perfect-player-743002.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |location=London|work=The Independent|date=23 December 1999}}</ref> Former Manchester United striker and member of England's 1966 FIFA World Cup-winning team [[Bobby Charlton|Sir Bobby Charlton]] stated, "I sometimes feel as though football was invented for this magical player."<ref name="FIFA quotes"/> During the 1970 World Cup, when Manchester United defender [[Paddy Crerand]] (who was part of the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] panel) was asked, "How do you spell Pelé?", he replied, "Easy: G-O-D."<ref name="FIFA quotes"/> Following Pelé's death, former Brazilian international and World Cup Winner [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]] stated that his "legacy transcends generations".<ref name="Jame Walker-Roberts">{{cite news |author=Jame Walker-Roberts |url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/ronaldo-and-roberto-carlos-pay-tribute-to-pele-after-his-death-aged-82-his-legacy-transcends-generat_sto9293637/story.shtml |work=EuroSport|title=Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos pay tribute to Pelé after his death aged 82 - 'his legacy transcends generations'|date=29 December 2022}}</ref> Ronaldo's teammate for club and country, [[Roberto Carlos]], also expressed gratitude towards Pele, saying that the "football world thanks you for everything you did for us".<ref name="Jame Walker-Roberts"/> Many of such tributes were issued after Pelé's death at the age of 82.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pele: Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo among those paying tribute |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64122039 |access-date=29 December 2022 |work=BBC Sport |archive-date=7 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107232835/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64122039 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Pele dies - live updates: Pele's final message to the world as tributes pour in from sporting royalty |url= https://news.sky.com/story/pele-dies-live-updates-peles-final-message-to-the-world-as-tributes-pour-in-from-sporting-royalty-12762638 |access-date= 30 December 2022 |publisher= Sky News |archive-date= 26 January 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230126234926/https://news.sky.com/story/pele-dies-live-updates-peles-final-message-to-the-world-as-tributes-pour-in-from-sporting-royalty-12762638 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite news |title= 'Your legacy will be eternal': sporting world pays tribute to Brazilian legend Pele |url= https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/a-league-pay-tribute-brazilian-legend-pele-with-minutes-applause-2022-12-30/ |access-date= 30 December 2022 |agency= Reuters News |archive-date= 31 December 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221231092412/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/a-league-pay-tribute-brazilian-legend-pele-with-minutes-applause-2022-12-30/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Jamie |date=30 December 2022 |title=Will Smith leads celebrity tributes as world mourns Pele after icon's death |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/smith-leads-celebrity-tributes-world-28839325 |access-date=30 December 2022 |work=Daily Mirror |archive-date=30 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230020819/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/smith-leads-celebrity-tributes-world-28839325 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Accolades ===

[[File:Selo Pelé 1000 gols 10 cts.jpg|thumb|upright|1969 Brazil postage stamp commemorating Pelé's landmark 1,000th goal]]

After retiring, Pelé continued to be lauded by players, coaches, journalists and others. Brazilian attacking midfielder [[Zico (footballer)|Zico]], who represented Brazil at the 1978, 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cup, stated: "This debate about the player of the century is absurd. There's only one possible answer: Pelé. He's the greatest player of all time, and by some distance I might add".<ref name="Quotes">{{cite news|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=63869/profile.html|title=The King of football|access-date=21 January 2016|url-status=dead|publisher=FIFA|year=2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126181140/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=63869/profile.html|archive-date=26 January 2016}}</ref> French three-time [[Ballon d'Or]] winner [[Michel Platini]] said: "There's Pelé the man, and then Pelé the player. And to play like Pelé is to play like God."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fifa.com/news/what-they-said-about-pele |title=What they said about Pele |access-date=4 December 2020 |publisher=FIFA |archive-date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023121726/https://www.fifa.com/news/what-they-said-about-pele |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Diego Maradona]], joint [[FIFA Player of the Century]], and the player Pelé is [[Argentina–Brazil football rivalry#Pelé–Maradona rivalry|historically compared with]], stated, "It's too bad we never got along, but he was an awesome player".<ref name="Quotes"/> Prolific Brazilian striker [[Romário]], winner of the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]] and player of the tournament, remarked: "It's only inevitable I look up to Pelé. He's like a God to us".<ref name="Quotes"/> Five-time FIFA Ballon d'Or winner [[Cristiano Ronaldo]] said, "Pelé is the greatest player in football history, and there will only be one Pelé", while [[José Mourinho]], two-time UEFA Champions League winning manager, commented: "I think he is football. You have the real special one – Mr. Pelé."<ref>{{cite news|title=Pele and Mourinho win BBC awards|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/4518960.stm|access-date=17 July 2017|publisher=BBC|date=11 December 2005|archive-date=29 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629130742/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/4518960.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Real Madrid honorary president and former player, Alfredo Di Stéfano, opined: "The best player ever? Pelé. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are both great players with specific qualities, but Pelé was better".<ref>{{cite web|title=Alfredo Di Stefano: Pele is better than Messi and Ronaldo|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/169585.html|publisher=ESPN|date=10 September 2012|access-date=16 June 2014|archive-date=7 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707034659/http://en.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/169585.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Pele libro elegido.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Pelé wearing the [[New York Cosmos (1970–85)|Cosmos]]' No. 10. The number was retired in his honor.]]

Presenting Pelé with the [[Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award]], former South African president [[Nelson Mandela]] said, "To watch him play was to watch the delight of a child combined with the extraordinary grace of a man in full."<ref name="Mandela">{{cite web|title=Speech by Nelson Mandela at the Inaugural Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award, Monaco 2000|url=http://db.nelsonmandela.org/speeches/pub_view.asp?pg=item&ItemID=NMS1148|website=nelsonmandela.org|date=25 May 2000|access-date=9 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424043821/http://db.nelsonmandela.org/speeches/pub_view.asp?pg=item&ItemID=NMS1148|archive-date=24 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> US politician and political scientist [[Henry Kissinger]] stated: "Performance at a high level in any sport is to exceed the ordinary human scale. But Pelé's performance transcended that of the ordinary star by as much as the star exceeds ordinary performance."<ref>{{cite news|url= http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,991264,00.html|title= PELE: The Phenomenon|magazine= [[Time (magazine)|Time]]|first= Henry|last= Kissinger|date= 14 June 1999|access-date= 21 January 2016|archive-date= 12 January 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160112150705/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,991264,00.html|url-status= live}}</ref> After a reporter asked if his fame compared to that of Jesus, Pelé joked, "There are parts of the world where Jesus Christ is not so well known."<ref name="wrong">{{cite web|url= https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/Pele.html|title= Pele, King of Futbol|publisher= ESPN|first= Gentry|last= Kirby|year= 2003|access-date= 21 January 2016|archive-date= 5 June 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160605121930/http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/Pele.html|url-status= live}}</ref> The artist [[Andy Warhol]] (who painted a portrait of Pelé) also quipped, "Pelé was one of the few who contradicted my theory: instead of 15 minutes of fame, he will have 15 centuries."<ref name="FIFA quotes"/> [[David Goldblatt (writer)|David Goldblatt]] wrote that his emergence at the World Cup in 1958 coincided with "the explosive spread of television, which massively amplified his presence everywhere",<ref>{{cite news |last=Goldblatt |first=David |title=Pelé set the standards by which footballing greatness is judged |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/29/pele-football-greatness-brazil-global-star |access-date=9 September 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=29 December 2022 |archive-date=5 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005082607/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/29/pele-football-greatness-brazil-global-star |url-status=live }}</ref> while [[Barney Ronay]] states, "What is certain is that Pelé invented this game, the idea of individual global sporting superstardom, and in a way that is unrepeatable now."<ref name="Ronay">{{cite news |last1=Ronay |first1=Barney |title=Pelé's revolutionary status must survive numbers game against Lionel Messi |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jan/01/pele-revolutionary-status-must-survive-numbers-game-against-lionel-messi-santos |access-date=3 February 2021 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=1 January 2021 |archive-date=3 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203005832/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jan/01/pele-revolutionary-status-must-survive-numbers-game-against-lionel-messi-santos |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2000, the [[International Federation of Football History & Statistics]] (IFFHS) voted Pelé the [[IFFHS World's Best Player#The World's Best Player of the Century (1901–2000)|World Player of the Century]]. In 1999, the [[International Olympic Committee]] elected him the Athlete of the Century and ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine named Pelé one of the [[Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century|100 Most Important People of the 20th Century]]. During his playing days, Pelé was for a period the highest-paid athlete in the world.<ref>Michelle Roehm McCann (2012). "Boys Who Rocked the World: Heroes from King Tut to Bruce Lee". p. 140. Simon and Schuster</ref> Pelé's "electrifying play and penchant for spectacular goals" made him a star around the world. To take full advantage of his popularity, his teams toured internationally.<ref name="britannica" /> During his career, he became known as "The Black Pearl" (''A Pérola Negra''), "The King of Football" (''O Rei do Futebol''), "The King Pelé" (''O Rei Pelé'') or simply "The King" ('''''O Rei''''').<ref name="pelebio" /> In 2014, the city of [[Santos, São Paulo|Santos]] inaugurated the Pelé museum – Museu Pelé – which displays a 2,400 piece collection of Pelé memorabilia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pelé Museum is opened with a 2,400-piece collection and a hologram of the King of Football |url=http://www.copa2014.gov.br/en/noticia/pele-museum-opened-a-2400-piece-collection-and-a-hologram-king-football |access-date=26 July 2018 |work=Copa 2014 |archive-date=26 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726201657/http://www.copa2014.gov.br/en/noticia/pele-museum-opened-a-2400-piece-collection-and-a-hologram-king-football |url-status=dead }}</ref> Approximately $22&nbsp;million was invested in the construction of the museum, housed in a 19th-century mansion.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brazil inaugurates Pele Museum |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/soccer/fifa-world-cup/story/1885131/brazil-inaugurates-pele-museumhonoring-legend |access-date=26 July 2018 |publisher=ESPN |archive-date=26 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726170057/http://www.espn.co.uk/soccer/fifa-world-cup/story/1885131/brazil-inaugurates-pele-museumhonoring-legend |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Alckmin prestigia inauguração do Museu Pelé em Santos. (14251157108).jpg|thumb|Young visitors to the Pelé Museum, opened in 2014, in [[Santos, São Paulo|Santos]], Brazil]]

In January 2014, Pelé was awarded the first ever [[FIFA Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur]] as an acknowledgment from the world governing body of the sport for his contribution to world football.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.fifa.com/videos/pele-fifa-ballon-prix-honneur-2260713|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191001130005/https://www.fifa.com/videos/pele-fifa-ballon-prix-honneur-2260713|url-status = dead|archive-date = 1 October 2019|title =Pele: FIFA Ballon d'Or Prix d'honneur |access-date=13 August 2020|publisher=FIFA}}</ref> After changing the rules in 1995, ''[[France Football]]'' did an extensive analysis in 2015 of the players who would have won the award if it had been open for them beginning in 1956: the year the Ballon d'Or award started. Their study revealed that Pelé would have received the award a record seven times (''Ballon d'or: Le nouveau palmarès''). The original recipients, however, remain unchanged.<ref name="FF7">{{cite web |last1=Crépin |first1=Timothé |date=2 December 2015 |title=Pelé devait être le recordman |url=https://www.francefootball.fr/news/Pele-devait-etre-le-recordman/612774 |publisher=[[France Football]] |language=fr |access-date=18 July 2017 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224030953/https://www.francefootball.fr/news/Pele-devait-etre-le-recordman/612774 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2020, Pelé was named in the [[Ballon d'Or Dream Team#First Team|Ballon d'Or Dream Team]], a greatest all-time XI.<ref name="Dream"/>

According to the [[RSSSF]], Pelé was one of the most successful goal-scorers in the world, scoring 538 league goals,<ref>{{cite web|url =https://www.rsssf.org/players/prolific.html|title =Prolific Scorers Data : Best League Goalscorers All-Time|publisher =Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date =9 June 2021|archive-date =9 July 2023|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20230709223013/https://www.rsssf.org/players/prolific.html|url-status =live}}</ref> a total of 775 in 840 official games and a tally of 1,301 goals in 1,390 appearances during his professional senior career, which included friendlies and tour games. He is ranked among the leading scorers in football history in both official and total matches. After his retirement in 1977 he played eight exhibition games and scored three goals.<ref name=addi>{{cite web |url =https://www.rsssf.org/players/ppeledata.html |title =RSSSF : Prolific Scorers Data-Additional Data on Pelé |website =rsssf. com |date =28 January 2021 |access-date =2 June 2021 |archive-date =12 July 2023 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20230712103708/https://www.rsssf.org/players/ppeledata.html |url-status =live }}</ref>

=== "Pelé Pact" and Puma sponsorship ===
In the lead up to the 1970 World Cup, [[Adidas]] and [[Puma (brand)|Puma]] established the "Pelé Pact", where both German sportswear companies, owned by the rival Dassler brothers, agreed not to sign a deal with Pelé, feeling that a bidding war would become too expensive.<ref name="Pact">{{cite news |title=Was Pele paid to tie his shoes during the 1970 World Cup final? |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2012-oct-15-la-sp-sn-pele-shoes-world-cup-20121015-story.html |access-date=13 September 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |archive-date=15 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915030254/https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2012-oct-15-la-sp-sn-pele-shoes-world-cup-20121015-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Puma"/><ref name="Marketing"/> However, Puma would break the pact by signing Pelé, and in addition to paying him a percentage of Puma King boot sales, gave him $120,000 ($2.85 million in 2022) to tie his laces prior to Brazil's quarter-final against Peru to advertise their boots.<ref name="Pact"/><ref name="Puma">{{cite book |last1=Jaskulka |first1=Marie |title=Puma |date=2022 |publisher=ABDO |pages=38–40}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Marriages, music, endorsements: Pele's life away from the field |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20221230-marriages-music-endorsements-pele-s-life-away-from-the-field |access-date=13 September 2023 |work=France24 |archive-date=15 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915030254/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20221230-marriages-music-endorsements-pele-s-life-away-from-the-field |url-status=live }}</ref> With the camera panning in on the most famous athlete in the world, the Puma King Pelé boots were broadcast to a global audience, generating enormous publicity for the brand.<ref name="Puma"/><ref name="Marketing">{{cite news |title=One of the Greatest Marketing Plays of All Time Was a Pair of Untied Pumas |url=https://mrcodella.medium.com/one-of-the-greatest-marketing-plays-of-all-time-was-a-pair-of-untied-pumas-9f5727efdca0 |access-date=13 September 2023 |work=Medium |archive-date=15 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915030256/https://mrcodella.medium.com/one-of-the-greatest-marketing-plays-of-all-time-was-a-pair-of-untied-pumas-9f5727efdca0 |url-status=live }}</ref> Praised as a shrewd marketing move by Puma, the Pelé deal played a prominent role in the [[Dassler brothers feud]], with many business experts crediting the rivalry and competition for transforming sports apparel into a multi-billion pound industry.<ref name="Puma"/>

==Personal life==
=== Relationships and children ===

{{hidden|style=float:right; clear:right; width:22em; margin-left:1em; border:1px #aaa solid;
|title=Children
|content=
* By Anizia Machado
** Sandra (1964–2006)
* By Lenita Kurtz
** Flávia (born 1968)
* By Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi
** Kely Cristina (born 1967)
** Edson (born 1970)
** Jennifer (born 1978)
* By Assíria Lemos Seixas
** Joshua (born 1996)
** Celeste (born 1996)
}}

[[File:Pelé%27s_jersey_donated_to_Pope_Francis.JPG|thumb|upright|A signed jersey donated by Pelé to [[Pope Francis]]]]

Pelé married three times and had several affairs, fathering seven children in all.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brazilian Soccer Great Pelé Has Died at 82 |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/brazilian-soccer-great-pele-has-died-at-82/4019419/ |access-date=29 December 2022 |publisher=NBC New York |date=29 December 2022 |archive-date=29 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229190809/https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/brazilian-soccer-great-pele-has-died-at-82/4019419/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1966, Pelé married Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/photos/pele-years-24098835/image-80478619|title=Pele Through the Years|access-date=29 December 2022|website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229061515/https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/photos/pele-years-24098835/image-80478619|archive-date=29 December 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> They had two daughters, Kely Cristina (born 13 January 1967), who married Arthur DeLuca, and Jennifer (b. 1978), as well as one son, [[Edinho (footballer, born 1970)|Edson]] ("Edinho", b. 27 August 1970).<ref name=StyleCaster>{{cite news |last1=Pham |first1=Jason|title=Pelé Had 7 Kids With 4 Women Before His Death—See All His Children & Where They Are Now |url=https://stylecaster.com/pele-kids/ |access-date=31 December 2022 |work=StyleCaster |publisher=SHE Media |date=30 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231114441/https://stylecaster.com/pele-kids/ |archive-date=31 December 2022}}</ref> The couple divorced in 1982.<ref name="marriage_hatrick">{{cite web|url=http://www.latintimes.com/brazilian-soccer-legend-pele-scores-marriage-hat-trick-video-202215|title=Pelé Scores A Marriage Hat Trick|work=Latin Times|date=20 August 2014|access-date=10 January 2016|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082510/https://www.latintimes.com/brazilian-soccer-legend-pele-scores-marriage-hat-trick-video-202215|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2014, Edinho was sentenced to 33 years in jail for laundering money from drug trafficking.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pele's son Edinho jailed for 33 years for Drug Trafficking|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/06/peles-son-edinho-jailed-for-33-years-for-drug-trafficking/|agency=Indo-Asian News Service|publisher=biharprabha.com|date=1 June 2014|access-date=1 June 2014|archive-date=2 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602200744/http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/06/peles-son-edinho-jailed-for-33-years-for-drug-trafficking/|url-status=live}}</ref> On appeal, the sentence was reduced to 12 years and 10 months.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brazil: Footballer Pele's son Edinho in jail over drug trafficking charges |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-39084502 |access-date=26 July 2018 |work=BBC News |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108110335/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-39084502 |url-status=live }}</ref>

From 1981 to 1986, Pelé was romantically linked with TV presenter [[Xuxa]]. She was 17 when they started dating.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Simón|first1=Yara|title=A Look Back at Xuxa and Pelé's Controversial Relationship|url=http://remezcla.com/lists/culture/a-look-back-at-xuxa-and-peles-controversial-relationship/|publisher=Remezcla|date=28 August 2015|access-date=16 July 2017|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082202/https://remezcla.com/lists/culture/a-look-back-at-xuxa-and-peles-controversial-relationship/|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 1994, Pelé married psychologist and [[Gospel music|gospel]] singer Assíria Lemos Seixas, who gave birth on 28 September 1996 to twins [[Joshua Nascimento|Joshua]] and Celeste through fertility treatments.<ref name="StyleCaster" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Yapp |first1=Robin |title=Doctor who helped Pele father twins on run after assault convictions |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/brazil/8276949/Doctor-who-helped-Pele-father-twins-on-run-after-assault-convictions.html |access-date=31 December 2022 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=23 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127111631/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/brazil/8276949/Doctor-who-helped-Pele-father-twins-on-run-after-assault-convictions.html |archive-date=27 January 2011 |location=London}}</ref> The couple divorced in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|title=Brazilian Soccer Legend Pelé Scores A Marriage Hat Trick [VIDEO]|url=http://www.latintimes.com/brazilian-soccer-legend-pele-scores-marriage-hat-trick-video-202215|work=Latin Times|date=9 March 2018|access-date=10 January 2016|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082510/https://www.latintimes.com/brazilian-soccer-legend-pele-scores-marriage-hat-trick-video-202215|url-status=live}}</ref>

Pelé had at least two more children from affairs. Sandra Machado, who was born from an affair Pelé had in 1964 with a housemaid, Anizia Machado, fought for years to be acknowledged by Pelé, who refused to submit to [[DNA paternity testing|DNA test]]s.<ref name="PELE/SANDRA/ESPN">{{cite news|title=Pele's daughter dies of cancer at 42|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=soccer&id=2629482|access-date=3 February 2014|publisher=ESPN|date=17 October 2006|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082243/https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=soccer&id=2629482|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Peles daughter2">[http://english.people.com.cn/200610/18/eng20061018_312942.html "Pele misses funeral of "daughter he never wanted"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221030401/http://english.people.com.cn/200610/18/eng20061018_312942.html |date=21 February 2014 }}. ''People''. 18 October 2006. Retrieved 3 February 2014</ref><ref name="Peles daughter3">[http://m.espn.com/soccer/story?storyId=386082&wjb= "Daughter who sued Pele dies of cancer at 42"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222005908/http://m.espn.com/soccer/story?storyId=386082&wjb= |date=22 December 2022 }}. ESPN. 17 October 2006. Retrieved 3 February 2014.</ref> Pelé finally relented after a court-ordered DNA test proved she was his daughter. Sandra Machado died of cancer in 2006.<ref name="Peles daughter2" /><ref name="Peles daughter3" /><ref>{{cite news|title=The Daughter Pelé Didn't Want Dies of Breast Cancer in Brazil|url=https://www.brazzil.com/7392-the-daughter-pele-didnt-want-dies-of-breast-cancer-in-brazil/|work=Brazzil|date=17 October 2006|access-date=22 December 2022|archive-date=22 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222005614/https://www.brazzil.com/7392-the-daughter-pele-didnt-want-dies-of-breast-cancer-in-brazil/|url-status=live}}</ref>

At the age of 73, Pelé announced his intention to marry 41-year-old Marcia Aoki, a Japanese-Brazilian importer of medical equipment from [[Penápolis]], São Paulo, whom he had been dating since 2010. They first met in the mid-1980s in New York, before meeting again in 2008. They married in July 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/football-legend-pele-marries-definitive-love-34871544.html|title=Football legend Pele marries 'definitive love'|work=The Belfast Telegraph|access-date=31 May 2018|issn=0307-1235|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108083336/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/football-legend-pele-marries-definitive-love-34871544.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Politics ===

[[File:Pelé & Lula.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Brazilian president [[Lula]] and Pelé in commemoration of 50 years since the first World Cup title won by Brazil in 1958, at the [[Palácio do Planalto]] in [[Brasília]], 2008]]

In January 1995, he was appointed by [[Fernando Cardoso]] as minister of sports. During his tenure, multiple reforms against corruption in state football associations were presented. He resigned from the post on 30 April 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/BRAZIL-PELE-STEPS-DOWN-AS-MINISTER-OF-SPORT/a70554ab2cf8bfb3c5a387b8dda65f5d?query=pele+minister+of+sport&current=1&orderBy=Relevance&hits=27&referrer=search&search=%2fsearch%3fstartd%3d%26endd%3d%26allFilters%3d%26query%3dpele%2bminister%2bof%2bsport%26advsearchStartDateFilter%3d%26advsearchEndDateFilter%3d%26searchFilterHdSDFormat%3dAll%26searchFilterDigitized%3dAll%26searchFiltercolorFormat%3dAll%26searchFilteraspectratioFormat%3dAll&allFilters=&productType=IncludedProducts&page=1&b=a65f5d |title=BRAZIL: PELE STEPS DOWN AS MINISTER OF SPORT &#124; AP Archive |access-date=29 December 2022 |archive-date=29 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229204728/http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/BRAZIL-PELE-STEPS-DOWN-AS-MINISTER-OF-SPORT/a70554ab2cf8bfb3c5a387b8dda65f5d?query=pele+minister+of+sport&current=1&orderBy=Relevance&hits=27&referrer=search&search=%2Fsearch%3Fstartd%3D%26endd%3D%26allFilters%3D%26query%3Dpele%2Bminister%2Bof%2Bsport%26advsearchStartDateFilter%3D%26advsearchEndDateFilter%3D%26searchFilterHdSDFormat%3DAll%26searchFilterDigitized%3DAll%26searchFiltercolorFormat%3DAll%26searchFilteraspectratioFormat%3DAll&allFilters=&productType=IncludedProducts&page=1&b=a65f5d |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the [[2013 protests in Brazil]], Pelé asked for people to put aside the demonstrations and support the Brazil national team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://noticias.terra.com.br/brasil/cidades/estatua-de-pele-e-amordacada-na-cidade-natal-do-jogador,eeb45ecb5655f310VgnVCM3000009acceb0aRCRD.html|title=Estátua de Pelé é "amordaçada" na cidade natal do jogador|publisher=[[Terra Networks]]|date=21 June 2013|access-date=16 June 2014|language=pt|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082410/http://noticias.terra.com.br/brasil/cidades/estatua-de-pele-e-amordacada-na-cidade-natal-do-jogador,eeb45ecb5655f310VgnVCM3000009acceb0aRCRD.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 1 June 2022, Pelé published an open letter to the President of Russia [[Vladimir Putin]] on his [[Instagram]] account, in which he made a public plea to stop the "evil" and "unjustified" [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Boyle |first=Brendan |date=1 June 2022 |title=Brazilian soccer icon Pele calls on Putin to stop 'wicked' Ukraine invasion |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/brazilian-soccer-icon-pele-calls-putin-stop-wicked-ukraine-invasion-2022-06-01/ |access-date=9 August 2022 |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082202/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/brazilian-soccer-icon-pele-calls-putin-stop-wicked-ukraine-invasion-2022-06-01/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=3 June 2022 |title=From King to President, Pelé asks Putin to please end the invasion in Ukraine |url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/2022/06/03/62996e38e2704e20b08b4585.html |access-date=9 August 2022 |website=Marca |location=Spain |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108081642/https://www.marca.com/en/football/2022/06/03/62996e38e2704e20b08b4585.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 June 2022 |title=Football legend Pele tells Putin: 'stop the invasion' |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220601-football-legend-pele-tells-putin-stop-the-invasion |access-date=9 August 2022 |publisher=France 24 |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082501/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220601-football-legend-pele-tells-putin-stop-the-invasion |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Religion ===

A [[Catholic]], Pelé donated a signed jersey to [[Pope Francis]]. Accompanied by a signed football from [[Ronaldo Nazario]], it is located in one of the [[Vatican Museums]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Morrissey |first=Paul |date=27 April 2013 |title=Romario trolls Pele on Twitter, says he's a phony Catholic and talks nothing but shit |url=http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/romario-trolls-pele-on-twitter-says-hes-a-phony-catholic-and-talks-nothing-but-shit/ |access-date=30 August 2014 |publisher=101greatgoals.com |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082202/https://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/romario-trolls-pele-on-twitter-says-hes-a-phony-catholic-and-talks-nothing-but-shit/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Health ===

[[File:Inauguração da estátua .jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Pelé in a wheelchair in 2018 at the unveiling of his statue in [[Rio de Janeiro]]]]

In 1977, Brazilian media reported that Pelé had his right kidney removed.<ref>{{cite news|last=Guilherme Seto|first=Rafael Reis|title=Pelé tem apenas um rim desde que era jogador de futebol|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/esporte/2014/11/1554686-pele-tem-apenas-um-rim-desde-que-era-jogador-de-futebol.shtml|language=pt|newspaper=[[Folha de S.Paulo]]|access-date=28 November 2014|date=28 November 2014|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108081642/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/esporte/2014/11/1554686-pele-tem-apenas-um-rim-desde-que-era-jogador-de-futebol.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2012, Pelé underwent a successful hip operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1225092/pele-in-hospital,-hip-operation-a-success,-report-says?cc=5901|title=Pele in hospital, hip operation a success, report says|publisher=ESPN|date=13 November 2012|access-date=16 June 2014|archive-date=16 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116013728/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1225092/pele-in-hospital,-hip-operation-a-success,-report-says?cc=5901|url-status=dead}}</ref> In December 2017, Pelé appeared in a wheelchair at the 2018 World Cup draw in Moscow where he was pictured with President [[Vladimir Putin]] and Argentine footballer [[Diego Maradona]].<ref name="Health 2018"/> A month later, he collapsed from exhaustion and was taken to hospital.<ref name="Health 2018">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/01/19/pele-recovering-hospital-collapsing-exhaustion |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/01/19/pele-recovering-hospital-collapsing-exhaustion |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Pele recovering in hospital after collapsing with exhaustion|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=9 March 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2019, after a hospitalisation because of a [[urinary tract infection]], Pelé underwent surgery to remove [[kidney stone disease|kidney stone]]s.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/13/sport/pele-hospital-kidney-stones-brazil/index.html|title=Pele recovering after kidney stone procedure in Brazil|last=Gray|first=Melissa|publisher=CNN|access-date=23 July 2019|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082508/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/13/sport/pele-hospital-kidney-stones-brazil/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2020, his son Edinho reported that Pelé was unable to walk independently and reluctant to leave home, ascribing his condition to a lack of rehabilitation following his hip operation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pele: Brazil legend reluctant to leave his home, says son Edinho |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12027/11931070/pele-brazil-legend-reluctant-to-leave-his-home-says-son-edinho |access-date=12 February 2020 |work=Sky Sports |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082158/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12027/11931070/pele-brazil-legend-reluctant-to-leave-his-home-says-son-edinho |url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2021, Pelé had surgery to remove a tumour on the right side of his colon.<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 September 2021|title=Pelé: Brazil legend remains in intensive care as he recovers from surgery to remove tumour|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12404522/pele-brazil-legend-remains-in-intensive-care-as-he-recovers-from-surgery-to-remove-tumour|access-date=11 September 2021|work=Sky Sports|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108081642/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12404522/pele-brazil-legend-remains-in-intensive-care-as-he-recovers-from-surgery-to-remove-tumour|url-status=live}}</ref> Although his eldest daughter Kely stated he was "doing well", he was reportedly readmitted to intensive care a few days later,<ref>{{cite news |title=Pele in 'stable' condition after respiratory problems, hospital says |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/soccer-brazil-legend-pele-re-enters-icu-espn-brasil-reports-2021-09-17/ |access-date=18 September 2021 |work=Reuters |archive-date=11 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111015038/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/soccer-brazil-legend-pele-re-enters-icu-espn-brasil-reports-2021-09-17/ |url-status=live }}</ref> before finally being released on 30 September 2021 to begin [[chemotherapy]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Brazil: Pele released from hospital to begin chemotherapy |url=https://www.dw.com/en/brazil-pele-released-from-hospital-to-begin-chemotherapy/a-59371723 |access-date=2 October 2021 |work=[[Deutsche Welle|DW]] |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082240/https://www.dw.com/en/brazil-pele-released-from-hospital-to-begin-chemotherapy/a-59371723 |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2022, [[ESPN Brasil]] reported that Pelé had been taken to hospital with "general swelling", along with cardiac issues and concerns that his chemotherapy treatment was not having the expected effect; his daughter Kely stated there was "no emergency".<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 November 2022 |title=Pele: Brazil legend in hospital but daughter confirms no emergency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63812974 |access-date=30 November 2022 |website=BBC Sport |archive-date=8 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208063530/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63812974 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 November 2022 |title=Pelé é internado e passa por exames em São Paulo; quimioterapia não responde e situação preocupa (in Portuguese) |url=https://www.espn.com.br/futebol/artigo/_/id/11303661/pele-e-internado-e-passa-por-exames-em-sao-paulo-quimioterapia-nao-responde-e-situacao-preocupa |access-date=30 November 2022 |website=ESPN Brasil |archive-date=3 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103112135/https://www.espn.com.br/futebol/artigo/_/id/11303661/pele-e-internado-e-passa-por-exames-em-sao-paulo-quimioterapia-nao-responde-e-situacao-preocupa |url-status=live }}</ref>

== After football ==
[[File:President Ronald Reagan with soccer player Pele and President José Sarney of Brazil.jpg|thumb|Pelé at the White House on 10 September 1986, with US president [[Ronald Reagan]] and Brazilian president [[José Sarney]]]]

In 1994, Pelé was appointed a [[UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportshumanitarian.com/inductees/pele.html|title=World Sport Humanitarian Hall of Fame Inductees – Pelé|website=Sports Humanitarian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723072800/http://www.sportshumanitarian.com/inductees/pele.html|archive-date=23 July 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=5 May 2011}}</ref> In 1995, Brazilian president [[Fernando Henrique Cardoso]] appointed Pelé to the position of extraordinary minister for sport. During this time he proposed legislation to reduce corruption in Brazilian football, which became known as the "[[Pelé law]]".<ref>{{cite news|title=Pele Law on sports introduced in Brazil|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/69438.stm|access-date=9 July 2017|date=25 March 1998|archive-date=3 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103070715/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/69438.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Cardoso eliminated the post of sports minister in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/73314.stm|title =Pele is dropped as Brazilian Sports Minister|access-date =28 August 2020|archive-date =3 December 2020|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20201203225537/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/73314.stm|url-status =live}}</ref> In 2001, Pelé was accused of involvement in a corruption scandal that stole $700,000 from UNICEF. It was claimed that money given to Pelé's company for a benefit match was not returned after it was cancelled, although nothing was proven, and it was denied by UNICEF.<ref>{{cite news|title=UNICEF denies Pele corruption reports|url=http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/142571/unicef-denies-pele-corruption-reports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731011423/http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/142571/unicef-denies-pele-corruption-reports|date=23 November 2001|archive-date=31 July 2012|agency=Reuters|publisher=SportBusiness.com|access-date=21 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/nov/25/worldcupfootball2002.football Pelé slips from Brazil pedestal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220094956/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/nov/25/worldcupfootball2002.football |date=20 February 2017 }}, ''[[The Observer]]'', 25 November 2001.</ref> In 1997, he received an honorary [[Order of the British Empire|knighthood]] from Queen [[Elizabeth II]] at a ceremony in [[Buckingham Palace]].<ref name="knight">{{cite news|url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education-sir-pele-lends-his-support-1286703.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education-sir-pele-lends-his-support-1286703.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title= Education: Sir Pele lends his support|work= The Independent|date= 3 December 1997|access-date= 6 May 2011}}</ref> Pelé also helped inaugurate the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]], alongside supermodel [[Claudia Schiffer]].<ref name="greatest"/>

[[File:President William J. Clinton Kicking a Soccer Ball - NARA - 81122856.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Pelé, Brazil's Extraordinary Minister for Sport, with US president [[Bill Clinton]] in Rio de Janeiro, 15 October 1997]]

In 1993, Pelé publicly accused the Brazilian football administrator [[Ricardo Teixeira]] of corruption after Pelé's television company was rejected in a contest for the Brazilian domestic rights to the 1994 World Cup.{{sfn|Darby|2002|p=110}} Pelé's accusations led to an eight-year feud between the pair.{{sfn|Bellos|2003|p=114}} As a consequence of the affair, the [[President of FIFA]], [[João Havelange]], Teixeira's father-in-law, banned Pelé from the draw for the 1994 FIFA World Cup in Las Vegas. Criticisms over the ban were perceived to have damaged Havelange's chances of re-election as FIFA's president in 1994.{{sfn|Darby|2002|p=110}}

In 1976, Pelé was on a [[Pepsi]]-sponsored trip in Lagos, Nigeria, when [[1976 Nigerian coup d'état attempt|the military attempted a coup]]. Pelé was trapped in a hotel together with [[Arthur Ashe]] and other tennis pros, who were participating in the interrupted [[1976 Lagos WCT]] tournament. Pelé and his crew eventually left the hotel to stay at the residence of Brazil's ambassador as they could not leave the country for a couple of days. Later the airport was opened and Pelé left the country disguised as a pilot.<ref>[https://www.pulse.ng/gist/story-of-how-pele-was-trapped-in-lagos-during-the-1976-coup-id6977385.html "How football legend, Arthur Ashe were trapped in Lagos during 1976 coup"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726135152/https://www.pulse.ng/gist/story-of-how-pele-was-trapped-in-lagos-during-the-1976-coup-id6977385.html |date=26 July 2018 }}. Pulse. Retrieved 26 July 2018</ref><ref>[https://www.africasacountry.com/2015/07/the-story-of-lagos-ill-fated-1976-professional-tennis-tournament "The story of Lagos' ill-fated 1976 Professional Tennis Tournament"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414023012/https://africasacountry.com/2015/07/the-story-of-lagos-ill-fated-1976-professional-tennis-tournament/ |date=14 April 2021 }}. Africa's Country. Retrieved 26 July 2018</ref>

Pelé published several autobiographies, starred in documentary films, and composed musical pieces, including [[Sérgio Mendes]]' [[Pelé (album)|soundtrack for the film ''Pelé'']] directed by [[François Reichenbach]] in 1977.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13046456/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_10_dr|title=Pelé (1977)|publisher=IMDb|access-date=29 December 2022|archive-date=29 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229194005/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13046456/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_10_dr|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Allmusic">{{AllMusic|class=album|id=pele-mw0000375622|label=Pelé}}</ref> He appeared in the 1981 film ''[[Escape to Victory]]'', about a [[World War II]]-era football match between Allied prisoners of war and a German team. Pelé starred alongside other footballers of the 1960s and 1970s, with actors [[Michael Caine]] and [[Sylvester Stallone]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Escape to Victory remake: who should follow in Pelé's footsteps?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2014/jun/27/escape-to-victory-remake-film-who-should-star|access-date=17 February 2016|work=The Guardian|date=27 June 2014|archive-date=4 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104035259/http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2014/jun/27/escape-to-victory-remake-film-who-should-star|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1969, Pelé starred in a telenovela called ''Os Estranhos'', about first contact with aliens. It was created to drum up interest in the [[List of Apollo missions|Apollo missions]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Estranhos extraterrestres chegavam na tela da Excelsior para fazer contato com Pelé|url=http://cartaodevisita.r7.com/conteudo/1257/estranhos-extraterrestres-chegavam-na-tela-da-excelsior-para-fazer-contato-com-pele|publisher=Cartâo de Visita|date=16 January 2013|access-date=17 February 2016|language=pt|archive-date=6 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406133449/http://cartaodevisita.r7.com/conteudo/1257/estranhos-extraterrestres-chegavam-na-tela-da-excelsior-para-fazer-contato-com-pele|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2001, he had a cameo role in the football satire film ''[[Mike Bassett: England Manager]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/255633/Mike-Bassett-England-Manager/overview|access-date=17 February 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301055650/https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/255633/Mike-Bassett-England-Manager/overview|department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Mark Deming|year=2016|archive-date=1 March 2016}}</ref> Pelé was asked to participate in the 2006 ESPN documentary film ''[[Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos]]'', but declined when the producers refused to pay his requested $100,000 fee.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hirshey |first1=David |title=Pelé: When Soccer Ruled the USA |url=http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=cosmos |publisher=ESPN |access-date=30 September 2020 |archive-date=14 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214010907/http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=cosmos |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Pele - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2006.jpg|thumb|Pelé at the [[World Economic Forum]] in Switzerland, 2006]]

Pelé appeared at the 2006 [[World Economic Forum]] in Davos, and spoke on the subject titled, "Can a Ball Change the World: The Role of Sports in Development".<ref>{{cite news |title=Davos Annual Meeting 2006 -The Role of Sports in Development | date=28 November 2007 |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HSqVETszHrs&t=9s&pp=ygUeV29ybGQgZWNvbm9taWMgZm9ydW0gMjAwNiBwZWxl |access-date=16 September 2023 |agency=World Economic Forum |via=YouTube |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030213608/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=HSqVETszHrs&t=9s&pp=ygUeV29ybGQgZWNvbm9taWMgZm9ydW0gMjAwNiBwZWxl |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2007, Pelé was in [[Sheffield, England|Sheffield]], England, to mark the 150th anniversary of the world's oldest football club, [[Sheffield F.C.]]<ref name="celebration"/> Pelé was the guest of honour at Sheffield's anniversary match against Inter Milan at [[Bramall Lane]].<ref name="celebration"/> As part of his visit, Pelé opened an exhibition which included the first public showing in 40 years of the [[Sheffield Rules|original hand-written rules]] of football.<ref name="celebration">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7081034.stm|title=Pelé joins Sheffield celebrations|work=BBC Sport|access-date=9 November 2007|date=9 November 2007|first=Jonathan|last=Rawcliffe|archive-date=12 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112151430/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7081034.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Pelé scouted for [[Premier League]] club [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pele scouts for Fulham|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/2313105.stm|access-date=10 June 2006|work=BBC Sport|date=9 October 2002|archive-date=11 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511142323/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/2313105.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> He made the draw for the qualification groups for the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals.{{sfn|Blevins|2011|p=756}} On 1 August 2010, Pelé was introduced as the honorary president of a revived [[New York Cosmos (2010)|New York Cosmos]], aiming to field a team in [[Major League Soccer]].<ref name="cosmos_return">{{cite news|first=Jack|last=Bell|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/sports/soccer/02cosmos.html|title=Cosmos Begin Anew, With Eye Toward M.L.S.|work=The New York Times|date=1 August 2010|access-date=4 August 2010|archive-date=2 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202225510/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/sports/soccer/02cosmos.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2011, ESPN reported that Santos was considering bringing him out of retirement for a [[cameo role]] in the [[2011 FIFA Club World Cup]], although this turned out to be false.<ref>{{cite web |title=Santos hope for Pele comeback |url=http://www.espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/939732/santos-want-pele-to-play-in-club-world-cup |publisher=ESPN |date=4 August 2011 |access-date=22 May 2014 |archive-date=25 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525124633/http://www.espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/939732/santos-want-pele-to-play-in-club-world-cup |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Prime Minister's Olympic hunger summit (7772208606).jpg|thumb|left|Pelé (second left) standing outside [[10 Downing Street]] in London at a hunger summit in 2012 hosted by British prime minister [[David Cameron]] (waving to camera)]]

The most notable area of Pelé's life since football was his ambassadorial work. In 1992, he was appointed a UN ambassador for ecology and the environment.<ref>{{cite news|title=Reasons why Rio is the right Olympic choice|first=Scott|last=Russell|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=1 October 2009|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/reasons-why-rio-is-the-right-olympic-choice-1.805589|access-date=21 January 2016|archive-date=8 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508055919/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/amateur/story/2009/10/01/spf-olympics-2016-bids-russell.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was also awarded Brazil's gold medal for outstanding services to the sport in 1995. In 2012, Pelé was awarded an honorary degree from the [[University of Edinburgh]] for "significant contribution to humanitarian and environmental causes, as well as his sporting achievements".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ed.ac.uk/news/all-news/pele-090812|title=Pelé to receive honorary degree|publisher=[[University of Edinburgh]]|date=9 August 2012|access-date=9 August 2012|archive-date=21 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421101834/https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/all-news/pele-090812|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2009, Pelé assisted the [[Rio de Janeiro bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics]]. In July 2009, he spearheaded the Rio 2016 presentation to the [[Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa]] General Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria.<ref>{{cite news |title=World Cup king Pele scores for Rio 2016 at ANOCA assembly |url=http://www.sportsfeatures.com/olympicsnews/story/45399/world-cup-king-pele-scores-for-rio-2016-at-anoca-assembly |access-date=26 July 2018 |agency=Sports Features.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727024506/http://www.sportsfeatures.com/olympicsnews/story/45399/world-cup-king-pele-scores-for-rio-2016-at-anoca-assembly |archive-date=27 July 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 12 August 2012, Pelé was an attendee at the [[2012 Olympic hunger summit]] hosted by British prime minister [[David Cameron]] at [[10 Downing Street]], London, part of a series of international efforts which have sought to respond to the return of hunger as a high-profile global issue.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/aug/12/2012-hunger-summit-legacy-games?intcmp=239|title= The 2012 hunger summit could be the real legacy of the Games|work= The Guardian|first= Justin|last= Forsyth|date= 12 August 2012|access-date= 27 November 2014|archive-date= 7 December 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141207232717/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/aug/12/2012-hunger-summit-legacy-games?intcmp=239|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/sport-stars-get-behind-olympic-hunger-summit/|title= Sport stars get behind Olympic hunger summit|publisher= [[10 Downing Street]]|date= 12 August 2012|access-date= 27 November 2014|archive-date= 31 October 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121031091546/http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/sport-stars-get-behind-olympic-hunger-summit/|url-status= live}}</ref> Later on the same day, Pelé appeared at the [[2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony|closing ceremony]] of the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] in London, following the handover section to the next host city for the [[2016 Summer Olympics]], Rio de Janeiro.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Coughlan|first1=Maggie|last2=Perry|first2=Simon|title=Spice Girls, One Direction Bring Olympics to a Dazzling End|url=http://people.com/sports/olympics-london-2012-closing-ceremony-spice-girls-one-direction/|work=People|access-date=16 July 2017|date=12 August 2012|archive-date=11 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811080253/http://people.com/sports/olympics-london-2012-closing-ceremony-spice-girls-one-direction/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha presenting a memento to ‘Soccer King’ Mr. Pele, during the final match of 56th edition of Subroto Cup International Football Tournament, in New Delhi.jpg|thumb|Pelé in 2015 receiving a memento from the chief of the Indian Air Force, [[Arup Raha]] (left), during the final of the Asian inter-school football tournament, the [[Subroto Cup]], in New Delhi, India]]

In March 2016, Pelé filed a lawsuit against [[Samsung Electronics]] in the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois]] seeking US$30&nbsp;million in damages claiming violations under the [[Lanham Act]] for false endorsement and a state law claim for violation of his right of publicity.<ref name="samsung card">{{Cite journal|last=Batterman|first=L. Robert|date=23 June 2016|title=Soccer Legend Pelé Calls for a Yellow Card against Samsung|url=http://www.natlawreview.com/article/soccer-legend-pel-calls-yellow-card-against-samsung|journal=The National Law Review|publisher=Proskauer Rose LLP|issn=2161-3362|access-date=23 June 2016|archive-date=26 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160626144205/http://www.natlawreview.com/article/soccer-legend-pel-calls-yellow-card-against-samsung|url-status=live}}</ref> The suit alleged that at one point, Samsung and Pelé came close to entering into a licensing agreement for Pelé to appear in a Samsung advertising campaign, but Samsung abruptly pulled out of the negotiations. The October 2015 Samsung ad in question included a partial face shot of a man who allegedly "very closely resembles" Pelé and also a superimposed high-definition television screen next to the image of the man featuring a "modified [[Bicycle kick|bicycle]] or scissors-kick", often used by Pelé.<ref name="samsung card"/> The case was settled out-of-court several years later.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sperling |first=Frederick |title=Famous Athlete Cases Offer Right Of Publicity Lessons |url=https://www.afslaw.com/perspectives/news/famous-athlete-cases-offer-right-of-publicity-lessons |website=ArentFox Smith |date=4 September 2020 |publisher=ArentFox Schiff LLP |access-date=30 December 2022 |archive-date=30 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230052638/https://www.afslaw.com/perspectives/news/famous-athlete-cases-offer-right-of-publicity-lessons |url-status=live }}</ref>

In addition to his ambassadorial work, Pelé supported various charitable causes, such as Action for Brazil's Children, Gols Pela Vida, [[SOS Children's Villages]], The Littlest Lamb, [[Prince's Rainforests Project]] and many more.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2006 |title=Pelé: Charity Work & Causes |url=https://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/pele |access-date=6 December 2022 |website=Look to the Stars |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206221006/https://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/pele |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 December 2007 |title=Medal collection to remember Pele's golden goals |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/medal-collection-to-remember-peles-golden-goals.189401 |access-date=6 December 2022 |newspaper=The Times |location=Malta |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206221006/https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/medal-collection-to-remember-peles-golden-goals.189401 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 September 2009 |title=Pele for Ballymun |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/sport/soccer/junior-senior/pele-for-ballymun-27926810.html |access-date=7 December 2022 |website=independent |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207130336/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/sport/soccer/junior-senior/pele-for-ballymun-27926810.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 November 2004 |title=Pelé and Beckenbauer unite for SOS Children's Villages |url=https://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/news/pele-and-beckenbauer-unite-for-sos-childrens-villa |access-date=6 December 2022 |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206221008/https://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/news/pele-and-beckenbauer-unite-for-sos-childrens-villa |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kinver |first=Mark |date=5 May 2009 |title=Rainforest film brings out stars |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8033535.stm |access-date=7 December 2022 |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207130332/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8033535.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, Pelé auctioned more than 1600 items from a collection he accumulated over decades and raised £3.6&nbsp;million for charity.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 June 2016 |title=Pele to donate auction money to Santos, charity |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-pele-auction-idUSKCN0YO0AK |access-date=6 December 2022 |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206221007/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-pele-auction-idUSKCN0YO0AK |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Downie |first=Andrew |date=23 August 2021 |title=Pele brings sporting stars together for charity auction |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/pele-brings-sporting-stars-together-charity-auction-2021-08-23/ |access-date=6 December 2022 |work=Reuters |archive-date=5 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205192737/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/pele-brings-sporting-stars-together-charity-auction-2021-08-23/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, Pelé founded his charitable organisation, the Pelé Foundation, which endeavours to empower impoverished and disenfranchised children from around the globe.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2020 |title=Pele Foundation – Home |url=https://www.pele10.org/ |access-date=6 December 2022 |website=pele10.org |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206150807/https://www.pele10.org/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Stuart |date=13 October 2018 |title=International Icon and Humanitarian Pelé Announces the Launch of His New Global Charitable Foundation – Ethical Marketing News |url=https://ethicalmarketingnews.com/international-icon-and-humanitarian-pele-announces-the-launch-of-his-new-global-charitable-foundation |access-date=7 December 2022 |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207130334/https://ethicalmarketingnews.com/international-icon-and-humanitarian-pele-announces-the-launch-of-his-new-global-charitable-foundation |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Death and funeral ==
{{Wikinews|"National treasure": Former Brazilian footballer Pelé dies at age 82}}
In 2021, Pelé was diagnosed with [[colon cancer]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Morte de Pelé: entenda a falência múltipla de órgãos, provocada pelo câncer de cólon |url=https://oglobo.globo.com/saude/medicina/noticia/2022/12/pele-entenda-o-cancer-de-colon-que-causou-a-morte-do-rei.ghtml |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=O Globo |date=29 December 2022 |language=pt|archive-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113153026/https://oglobo.globo.com/saude/medicina/noticia/2022/12/pele-entenda-o-cancer-de-colon-que-causou-a-morte-do-rei.ghtml |url-status=live }}</ref> He underwent surgery the same month, and afterwards was treated with several rounds of [[chemotherapy]]. In early 2022, [[metastasis]] were detected in the intestine, lung and liver. On 29 November, he was admitted to the [[Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital]] in São Paulo due to a respiratory infection after he contracted [[COVID-19]] and for reassessment of the treatment of his colon cancer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Morre o Rei Pelé aos 82 anos |url=https://ge.globo.com/pele/noticia/2022/12/29/morre-o-rei-pele-aos-82-anos.ghtml |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=ge |date=29 December 2022 |language=pt-br |archive-date=5 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105152326/https://ge.globo.com/pele/noticia/2022/12/29/morre-o-rei-pele-aos-82-anos.ghtml |url-status=live }}</ref> On 3 December 2022, it was reported that Pelé had become unresponsive to chemotherapy and that it was replaced with [[palliative care]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 December 2022 |title=Pelé não responde mais à quimioterapia e está em cuidados paliativos |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/esporte/2022/12/pele-nao-responde-mais-a-quimioterapia-e-esta-em-cuidados-paliativos.shtml |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=Folha de S.Paulo |language=pt|archive-date=22 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122090306/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/esporte/2022/12/pele-nao-responde-mais-a-quimioterapia-e-esta-em-cuidados-paliativos.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 21 December 2022, the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital, where Pelé was being treated, stated that his tumour had advanced and he required "greater care related to renal and cardiac dysfunctions".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Pele's cancer has advanced, says hospital |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64059854 |access-date=21 December 2022 |archive-date=2 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102104324/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64059854 |url-status=live }}</ref> Therefore, he was not allowed to spend Christmas at home, as his family had wanted. Pelé died on 29 December 2022, at 3:27&nbsp;pm, at the age of 82, due to [[multiple organ failure]], a complication of colon cancer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brazilian football legend Pele dies at age 82 |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/29/brazilian-football-legend-pele-dies-aged-82 |access-date=30 December 2022 |publisher=Al Jazeera |archive-date=8 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608153545/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/29/brazilian-football-legend-pele-dies-aged-82 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = https://news.sky.com/story/brazilian-football-star-pele-has-died-at-the-age-of-82-12775924|title = Brazilian football icon Pele has died at the age of 82|website= [[Sky News]]|publisher=Sky Group|date = 29 December 2022|access-date= 29 December 2022|archive-date = 30 December 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221230064131/https://news.sky.com/story/brazilian-football-star-pele-has-died-at-the-age-of-82-12775924|url-status = live}}</ref> Pelé's [[death certificate]] stated that he had died of kidney failure, heart failure, [[bronchopneumonia]] and [[colon adenocarcinoma]]. His 100-year-old mother, Celeste, survived him, though she had been in a [[vegetative state]] since 2019, and was thus unaware of his death; she would later die in June 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pelé's mother Celeste Arantes dies at age 101 in Brazil|website=[[AP News]] |date=21 June 2024 |url=https://apnews.com/article/pele-mother-dies-brazil-d6fe4c793eb7771103eee1efdc427a19|access-date=21 June 2024}}</ref> Pelé's sister Maria Lucia do Nascimento described their mother as "in her own little world".<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 January 2023 |title=Doña Celeste, madre de Pelé, tiene 100 años y no es consciente del fallecimiento de su hijo |language=es |work=[[El Deber]] |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |publication-place=Santa Cruz de la Sierra |url=https://eldeber.com.bo/futbol/dona-celeste-madre-de-pele-tiene-100-anos-y-no-es-consciente-del-fallecimiento-de-su-hijo_309690 |url-access=registration |access-date=3 January 2023 |archive-date=3 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103120548/https://eldeber.com.bo/futbol/dona-celeste-madre-de-pele-tiene-100-anos-y-no-es-consciente-del-fallecimiento-de-su-hijo_309690 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Quote box
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Tributes were paid by current players, including [[Neymar]], [[Cristiano Ronaldo]], [[Kylian Mbappé]] and [[Lionel Messi]], along with other major sporting figures, celebrities, and world leaders.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pele: Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo among those paying tribute |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64122039 |access-date=29 December 2022 |website=[[BBC Sport]]|publisher=BBC|archive-date=7 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107232835/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64122039 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Pele dies - live updates: Pele's final message to the world as tributes pour in from sporting royalty |url= https://news.sky.com/story/pele-dies-live-updates-peles-final-message-to-the-world-as-tributes-pour-in-from-sporting-royalty-12762638 |access-date= 30 December 2022|website=[[Sky News]]|publisher=Sky Group|archive-date= 26 January 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230126234926/https://news.sky.com/story/pele-dies-live-updates-peles-final-message-to-the-world-as-tributes-pour-in-from-sporting-royalty-12762638 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Jamie |date=30 December 2022 |title=Will Smith leads celebrity tributes as world mourns Pele after icon's death |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/smith-leads-celebrity-tributes-world-28839325 |access-date=30 December 2022 |website=Daily Mirror|archive-date=30 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230020819/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/smith-leads-celebrity-tributes-world-28839325 |url-status=live }}</ref> The outgoing Brazilian president, [[Jair Bolsonaro]], declared a three-day period of national mourning.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=30 December 2022 |title=Brazil starts three days of mourning as country lights up in memory of Pelé |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2022-12-30/brazil-starts-three-days-of-mourning-as-country-lights-up-in-memory-of-pel |access-date=30 December 2022 |website=ITV News|publisher=ITV|archive-date=23 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323105304/https://www.itv.com/news/2022-12-30/brazil-starts-three-days-of-mourning-as-country-lights-up-in-memory-of-pel |url-status=live }}</ref> The national flags of the 211 member associations of FIFA were flown at half-mast at FIFA headquarters in Zürich.<ref>{{cite news |title=FIFA's flags at half mast to honour Pele |url=https://www.reuters.com/video/watch/fifas-flags-at-half-mast-to-honour-pele-idOV953830122022RP1 |access-date=30 December 2022 |work=Reuters |archive-date=31 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231001726/https://www.reuters.com/video/watch/fifas-flags-at-half-mast-to-honour-pele-idOV953830122022RP1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Landmarks and stadiums lit up in honour of Pelé included the [[Christ the Redeemer (statue)|Christ the Redeemer]] statue and [[Maracanã Stadium]] in Rio de Janeiro,<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Watson |first1=Katy |last2=Chatterjee |first2=Phelan |date=30 December 2022 |title='Thank you, King': Brazil lights up in honour of Pelé |work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-64125254 |access-date=30 December 2022 |archive-date=30 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230125126/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-64125254 |url-status=live }}</ref> the headquarters of [[CONMEBOL]] in Paraguay<ref name=":4" /> and [[Wembley Stadium]] in London.<ref>{{cite web|date=29 December 2022|title=Wembley arch lit up in Brazil colours in tribute to Pele|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/pele-wembley-arch-brazil-colours-b2253200.html|access-date=30 December 2022|website=The Independent|archive-date=30 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230125943/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/pele-wembley-arch-brazil-colours-b2253200.html|url-status=live}}</ref> There was applause and a minute's silence at matches in honour of Pelé.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 December 2022 |title=European leagues to honour Pele with pre-match tributes |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/sports/20221230-european-leagues-to-honour-pele-with-pre-match-tributes |access-date=1 January 2022 |publisher=Radio France Internationale |archive-date=30 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230170137/https://www.rfi.fr/en/sports/20221230-european-leagues-to-honour-pele-with-pre-match-tributes |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 January 2023 |title=FIFA asks for minute of silence at football games to honour Pele |url=https://www.qatar-tribune.com/article/41901/sports/fifa-asks-for-minute-of-silence-at-football-games-to-honour-pele |access-date=1 January 2023 |website=Qatar Tribune |archive-date=1 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101202959/https://www.qatar-tribune.com/article/41901/sports/fifa-asks-for-minute-of-silence-at-football-games-to-honour-pele |url-status=live }}</ref>

Pelé's funeral, which involved his body being publicly displayed in an open coffin which was draped with the flags of Brazil and Santos FC, began at [[Estádio Urbano Caldeira|Vila Belmiro]] stadium in [[Santos, Brazil|Santos]] on 2 January 2023.<ref name=funeralfirst /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/02/thousands-mourners-file-past-pele-coffin-santos-brazil|title='I had to say goodbye': thousands pay their respects to Pelé in Brazil|first=Andrew|last=Downie|newspaper=The Guardian|date=2 January 2022|accessdate=2 January 2022|archive-date=2 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102182631/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/02/thousands-mourners-file-past-pele-coffin-santos-brazil|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/video/pele-death-visitors-flock-to-see-stars-open-coffin-in-brazil-football-stadium-12778466|title=Pele death: Visitors flock to see star's open coffin in Brazil football stadium|website=Sky News|publisher=Sky Group|date=2 January 2022|accessdate=2 January 2022|archive-date=2 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102162224/https://news.sky.com/video/pele-death-visitors-flock-to-see-stars-open-coffin-in-brazil-football-stadium-12778466|url-status=live}}</ref> Thousands of fans flooded the streets to attend the first day of the funeral service,<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://people.com/sports/fans-mourn-pele-at-public-wake-in-brazil/|title=Thousands of Fans Line Up to Pay Their Respects to Pelé at Public Wake in Brazil|first=Daniela|last=Avila|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=2 January 2022|access-date=2 January 2022|archive-date=2 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102201716/https://people.com/sports/fans-mourn-pele-at-public-wake-in-brazil/|url-status=live}}</ref> with some in attendance claiming that they had to wait three hours in line.<ref name=funeralfirst>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/pele-soccer-great-funeral-5c6c738f8778fc04e815fe117b4b36b4|title=Brazilians mourn Pelé at the stadium where he got his start|first=Maurico|last=Savarese|work=Associated Press|date=2 January 2022|accessdate=2 January 2022|archive-date=2 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102133230/https://apnews.com/article/pele-soccer-great-funeral-5c6c738f8778fc04e815fe117b4b36b4|url-status=live}}</ref> The public wake would continue to 3 January,<ref name="WaPoObit">{{cite news |title='Pelé is eternal!': Tributes pour in from soccer stars, world leaders |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/12/29/pele-death-tributes-neymar-ronaldo/ |access-date=30 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 December 2022 |title=Pele's funeral and burial to take place in hometown Santos |url=https://apnews.com/article/sports-soccer-fifa-world-cup-pele-funerals-and-memorial-services-71893b650d2f227e954c1feee7e048ba |access-date=30 December 2022 |website=Associated Press|archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314145605/https://apnews.com/article/sports-soccer-fifa-world-cup-pele-funerals-and-memorial-services-71893b650d2f227e954c1feee7e048ba |url-status=live }}</ref> and saw more than 230,000 people in attendance.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/03/brazil-president-lula-joins-mourners-paying-tribute-to-pele-before-funeral|title=Brazil president joins mourners paying tribute to Pelé before funeral|first1=Tom|last1=Philips|first2=Ana|last2=Ionova|newspaper=The Guardian|date=3 January 2022|accessdate=3 January 2022|archive-date=3 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103131104/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/03/brazil-president-lula-joins-mourners-paying-tribute-to-pele-before-funeral|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/03/football/pele-wake-tuesday-santos-lula-spt-intl/index.html|title=Funeral procession for Pelé begins after thousands, including Brazil's president Lula da Silva, visited 24-hour wake|first1=Ben|last1=Church|first2=Camilo|last2=Rocha|publisher=CNN|date=3 January 2022|access-date=3 January 2022|archive-date=3 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103143758/https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/03/football/pele-wake-tuesday-santos-lula-spt-intl/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Many in attendance were wearing the yellow and green No. 10 Brazilian jerseys and the black and white Santos football club jersey, which Pelé wore during his career.<ref name="inattendance">{{Cite magazine|last=Avila |first=Daniela |date=2 January 2022 |title=Thousands of Fans Line Up to Pay Their Respects to Pelé at Public Wake in Brazil|magazine=People|url=https://people.com/sports/fans-mourn-pele-at-public-wake-in-brazil/ |url-status=live |access-date=2 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102201716/https://people.com/sports/fans-mourn-pele-at-public-wake-in-brazil/ |archive-date=2 January 2023}}</ref><ref name="pelewake">{{cite news |last1=Church |first1=Ben |last2=Rocha |first2=Camilo |date=3 January 2022 |title=Funeral procession for Pelé begins after thousands, including Brazil's president Lula da Silva, visited 24-hour wake |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/03/football/pele-wake-tuesday-santos-lula-spt-intl/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=3 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103143758/https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/03/football/pele-wake-tuesday-santos-lula-spt-intl/index.html |archive-date=3 January 2023}}</ref> Brazil television channels suspended normal broadcasting to cover the funeral procession.<ref name="wakeattendance">{{cite news |last1=Philips |first1=Tom |last2=Ionova |first2=Ana |date=3 January 2022 |title=Brazil president joins mourners paying tribute to Pelé before funeral|newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/03/brazil-president-lula-joins-mourners-paying-tribute-to-pele-before-funeral |url-status=live |access-date=3 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103131104/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/03/brazil-president-lula-joins-mourners-paying-tribute-to-pele-before-funeral |archive-date=3 January 2023}}</ref> Pelé's wife Marcia Aoki, his son Edinho, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, CONMEBOL president [[Alejandro Domínguez (football executive)|Alejandro Domínguez]] and president of the [[Brazilian Football Confederation]] [[Ednaldo Rodrigues]] were among those in attendance.<ref>{{cite news |date=2 January 2022 |title=Brazil bids goodbye to 'King' Pele |publisher=[[Prothom Alo]] |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/sports/football/fa1eb03qno |url-status=live |access-date=2 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102204823/https://en.prothomalo.com/sports/football/fa1eb03qno |archive-date=2 January 2023}}</ref> It would continue on 3 January 2023. Newly sworn in Brazilian president [[Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva]] was also among those who attended the wake.<ref name="wakeattendance" /><ref name="pelewake" /> After the funeral procession, Pelé was buried at the [[Memorial Necrópole Ecumênica]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/03/private-burial-of-pele-in-santos-after-eight-mile-funeral-procession|title=Private burial of Pelé in Santos after eight-mile funeral procession|first1=Tom|last1=Philips|first2=Ana|last2=Ionova|work=The Guardian|date=3 January 2022|accessdate=3 January 2022|archive-date=3 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103190257/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/03/private-burial-of-pele-in-santos-after-eight-mile-funeral-procession|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1=Camilo|last1=Rocha|first2=George|last2=Ramsay|first3=Tara|last3=John|first4=Flora|last4=Charner|first5=Rodrigo|last5=Pedroso|date=29 December 2022 |title=Brazilian soccer legend Pelé dies at 82 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/29/football/brazil-pele-soccer-died-intl-latam-spt/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=30 December 2022 |archive-date=29 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229230640/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/29/football/brazil-pele-soccer-died-intl-latam-spt/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Philips |first1=Tom |last2=Ionova |first2=Ana |date=3 January 2022 |title=Private burial of Pelé in Santos after eight-mile funeral procession |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/03/private-burial-of-pele-in-santos-after-eight-mile-funeral-procession |url-status=live |access-date=3 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103190257/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/03/private-burial-of-pele-in-santos-after-eight-mile-funeral-procession |archive-date=3 January 2023}}</ref>

[[Kigali Pelé Stadium]] in Rwanda was renamed for him in March 2023 by Rwandan president [[Paul Kagame]] and FIFA president Gianni Infantino as part of the [[73rd FIFA Congress]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Nsabimana |first=Eddie |date=16 March 2023 |title=Kagame honours Pele as Rwanda stadium is named after late icon |url=https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/5798/sports/football/kagame-honours-pele-as-rwanda-stadium-is-named-after-late-icon |newspaper=[[The New Times (Rwanda)|The New Times]] |access-date=16 March 2023 |archive-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327210713/https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/5798/sports/football/kagame-honours-pele-as-rwanda-stadium-is-named-after-late-icon |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |date=15 March 2023 |title=Kigali Pelé Stadium inaugurated in Rwanda |url=https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/president/news/kigali-pele-stadium-inaugurated-in-rwanda |publisher=FIFA |access-date=16 March 2023 |archive-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327205831/https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/president/news/kigali-pele-stadium-inaugurated-in-rwanda |url-status=live }}</ref> On 26 April 2023, the nickname {{lang|pt|pelé}} became synonymous with "exceptional, incomparable, unique" in ''[[Michaelis (dictionary)|Michaelis]]'' Portuguese-language dictionary after a campaign with 125,000 signatories.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 April 2023 |title=Football great Pelé enters dictionary as synonym for "unique"|newspaper=BBC News|publisher=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-65410049 |access-date=27 April 2023 |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707233458/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-65410049 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Career statistics ==

=== Club ===

Pelé's goalscoring record is often reported by FIFA as being 1,281 goals in 1,363 games.<ref name="Quotes"/> This figure includes goals scored by Pelé in friendly club matches, including international tours Pelé completed with Santos and the New York Cosmos, and a few games Pelé played in for the Brazilian armed forces teams during his national service in Brazil and the state team of [[São Paulo state football team|São Paulo]] who competed for the Brazilian Championship of States Teams (''[[Campeonato Brasileiro de Seleções Estaduais]]'').<ref name=mqpm>{{cite web|url= http://pele.m-qp-m.us/english/pele_statistics.shtml|title= Pelé statistics|website= m-qp-m.us|access-date= 18 October 2007|archive-date= 30 April 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110430003313/http://pele.m-qp-m.us/english/pele_statistics.shtml|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="santosfc.com.br">{{cite web|title=Jogos e goals de Pelé pelo Santos |url=http://www.santosfc.com.br/upload/site/Jogos%20e%20gols%20de%20Pel%C3%A9%20pelo%20Santos%20FC.pdf|publisher=Santos FC|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6DGs1ZcKh?url=http://www.santosfc.com.br/upload/site/Jogos%20e%20gols%20de%20Pel%C3%A9%20pelo%20Santos%20FC.pdf|archive-date=29 December 2012|url-status=dead|language=pt|year=2012|pages=1–11}}</ref> He was listed in the ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' for most career goals scored in football.<ref name=GWR>{{cite web|title=Most career goals (football)|date=7 September 1956|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-career-goals-(football)/|publisher=[[Guinness World Records]]|access-date=21 July 2017|archive-date=24 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124155020/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-career-goals-(football)/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2000, IFFHS declared Pelé as the "World's Best and successful Top Division Goal Scorer of all time" with 541 goals in 560 games and honoured him with a trophy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/845|website=iffhs.com|date=19 December 2020|title=IFFHS NEWS AND STATISTICS OF THE WEEK 51|access-date=12 June 2021|archive-date=27 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327150349/https://www.iffhs.com/posts/845|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://iffhs.de/?b4a390f03be4ac07cda17b45fdcdc3bfcdc0aec28d6d12|title =IFFHS Top Division Scorers|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110818024050/http://iffhs.de/?b4a390f03be4ac07cda17b45fdcdc3bfcdc0aec28d6d12|access-date = 4 August 2020 |archive-date =18 August 2011}}</ref>

The tables below record every goal Pelé scored in official club competitions for Santos FC and all matches and goals for the New York Cosmos.

<div style="overflow-x:auto;">
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center;"
|+Santos FC records
|-
!scope="col" rowspan="3"|Club
!scope="col" rowspan="3"|Season
!scope="col" colspan="2" rowspan="2"|[[Campeonato Paulista]]
!scope="col" colspan="2" rowspan="2"|[[Torneio Rio-São Paulo|Rio-São Paulo]]{{refn|group=note|Soccer Europe compiled this list from RSSSF.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Castano Graff|first1=Emilio|last2=Orlando Duarte|first2=Gregoriak|title=Pelé History|url=http://soccer-europe.com/Biographies/Pele.html|publisher=Soccer Europe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208024929/http://soccer-europe.com/Biographies/Pele.html|archive-date=8 February 2007}}</ref>}}
!scope="col" colspan="2" rowspan="2"|[[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A]]{{refn|group=note|Statistics from 1957 to 1974 for the Taça de Prata, Taça Brasil and Copa Libertadores were taken from Soccer Europe website. Soccer Europe lists RSSSF, but do not give a season-by-season breakdown.<ref name=europestats>{{cite web|title=Biographies: Pelé Statistics|url=http://soccer-europe.com/Biographies/Pele.html|publisher=Soccer Europe|year=2012|access-date=1 August 2006|archive-date=8 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208024929/http://soccer-europe.com/Biographies/Pele.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
!scope="col" colspan="2" rowspan="2"|Domestic competitions<br />Sub-total
!scope="col" rowspan="23"|
!scope="col" colspan="4"|International competitions
!scope="col" colspan="2" rowspan="2"|Total
|-
!scope="col" colspan="2"|[[Copa Libertadores]]
!scope="col" colspan="2"|[[Intercontinental Cup (football)|Intercontinental Cup]]
|-
!scope="col"| Apps
!scope="col"|Goals
!scope="col"|Apps
!scope="col"|Goals
!scope="col"|Apps
!scope="col"|Goals
!scope="col"|Apps
!scope="col"|Goals
!scope="col"|Apps
!scope="col"|Goals
!scope="col"|Apps
!scope="col"|Goals
!scope="col"|Apps
!scope="col"|Goals
|-
|rowspan="20"|[[Santos FC|Santos]]
|[[1956 Santos FC season|1956]]
|0*||0*||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||1||1||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||1||1
|-
|[[1957 Santos FC season|1957]]
|14+15*||19+17*{{refn|group=note|In 1957, the Paulista Championship was divided in two phases: Blue Series and White Series. In the first, Pelé scored 19 goals in 14 games, and in the Blue Series, scored 17 goals in 15 games.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brito|first=Ricardo|title=Campeonato Paulista 1957|url=http://paginas.terra.com.br:80/esporte/rsssfbrasil/tables/sp1957.htm |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=15 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061211044510/http://paginas.terra.com.br/esporte/rsssfbrasil/tables/sp1957.htm|archive-date=11 December 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}{{refn|group=note|This number was inferred from a Santos fixture list from [https://web.archive.org/web/20070202003924/http://paginas.terra.com.br/esporte/rsssfbrasil/historical.htm#estaduais rsssf.com] and [http://pele.m-qp-m.us/english/pele_statistics.shtml this list] of games Pelé played.}} ||9||5||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||38*||41*||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||38*||41*
|-
|[[1958 Santos FC season|1958]]
|38||58||8||8||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||46||66||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||46*||66*
|-
|[[1959 in Brazilian football|1959]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/tablesae/cbr1959.htm|title=Brazil Cup 1959|last1=Pontes|first1=Ricardo|last2=Bovi Diogo|first2=Julio|publisher=RSSSF Brazil|date=9 February 2009|access-date=16 June 2014|archive-date=12 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112151815/http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/tablesae/cbr1959.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
|32||45||7||6||4*||2*||39||51||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||43*||53*
|-
|[[1960 in Brazilian football|1960]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/tablesae/cbr1960.htm|title=Brazil Cup 1960|last1=Pontes|first1=Ricardo|last2=Bovi Diogo|first2=Julio|publisher=RSSSF Brazil|date=18 June 2009|access-date=16 June 2014|archive-date=12 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112151719/http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/tablesae/cbr1960.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
|30||33||3||0||0||0||33||33||0||0||0||0||33*||33*
|-
|[[1961 Santos FC season|1961]]
|26||47||7||8||5*||7||33||55||0||0||0||0||38*||62*
|-
|[[1962 in Brazilian football|1962]]
|26||37||0||0||5*||2*||26||37||4*||4*||2||5||37*||48*
|-
|[[1963 in Brazilian football|1963]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/tablesae/cbr1963.htm|title=Brazil Cup 1963|last1=Pontes|first1=Ricardo|last2=Bovi Diogo|first2=Julio|publisher=RSSSF Brazil|date=18 June 2009|access-date=16 June 2014|archive-date=12 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112151720/http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/tablesae/cbr1963.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
|19||22||8||14||4*||8||27||36||4*||5*||1||2||36||51*
|-
|[[1964 in Brazilian football|1964]]
|21||34||4||3||6*||7||25||37||0*||0*||0||0||31*||44*
|-
|[[1965 in Brazilian football|1965]]
|28||49||7||5||4*||2*||39||54||7*||8||0||0||46*||64*
|-
|[[1966 in Brazilian football|1966]]
|14||13||0*||0*||5*||2*||14*||13*||0||0||0||0||19*||15*
|-
|[[1967 in Brazilian football|1967]]
|18||17||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||14*||9*||32*||26*||0||0||0||0||32*||26*
|-
|[[1968 in Brazilian football|1968]]
|21||17||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||17*||12*||38*||28*||0||0||5||1{{refn|group=note|Intercontinental Super Cup}} ||43*||30*
|-
|[[1969 in Brazilian football|1969]]
|25||26||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||12*||12*||37*||38*||0||0||0||0||37*||38*
|-
|[[1970 in Brazilian football|1970]]
|15||7||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"|
||13*||4*||28*||11*||0||0||0||0||28*||11*
|-
|[[1971 in Brazilian football|1971]]
|19||6||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||21||1||40||7||0||0||0||0||40||7
|-
|[[1972 in Brazilian football|1972]]
|20||9||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||16||5||36||14||0||0||0||0||36||14
|-
|[[1973 in Brazilian football|1973]]
|19||11||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||30||19||49||30||0||0||0||0||49||30
|-
|[[1974 in Brazilian football|1974]]
|10||1||style="background:silver"| ||style="background:silver"| ||17||9||27||10||0||0||0||0||27||10
|-
!Total
!410!!468!!53!!49!!173*!!101*!!636*!!618*!!15!!17{{refn|group=note|Statistics from 1957 to 1974 for the Taça de Prata, Taça Brasil and Copa Libertadores were taken from Soccer Europe website. Soccer Europe lists RSSSF, but do not give a season-by-season breakdown.<ref name=europestats/>}} !!8!!8!!659!!643
|}</div>
* '' * Indicates that the number was deduced from the list of rsssf.com and this list of Pelé games.''

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+New York Cosmos records
|-
!scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:100px;"|Club
!scope="col" rowspan="2"|Season
!scope="col" colspan="2"|[[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|League]]{{refn|group=note|RSSSF recognize as league goals those scored in NASL, the post season play-offs, Campeonato Paulista goals and the original Campeonato Brazileiro goals (1971–1974). IFFHS has made the same validation in the past.}}
!scope="col" colspan="2"|Post season
!scope="col" colspan="2"|Other{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}
!scope="col" colspan="2"|Total
|-
!scope="col"|Apps
!scope="col" |Goals
!scope="col" |Apps
!scope="col" |Goals
!scope="col" |Apps
!scope="col" |Goals
!scope="col" |Apps
!scope="col" |Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[New York Cosmos (1970–1985)|New York Cosmos]]
|[[1975 New York Cosmos season|1975]]
|9||5||colspan="2"|–||14||12||23||17
|-
|[[1976 New York Cosmos season|1976]]
|22||13||2||2||18||11||42||26
|-
|[[1977 New York Cosmos season|1977]]
|25||13||6||4||11||6||42||23
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!56!!31!!8!!6!!43!!29!!107!!66
|}

=== International ===
{{main|List of international goals scored by Pelé}}

With 77 goals in 92 official appearances,{{refn|group=note|name=InternationalApps}} Pelé is the second highest goalscorer of the Brazil national football team.<ref name="Quotes" /> He scored twelve goals and is credited with ten assists in fourteen [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] appearances, including four goals and seven assists in [[FIFA World Cup 1970|1970]].<ref name= "dayinhistory">{{cite web|title=Pele helps Brazil to World Cup title|url=http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pele-helps-brazil-to-world-cup-title|publisher=[[History (U.S. TV channel)|History]]|access-date=18 July 2017|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030193431/https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pele-helps-brazil-to-world-cup-title|url-status=live}}</ref>

Source:<ref name="internationalgoals" />

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+International records
|-
!scope="col"|Team
!scope="col"|Year
!scope="col"|Apps
!scope="col"|Goals
!scope="col"|Goal average
|-
!scope="row" rowspan="15" |[[Brazil national football team|Brazil]]
|1957
|2||2||1.00
|-
|1958
|7||9||1.28
|-
|1959
|9||11||1.22
|-
|1960
|6||4||0.67
|-
|1961
|0||0||—
|-
|1962
||8||8||1.00
|-
|1963
|7||7||1.00
|-
|1964
|3||2||0.67
|-
|1965
|8||9||1.12
|-
|1966
|9||5||0.55
|-
|1967
|0||0||—
|-
|1968
|7||4||0.57
|-
|1969
|9||7||0.77
|-
|1970
|15||8||0.53
|-
|1971
|2||1||0.50
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
!92||77||0.84
|}

== Honours ==

'''São Paulo state team'''
* [[Campeonato Brasileiro de Seleções Estaduais]]''':''' 1959<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=Pelé |url=https://www.santosfc.com.br/en/pele-2/ |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=Santos Futebol Clube |language=en-GB |archive-date=15 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115035058/https://www.santosfc.com.br/en/pele-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Campeonato Brasileiro de Seleções 1959 |url=https://rsssfbrasil.com/tablesae/br1959s.htm |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=rsssfbrasil |archive-date=16 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516054323/https://www.rsssfbrasil.com/tablesae/br1959s.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''Santos'''
* [[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A]]: [[1961 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1961]], [[1962 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1962]], [[1963 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1963]], [[1964 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1964]], [[1965 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1965]], [[1968 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa)|1968]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://santos.globo.com/clube_historia_ptitulos.php?cod=10441|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129133602/http://santos.globo.com/clube_historia_ptitulos.php?cod=10441|archive-date=29 January 2010|publisher=globo.com|title=Pelé o atleta do século|date=3 January 2016|access-date=3 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Copa Libertadores]]: [[1962 Copa Libertadores|1962]], [[1963 Copa Libertadores|1963]]<ref name="copa62"/><ref name="copa63">{{cite web|last1=Pierrend|first1=José Luis|last2=Beuker|first2=John|last3=Ciullini|first3=Pablo|last4=Gorgazzi|first4=Osvaldo|url=https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa63.html|title=Copa Libertadores de América 1963|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=9 July 2017|archive-date=23 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123083021/http://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa63.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Intercontinental Cup (football)|Intercontinental Cup]]: [[1962 Intercontinental Cup|1962]], [[1963 Intercontinental Cup|1963]]<ref name="Recopa">[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/intconclub63.html "Recopa Intercontinental 1968/69"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930105741/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/intconclub63.html |date=30 September 2018 }}. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 1 June 2018</ref>
* [[Intercontinental Champions' Supercup|Intercontinental Supercup]]: [[1968 Intercontinental Supercup|1968]]<ref name="Recopa"/>
* [[Campeonato Paulista]]: [[1958 Campeonato Paulista|1958]], [[1960 Campeonato Paulista|1960]], [[1961 Campeonato Paulista|1961]], [[1962 Campeonato Paulista|1962]], [[1964 Campeonato Paulista|1964]], [[1965 Campeonato Paulista|1965]], [[1967 Campeonato Paulista|1967]], [[1968 Campeonato Paulista|1968]], [[1969 Campeonato Paulista|1969]], [[1973 Campeonato Paulista|1973]]{{refn|group=note|The 1973 Paulista was held jointly with [[Associação Portuguesa de Desportos|Portuguesa]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/sp/santos-e-regiao/noticia/2013/08/um-campeonato-dois-campeoes-conheca-historia-do-paulista-de-73.html|title=Um campeonato, dois campeões: Conheça a história do Paulista de 73|last=Marcos|first=Antonio|date=26 August 2013|work=globo.com|access-date=25 July 2017|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082508/https://ge.globo.com/sp/santos-e-regiao/noticia/2013/08/um-campeonato-dois-campeoes-conheca-historia-do-paulista-de-73.html|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Blevins|2011|p=756}}}}<ref>{{cite news |title=FIFA 18 World Cup Icons player ratings revealed: Pele, Gary Lineker and the 17 classic players |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/uk-sport-news/fifa-18-world-cup-icons-1622954 |newspaper=Bristol Post |date=27 June 2018 |access-date=27 June 2018 |archive-date=11 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111001251/https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/uk-sport-news/fifa-18-world-cup-icons-1622954 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Torneio Rio-São Paulo]]: [[1959 Torneio Rio-São Paulo|1959]], [[1963 Torneio Rio-São Paulo|1963]], [[1964 Torneio Rio-São Paulo|1964]]{{refn|group=note|The 1964 Torneio Rio-São Paulo was held jointly with [[Botafogo]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesr/riosplchamp.html|title=Torneio Rio-São Paulo – List of Champions|last=Pontes|first=Ricardo|date=18 January 2002|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-date=28 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928233601/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesr/riosplchamp.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}}, [[1966 Torneio Rio-São Paulo|1966]]{{sfn|Blevins|2011|p=756}}

'''New York Cosmos'''
* [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|North American Soccer League]], [[Soccer Bowl]]: [[1977 North American Soccer League season|1977]]<ref name="Soccer Bowl">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/usadave/nasl.html|title=North American Soccer League|last=Litterer|first=David A.|date=14 May 2010|publisher=Rec. Sport. Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-date=21 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054922/http://www.rsssf.com/usadave/nasl.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|North American Soccer League]], Atlantic Conference Championship: 1977<ref name="Soccer Bowl"/>

'''Brazil'''
* [[FIFA World Cup]]: [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]], [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962]], [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Pelé: Most wins of the FIFA World Cup by a player|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/hall-of-fame/pele-most-wins-of-the-fifa-world-cup-by-a-player|work=Guinness World Records|date=14 December 2017|access-date=14 December 2017|archive-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922141911/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/hall-of-fame/pele-most-wins-of-the-fifa-world-cup-by-a-player|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Taça do Atlântico]]: 1960<ref>{{cite web|last=Pierrend|first=José Luis|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/atlantico.html|title=Copa del Atlântico|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=16 June 2014|archive-date=14 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714204501/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/atlantico.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Roca Cup]]: 1957, 1963<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/02/football/football-pele-top-four-career-moments-world-cup/index.html|title=Pele: My four greatest moments|last1=Bishara|first1=Motez|last2=Ridell|first2=Don|date=2 June 2016|publisher=CNN|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-date=11 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111001249/https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/02/football/football-pele-top-four-career-moments-world-cup/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sambafoot.com/en/players/288_pele.html|title=Pelé – Edson Arantes do Nascimento|work=Samba Foot|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-date=11 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111015037/https://www.sambafoot.com/players/288_pele.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Taça Oswaldo Cruz]]: 1958, 1962, 1968<ref name="internationalgoals" /><ref name="rsssf2">{{cite web|last=Pierrend|first=José Luis|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ocruz.html|title=Copa Oswaldo Cruz|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|date=21 September 2007|access-date=16 June 2014|archive-date=14 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714204500/https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ocruz.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Copa Bernardo O'Higgins]]: 1959<ref>{{cite web|last=Pierrend|first=José Luis|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ohiggins.html|title=Copa Bernardo O'Higgins|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|date=30 September 1998|access-date=16 June 2014|archive-date=29 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929082713/https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ohiggins.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''Individual'''

In December 2000, Pelé and Maradona shared the prize of FIFA Player of the Century by FIFA.<ref>{{cite news|title=The 20th Century Boys|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1064226.stm|access-date=6 May 2011|work=BBC Sport|date=10 December 2000|archive-date=29 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221029233838/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1064226.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The award was originally intended to be based upon votes in a web poll, but after it became apparent that it favoured Diego Maradona after a reported cyber-blitz by Maradona fans, FIFA then appointed a "Family of Football" committee of FIFA members to decide the winner of the award together with the votes of the readers of the FIFA magazine.<ref>{{cite news|title=FIFA tangled in a web after big Maradona 'poll'|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/football-fifa-tangled-in-a-web-after-big-maradona-poll-28354498.html|access-date=7 January 2022|work=Belfast Telegraph|archive-date=8 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108003556/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/football-fifa-tangled-in-a-web-after-big-maradona-poll-28354498.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The committee chose Pelé. Since Maradona was winning the Internet poll, however, it was decided he and Pelé should share the award.<ref>{{cite news|title=Split decision-Pele, Maradona each win FIFA century awards after feud|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2000/12/11/pele_maradona/|access-date=6 May 2011|date=11 December 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018170219/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2000/12/11/pele_maradona|magazine=Sports Illustrated|archive-date=18 October 2011}}</ref>
* [[Campeonato Paulista]] Top Scorer: 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1973{{sfn|Blevins|2011|p=756}}
* [[FIFA World Cup awards|FIFA World Cup Best Young Player]]: [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]]<ref name="fifa.com" />
* [[FIFA World Cup awards|FIFA World Cup Silver Ball]]: [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]]
* [[France Football]]'s [[Ballon d'Or]]: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1970 – [[Ballon d'Or#Special awards|Le nouveau palmarès (the new winners)]]<ref name="FF7" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Janeiro |first=Por SporTV comRio de |title=Revista faz revisão na Bola de Ouro, e Pelé desbanca Messi nas regras atuais |url=http://sportv.globo.com/site/programas/redacao-sportv/noticia/2015/12/revista-faz-revisao-na-bola-de-ouro-e-pele-desbanca-messi-nas-regras-atuais.html |website=sportv.com |date=December 2015 |access-date=26 December 2018 |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108081652/http://sportv.globo.com/site/programas/redacao-sportv/noticia/2015/12/revista-faz-revisao-na-bola-de-ouro-e-pele-desbanca-messi-nas-regras-atuais.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Copa América|South American Championship]] Best Player: [[1959 South American Championship (Argentina)|1959]]<ref name="rsssf1" />
* [[Copa América|South American Championship]] Top Scorer: [[1959 South American Championship (Argentina)|1959]]<ref name="Scorers" />
* [[Copa Bernardo O'Higgins]] Top Scorer: 1959 (shared with Quarentinha)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brazil v Chile, 17 September 1959 |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/brazil-v-chile-17-september-1959-227385/ |access-date=1 April 2024 |archive-date=1 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240401114524/https://www.11v11.com/matches/brazil-v-chile-17-september-1959-227385/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Brazil v Chile, 20 September 1959 |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/brazil-v-chile-20-september-1959-227387/ |access-date=1 April 2024}}</ref> 
* Gol de Placa: 1961<ref>{{Cite web |last=sfcadmin |date=5 March 2020 |title=Em 5 de março de 1961 Pelé inventou o Gol de Placa |url=https://www.santosfc.com.br/em-5-de-marco-de-1961-pele-inventou-o-gol-de-placa/ |access-date=14 December 2022 |website=Santos FC |language=pt-BR |archive-date=14 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214190227/https://www.santosfc.com.br/em-5-de-marco-de-1961-pele-inventou-o-gol-de-placa/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2 May 2020 |title=Você sabia? Expressão 'gol de placa' nasceu de um golaço de Pelé – Gazeta Esportiva |url=https://www.gazetaesportiva.com/times/santos/voce-sabia-expressao-gol-de-placa-nasceu-de-um-golaco-de-pele/ |access-date=14 December 2022 |website=gazetaesportiva.com |archive-date=14 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214190221/https://www.gazetaesportiva.com/times/santos/voce-sabia-expressao-gol-de-placa-nasceu-de-um-golaco-de-pele/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A]] Top Scorer: [[1961 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1961]], [[1963 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1963]], [[1964 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1964]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Carlos |first=Antonio |date=19 March 2010 |title=Taça Brasil |url=https://cruzeiromg.wordpress.com/campeonatos/taca-brasil-3/ |access-date=26 December 2018 |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082039/https://cruzeiromg.wordpress.com/campeonatos/taca-brasil-3/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Intercontinental Cup (football)|Intercontinental Cup]] Top Scorer: [[1962 Intercontinental Cup|1962]], [[1963 Intercontinental Cup|1963]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Intercontinental Club Cup 1963 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/intconclub63.html |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=3 February 2023 |archive-date=30 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930105741/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/intconclub63.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Intercontinental Cup 1962 – Top Scorer |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/goalgetter/weltpokal-1962/ |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=15 December 2018 |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928041042/https://www.worldfootball.net/goalgetter/weltpokal-1962/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Intercontinental Cup 1963 – Top Scorer |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/goalgetter/weltpokal-1963/ |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=15 December 2018 |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928160522/https://www.worldfootball.net/goalgetter/weltpokal-1963/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Torneio Rio-São Paulo]] Top Scorer: 1963<ref>{{cite web|title=Todos os Artilheiros do Torneio Rio-São Paulo|url=http://www.campeoesdofutebol.com.br/rio_saopaulo_artilheiros.html|access-date=26 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112151534/http://www.campeoesdofutebol.com.br/rio_saopaulo_artilheiros.html|archive-date=12 January 2016|language=pt}}</ref>
* [[Copa Libertadores]] Top Scorer: [[1965 Copa Libertadores|1965]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andres |first1=Juan Pablo |last2=Ballesteros |first2=Frank |last3=Di Maggio |first3=Roberto |title=Copa Libertadores – Topscorers |url=https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copalibtops.html |access-date=9 July 2017 |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |archive-date=14 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114192925/https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copalibtops.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year]]: 1970<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 November 2003 |title=Overseas Personality of the Year – previous winners |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/11_november/20/spoty_50_overseas.shtml |access-date=25 July 2017 |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108113301/https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/11_november/20/spoty_50_overseas.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Bola de Prata (Brazil)|Bola de Prata]]: 1970<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.escrevendofutebol.com.br/2015/07/bola-de-prata-da-placar-1970-2014.html|author=Casari, Yuri|title=Bola de Prata Placar 1970|publisher=Escrevendo Futebol|date=27 July 2015|access-date=2 November 2015|language=pt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812212040/http://www.escrevendofutebol.com.br/2015/07/bola-de-prata-da-placar-1970-2014.html|archive-date=12 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[FIFA World Cup awards|FIFA World Cup Golden Ball (Best Player)]]: [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]]<ref name="Quotes" />
* [[South American Footballer of the Year]]: 1973<ref>{{cite web |last=Pierrend |first=José Luis |date=22 December 2000 |title=South American Player of the Year 1973 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/sampoy73.html |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=3 February 2023 |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108215112/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/sampoy73.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Included in the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|North American Soccer League (NASL)]] All-Star team: 1975, 1976, 1977<ref>{{cite web |title=NASL All-Star Teams, all-time |url=http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/nasl/naslallstar.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413194036/http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/nasl/naslallstar.html |archive-date=13 April 2018 |access-date=16 December 2018 |website=homepages.sover.net}}</ref>
* NASL Top Assist Provider: 1976<ref name=":2" />
* [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)#Annual honors|NASL Most Valuable Player]]: 1976<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=23 August 1976 |title=Pele Voted Most Valuable Player |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/08/23/archives/pele-voted-most-valuable-player.html |access-date=13 December 2022 |archive-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213174143/https://www.nytimes.com/1976/08/23/archives/pele-voted-most-valuable-player.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[squad number (association football)|Number '''10''']] [[Retired numbers in association football|retired]] by the [[New York Cosmos (1970–85)|New York Cosmos]] as a recognition to his contribution to the club: 1977<ref>{{cite web |title=Heritage |url=http://nycosmos.com/heritage |access-date=30 September 2011 |work=nycosmos.com |publisher=New York Cosmos |location=New York City |archive-date=24 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024191701/https://nycosmos.com/heritage |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[http://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/name/93/post/1850762/headline Cosmos honor Pele by retiring number – almost 37 years after they already did] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922131106/https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/name/93/post/1850762/headline |date=22 September 2022 }} by Chris Wright on ESPN, 15 June 2013</ref>
* Elected Citizen of the World, by the United Nations: 1977<ref name="web.archive.org">{{cite web |date=19 April 2009 |title=O triunfo do Rei Pelé – sambafoot.com, Futebol + Brasil |url=http://br.sambafoot.com/artigos/97_O_triunfo_do_Rei_Pele_page_1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419124149/http://br.sambafoot.com/artigos/97_O_triunfo_do_Rei_Pele_page_1.html |archive-date=19 April 2009}}</ref>
* [[Community of Christ International Peace Award|International Peace Award]]: 1978<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alex |title=The timeline of Pele – "The Great Brazilian" |url=https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/the-timeline-of-pele-the-great-brazilian |access-date=10 December 2022 |website=Timetoast timelines |date=23 October 1940 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210155859/https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/the-timeline-of-pele-the-great-brazilian |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Sports Champion of the Century, by ''[[L'Équipe]]'': 1981<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 May 1981 |title=Brazilian soccer star Pele was presented with a bronze |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/05/16/Brazilian-soccer-star-Pele-was-presented-with-a-bronze/6935358833600/ |access-date=23 January 2023 |work=United Press International}}</ref>
* [[FIFA Order of Merit]]: 1984<ref>{{cite web |title=FIFA Order of Merit |url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/r&a-awards/01/20/85/43/170490-factsheet-fifaorderofmerit%281984-2010%29_neutral.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324065359/https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/r%26a-awards/01/20/85/43/170490-factsheet-fifaorderofmerit%281984-2010%29_neutral.pdf |archive-date=24 March 2019 |access-date=17 July 2019 |publisher=FIFA |page=2}}</ref>
* Inducted into the American [[National Soccer Hall of Fame]]: 1992<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pelé - 1993 Inductee {{!}} National Soccer Hall of Fame |url=http://www.nationalsoccerhof.com/players/pele.html |access-date=19 December 2023 |website=Pelé - 1993 Inductee {{!}} National Soccer Hall of Fame |language=en |archive-date=4 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104163755/https://www.nationalsoccerhof.com/players/pele.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Elected Goodwill Ambassador, by [[UNESCO]]: 1993<ref name="web.archive.org" />
* Winner of [[France Football|France Football's World Cup Top-100 1930–1990]]: 1994<ref>{{cite web |title=France Football's World Cup Top-100 1930–1990 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/ff-wc100.html |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=3 February 2023 |archive-date=6 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006124042/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/ff-wc100.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Marca Leyenda]]: 1997<ref>{{Cite web |year=2018 |title=MARCA Leyenda |url=https://www.marca.com/marca-leyenda.html |access-date=5 December 2022 |website=Marca |location=Spain |language=es |archive-date=6 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406155139/https://www.marca.com/marca-leyenda.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[World Team of the 20th Century]]: 1998<ref name="Squads">[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/wrldallt.html World All-Time Teams] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122104208/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/wrldallt.html |date=22 January 2020 }}. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 26 November 2014</ref>
* Football Player of the Century, elected by [[France Football]]'s [[Ballon d'Or]] Winners: 1999<ref name="rsssf.com">{{cite web |last=Stokkermans |first=Karel |date=23 December 2015 |title=France Football's Football Player of the Century |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/best-x-players-of-y.html |access-date=16 July 2017 |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |archive-date=31 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231035356/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/best-x-players-of-y.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''TIME'': One of the [[Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century|100 Most Important People of the 20th century]]: 1999<ref>Kissinger, Henry (14 June 1999) [https://web.archive.org/web/20000531003241/http://www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/pele01.html Time 100 – PELE: The Phenomenon] ''Time''. Retrieved 22 May 2010</ref>
* Greatest Player of the 20th Century, by [[World Soccer (magazine)|World Soccer]]: 1999<ref>{{Cite web |year=1999 |title=England Player Honours – World Soccer Players of the Century |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamHons/HonsWldSocPlyrsCent.html |access-date=5 December 2022 |website=englandfootballonline.com |archive-date=4 April 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210404034430/http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamHons/HonsWldSocPlyrsCent.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Athlete of the Century, by [[Reuters]] News Agency: 1999{{sfn|Bar-On|2014|p=192}}
* Athlete of the Century, elected by [[International Olympic Committee]]: 1999<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/27/world/pel-fast-facts/ "Pelé Fast Facts"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822235955/https://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/27/world/pel-fast-facts |date=22 August 2022 }}. CNN. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015</ref>
* World Player of the Century, by the [[International Federation of Football History & Statistics|IFFHS]]: 2000<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-century.html|title=IFFHS' Century Elections|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=3 February 2023|archive-date=3 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303065744/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/iffhs-century.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="iffhs">{{cite web|url=https://iffhs.de/|title=IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics)|website=IFFHS|access-date=16 December 2018|archive-date=9 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109002231/https://www.iffhs.de/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* South American player of the century, by the IFFHS: 2000<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="iffhs"/>
* [[FIFA Player of the Century]]: 2000<ref name="Quotes" />
* [[Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award]]: 2000<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lovina Chidi |first=Sylvia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lzjNBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA680 |title=The Greatest Black Achievers in History |date=13 June 2014 |publisher=[[Lulu (company)|Lulu]] |isbn=978-1-291-90933-3 |page=680 |access-date=26 September 2020 |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030213611/https://books.google.com/books?id=lzjNBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA680#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[FIFA Order of Merit|FIFA Centennial Award]]: 2004<ref name="Merit">{{cite web |title=Player Bios |url=https://www.ussoccer.com/about/hall-of-fame/hall-of-famers/player-bio |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629224119/http://www.ussoccer.com/about/hall-of-fame/hall-of-famers/player-bio |archive-date=29 June 2017 |access-date=9 July 2017 |publisher=U.S. Soccer}}</ref>
* [[FIFA 100]] Greatest Living Footballers: 2004<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 March 2004 |title=Pele's list of the greatest |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm |access-date=30 January 2018 |archive-date=19 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019205959/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award]]: 2005<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 May 2013 |title=Sports Personality of the Year celebrates 60th show |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/sports-personality/22401221 |access-date=30 January 2018 |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108121807/https://www.bbc.com/sport/sports-personality/22401221 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Elected best Brazilian player of the century, by the IFFHS: 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-country-complete.html|title=IFFHS' Players and Keepers of the Century for many countries|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=3 February 2023|archive-date=30 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630202741/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/iffhs-country-complete.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[FIFA Presidential Award]]: 2007<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 December 2007 |title=Ronaldo third as Kaka scoops FIFA Player prize |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/ronaldo-third-as-kaka-scoops-fifa-player-prize-26339543.html |access-date=12 January 2023 |work=Independent |archive-date=12 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112164059/https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/ronaldo-third-as-kaka-scoops-fifa-player-prize-26339543.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Greatest football player to have ever played the game, by [[Golden Foot]]: 2012<ref>[http://www.amfm-magazine.com/golden-foot-awards-2012-ibrahimovic-pele-and-cantona/ "Golden Foot Awards 2012 – Ibrahimovic, Pele, And Cantona"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928112613/https://www.amfm-magazine.com/golden-foot-awards-2012-ibrahimovic-pele-and-cantona/ |date=28 September 2022 }}. Amfm magazine. Retrieved 8 January 2013</ref>
* [[FIFA Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur]]: [[2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or#FIFA Ballon d'or Prix d'Honneur|2013]]<ref name="Ballon d'Or">[https://web.archive.org/web/20140114110809/http://www.fifa.com/ballondor/news/newsid=2259756/index.html "Pele receives FIFA Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur"]. FIFA. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014</ref>
* [[World Soccer (magazine)#Greatest XI of All Time|World Soccer Greatest XI of All Time]]: 2013<ref>{{cite web |date=2 July 2013 |title=How the panel voted |url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/the-greatest-xi-how-the-panel-voted-341427 |access-date=3 February 2018 |publisher=World Soccer}}</ref>
* Legends of Football Award: 2013<ref>{{Cite web |year=2022 |title=Legends of Football |url=https://lofootball.co.uk/ |access-date=5 December 2022 |website=Nordoff Robbins}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lynch |first=kevin |date=30 October 2022 |title=Video: Pelé honoured with two Guinness World Records achievements in London |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2013/10/video-pel%C3%A9-honoured-with-two-guinness-world-records-achievements-in-london-52558 |access-date=5 December 2022 |website=Guinness World Records}}</ref>
* South America's Best Player in History, by ''L'Équipe'': 2015<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Buron |first1=Sébastien |last2=Sionis |first2=Hugues |last3=Kohler |first3=Stéphane |last4=Terzian |first4=Jean |date=2 July 2015 |title=Top 50 des joueurs sud-américains de l'histoire |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Top/Football/top50-joueurs-sud-americains/3/ |access-date=5 December 2022 |website=L'Équipe |archive-date=4 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704215531/http://www.lequipe.fr/Top/Football/top50-joueurs-sud-americains/3 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Inspiration Award, by ''[[GQ]]'': 2017<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 October 2017 |title=Why Pelé is the greatest player the game will ever know |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/pele-interview |access-date=10 December 2022 |website=British GQ}}</ref>
* Global Citizen Award, by the [[World Economic Forum]]: 2018<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 March 2018 |title=Pele quips he's not ready for comeback |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201803/16/WS5aab2295a3106e7dcc142030.html |access-date=10 December 2022 |website=China Daily}}</ref>
* [[FWA Tribute Award]]: 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://footballwriters.co.uk/news/breaking-news-pele-is-coming/|title=BREAKING NEWS – PELE IS COMING |work=Football Writers' Association |date=24 November 2017 |access-date=8 May 2018}}</ref>
* [[Ballon d'Or Dream Team#First Team|Ballon d'Or Dream Team]]: 2020<ref name="Dream">{{cite web |last=Crépin |first=Timothé |title=Ballon d'Or Dream Team : Découvrez les révélations de ce onze de légende ! |url=https://www.francefootball.fr/news/Ballon-d-or-dream-team-decouvrez-les-revelations-de-ce-onze-de-legende/1205748 |website=[[France Football]] |language=fr |date=14 December 2020 |access-date=14 December 2020}}</ref>
* [[IFFHS World Team#All-time Men's Dream Team (2021)|IFFHS All-time Men's Dream Team]]: 2021<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 May 2021 |title=All Time Dream Team |url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1110 |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=iffhs.com}}</ref>
* IFFHS South America Men's Team of All Time: 2021<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 May 2021 |title=South America Dream Team |url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1116 |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=iffhs.com}}</ref>
* Player of History Award: 2022<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moss |first=Gabriel |date=24 December 2022 |title=Neymar presents a 'Player of History' trophy for Pele - UK Daily News |url=https://ukdaily.news/neymar-presents-a-player-of-history-trophy-for-pele-263967.html |access-date=28 January 2023}}</ref>
* [[The Best FIFA Football Awards#FIFA Special Award for an Outstanding Career Achievement|FIFA Best Special Award]]: [[The Best FIFA Football Awards 2022#The Best FIFA Special Award|2022]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 February 2023 |title=Ronaldo presents Pelé's wife, Marcia Aoki, with The Best FIFA Special Award |url=https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/organisation/news/origin1904-p.cxm.fifa.comronaldo-presents-peles-wife-marcia-aoki-with-special-recognition-award |access-date=28 February 2023 |publisher=FIFA }}</ref>

'''Orders'''
* [[Order of Rio Branco|Knight of the Order of Rio Branco]]: 1967<ref>{{cite book |last=Meade |first=Teresa A. |author-link=Teresa Meade |title=A Brief History of Brazil |date=2010 |publisher=Infobase Publishing |page=207}}</ref>
* Elected [[Order of Rio Branco|Commander of the Order of Rio Branco]] after scoring the thousandth goal: 1969<ref name="web.archive.org" />
* Officer of the [[Order of Ouissam Alaouite]] of the Kingdom of Morocco: 1976<ref>{{Cite web |title=PELÉ MOROCCO ORDER OF OUISSAM ALAOUITE MEDAL WITH CERTIFICATE |url=https://www.julienslive.com/lot-details/index/catalog/178/lot/76662 |access-date=21 April 2023 |website=julienslive.com}}</ref>
* Awarded with the Order of Champions, by the Organization of Catholic Youth in the USA: 1978<ref name="web.archive.org" />
* Awarded the FIFA Order as a tribute to his 80 years as a sports institution: 1984<ref name="web.archive.org"/>
* Awarded with the Order of Merit of South America, by CONMEBOL: 1984<ref name="web.archive.org"/>
* He was awarded the [[National Order of Merit (Brazil)|National Order of Merit]], by the government of Brazil: 1991<ref name="web.archive.org" />
* Awarded with the Cross of the Order of the Republic of Hungary: 1994<ref name="web.archive.org" />
* Awarded the [[Order of Military Merit (Brazil)|Order of Military Merit]]: 1995<ref>{{Cite web |year=1995 |title=Página 4 do Diário Oficial da União - Seção 1, número 62, de 30/03/1995 Imprensa Nacional |url=https://pesquisa.in.gov.br/imprensa/jsp/visualiza/index.jsp?data=30/03/1995&jornal=1&pagina=4 |access-date=23 January 2023 |website=pesquisa.in.gov.br}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PELÉ ORDER OF MILITARY MERIT MEDALS AND CERTIFICATE {{!}} #3391510817 |url=https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/pele-order-military-merit-medals-3391510817 |access-date=23 January 2023 |website=Worthpoint}}</ref>
* [[Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (honorary knighthood): 1997<ref>{{cite web |last=Prudames |first=David |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/feb/13/september11.usa1 |title=Those honorary knighthoods in full |date=13 February 2002 |access-date=2 January 2023 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>
* Awarded with the [[Ordem do Mérito Cultural|Order of Cultural Merit]], by the government of Brazil: 2004<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 November 2004 |title=Order of Cultural Merit 2004 |url=http://www2.cultura.gov.br/site/acesso-a-informacao/programas-e-acoes/ordem-do-merito-cultural/ordem-do-merito-cultural-2004/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627020449/http://www.cultura.gov.br/site/acesso-a-informacao/programas-e-acoes/ordem-do-merito-cultural/ordem-do-merito-cultural-2004/ |archive-date=27 June 2012 |access-date=23 January 2023 }}</ref>
* [[Olympic Order]], by the [[International Olympic Committee]]: 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/brazil/story/2895760/brazil-football-legend-pele-honoured-with-olympic-order|title=Brazil legend Pele receives Olympic Order|date=17 June 2016|publisher=ESPN}}</ref>

'''Records'''
* [[Brazil national football team records and statistics#Top goalscorers|Highest goals-per-game ratio]] for Brazil national football team: 0.84<ref>{{Cite web |last=Menon |first=Anirudh |date=30 December 2022 |title=Pele's incredible numbers: hundreds of goals and 3 World Cups |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/blog-espn-fc-united/story/4840429/pele-incredible-numbers-stats-1281-hundreds-of-goals-and-3-world-cups |access-date=10 January 2023 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Arora |first=Mudeet |date=9 December 2022 |title=Who is Brazil's leading all-time top goal scorer? Pele, Neymar, Ronaldo and The Selecao's most lethal strikers |url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/pele-neymar-ronaldo-who-is-brazils-leading-all-time-top-goalscorers/blt75e4aa20fd6a2bed#cs2bd75769ed9043ba |access-date=11 December 2022 |work=[[Goal (website)|Goal]]}}</ref>
* Highest goals-per-game ratio of any [[CONMEBOL|South American]] top international scorer: 0.84<ref name="80th birthday" />
* [[List of Intercontinental Cup goalscorers|Highest goals-per-game ratio]] of any leading scorer in the Intercontinental Cup: 2.33<ref>{{Cite web |year=2023 |title=Intercontinental Cup - All-time Topscorers |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/alltime_goalgetter/weltpokal/tore/1/ |access-date=12 January 2023 |website=worldfootball.net}}</ref>
* [[Intercontinental Cup (football)#All-time top scorers|Most goals]] in the [[Intercontinental Cup (football)|Intercontinental Cup]]: 7<ref name="prolific">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/prolific.html|title=Prolific Scorers Data|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |last=Kolos |first=Vladimir|date=2 February 2021|access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref><ref name=":5" />
* [[Santos FC#Statistics and records|Most goals]] for [[Santos FC|Santos]]: 643 (in 659 competitive games)<ref name=fifa20>{{cite web |url =https://www.fifa.com/news/records-being-hunted-in-2020|title =FIFA :Records being hunted in 2020 |publisher=FIFA|access-date=12 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114105832/https://www.fifa.com/news/records-being-hunted-in-2020|archive-date =14 January 2021}}</ref>
* Most goals for Santos: 1091 (including friendlies)<ref>{{Cite web |year=2012 |title=Gunners |url=http://www.santosfc.com.br/historia/default.asp?c=Hist%F3ria&id=19784 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231220912/http://www.santosfc.com.br/historia/default.asp?c=Hist%F3ria&id=19784 |archive-date=31 December 2012 |access-date=18 January 2023 |website=archive.ph}}</ref><ref name=":8" />
* [[Santos FC#Statistics and records|Most appearances for Santos]]: 1116<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 December 2012 |title=Santos Futebol Clube |url=http://www.santosfc.com.br/historia/default.asp?c=Hist%F3ria&id=28153 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231185722/http://www.santosfc.com.br/historia/default.asp?c=Hist%F3ria&id=28153 |archive-date=31 December 2012 |access-date=10 January 2023 |website=archive.ph}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |year=2023 |title=Idols |url=https://www.santosfc.com.br/en/idols/ |access-date=18 January 2023 |website=Santos Futebol Clube}}</ref>
* Most goals within a single [[Brazilian football league system|Brazilian top-flight league season]]: 58<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kilani |first=Imed |date=12 April 2016 |title=Top Division Scoring Records |url=https://rsssf.org/tablest/topdivgoalrecs.html |access-date=20 January 2023 |publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]}}</ref>
* Most goals scored in a single [[Campeonato Paulista#Winners and goalscorers|Campeonato Paulista]] season: 58 (in 38 competitive games,1958)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pelé |url=https://www.santosfc.com.br/en/pele-2/ |access-date=17 December 2022 |website=Santos FC}}</ref>
* Most goals scored in a [[List of players with the most goals in an association football game#Brazil|single Campeonato Paulista match]]: 8 (1964)<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 December 2020 |title=The World's best one match goal scorer |url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/861 |access-date=12 February 2023 |website=iffhs.com}}</ref>
* Most goals scored in Campeonato Paulista history: 466<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=30 December 2022 |title=IFFHS |url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/2439 |access-date=7 January 2023 |website=iffhs.com}}</ref>
* Most seasons as Campeonato Paulista [[Campeonato Paulista#Top scorers|Top Scorer]]: 11<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 June 2015 |title=Acervo Histórico do Santos FC {{!}} Temporada – 1957 |url=http://acervosantosfc.com/temporada-1957/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829210901/http://acervosantosfc.com/temporada-1957/ |archive-date=29 August 2016 |access-date=7 January 2023 }}</ref>
* Most consecutive seasons as Campeonato Paulista Top Scorer: 9 (1957–1965)<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 April 2007 |title=Santos Futebol Clube |url=http://santos.globo.com/clube_historia_pnumeros.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429210037/http://santos.globo.com/clube_historia_pnumeros.php |archive-date=29 April 2007 |access-date=20 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Pablo Andrés |first1=Juan |last2=Torres |first2=Paulo |date=24 June 2021 |title=São Paulo State List of Topscorers |url=https://rsssfbrasil.com/tablessz/sptops.htm |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=rsssfbrasil.com}}</ref>
* Most goals in a calendar year (including friendlies, recognised by [[FIFA]]): 127 (1959)<ref name="80th birthday" />
* [[RSSSF]] record for most top level goals scored in one season (including friendlies): 120 (1959)<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=Kolos |first=Vladimir |date=21 December 2022 |title=Prolific Scorers Data |url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/prolific.html#seasontopall |access-date=10 January 2023 |publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]}}</ref>
* RSSSF record for most seasons with over 100 top level goals scored (including friendlies): 3 (1959, 1961, 1965)<ref name=":10" />
* RSSSF record for most goals scored before the age of 30: 675<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kolos |first=Vladimir |date=21 December 2022 |title=Prolific Scorers Data |url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/prolific.html#under30 |access-date=10 January 2023 |publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]}}</ref>
* RSSSF record for most top level career goals (including friendlies): 1,274<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kolos |first=Vladimir |date=21 December 2022 |title=Prolific Scorers Data |url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/prolific.html#atopmatches |access-date=10 January 2023 |publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]}}</ref>
* [[Guinness World Record]] for most career goals in world football (including friendlies): 1,283 (in 1,363 games)<ref name="guinnessworldrecords">{{cite web |last=Lynch |first=Kevin |date=30 October 2013 |title=Pelé honoured with two Guinness World Records achievements in London |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2013/10/video-pel%C3%A9-honoured-with-two-guinness-world-records-achievements-in-london-52558/ |access-date=16 July 2017 |publisher=Guinness World Records}}</ref>
* [[International Federation of Football History & Statistics|IFFHS]] record for most top division league goals: 604<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=5 June 2022 |title=IFFHS |url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1936 |access-date=10 January 2023 |website=iffhs.com}}</ref>
* IFFHS record for most top level domestic goals: 659<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /> 
* Guinness World Record for most [[Hat-trick (association football)|hat-trick]]s in world football: 92<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/24276047 Archive: Brazil legend Pele retires from professional football] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011151558/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/24276047 |date=11 October 2015 }} BBC Sport. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ijaseun |first=David |date=30 December 2022 |title=In memoriam: Pelé's visit to Nigeria and other things he will be remembered for |url=https://businessday.ng/news/article/in-memoriam-peles-visit-to-nigeria-and-other-things-he-will-be-remembered-for/ |access-date=18 January 2023 |website=Businessday NG}}</ref>
* [[List of Brazil national football team hat-tricks|Most hat-tricks for Brazil]]: 7<ref>{{Cite web |year=2023 |title=Brazil national football team statistics and records: hat tricks |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/brazil/tab/stats/option/hattricks/ |access-date=1 January 2023 |website=11v11.com}}</ref>
* Most [[FIFA World Cup]] winners' medals: 3 ([[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]], [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962]], [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]])<ref name="guinnessworldrecords"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/photos/galleries/pele-the-fifa-world-cup-1322295|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216074509/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/photos/galleries/pele-the-fifa-world-cup-1322295|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 December 2018|title=Pele at the FIFA World Cup |publisher=FIFA}}</ref>
* Youngest winner of a FIFA World Cup: aged 17 years and 249 days (1958)<ref>{{cite web|title=Youngest winner of the football (soccer) FIFA World Cup
|date=28 June 1958 |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/112330-youngest-winner-of-the-football-soccer-fifa-world-cup|publisher=Guinness World Records|access-date=2 April 2018}}</ref>
* Youngest goalscorer in a FIFA World Cup: aged 17 years and 239 days (for Brazil vs [[Wales national football team|Wales]], 1958)<ref name="Quotes"/><ref name="Statistics">[http://www.planetworldcup.com/STATS/players.html Planet World Cup – Statistics – Players] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407025705/http://www.planetworldcup.com/STATS/players.html |date=7 April 2022 }} Planet World Cup. Retrieved 19 October 2015</ref>
* Youngest player to score twice in a FIFA World Cup semi-final: aged 17 years and 244 days (for Brazil vs [[France national football team|France]], 1958)<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Ridley |first=Nathan |date=14 December 2022 |title=Julian Alvarez behind only Pele in World Cup history after double vs Croatia |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/julian-alvarez-pele-world-cup-28727636 |access-date=14 December 2022 |website=mirror}}</ref>
* Youngest player to score a hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup: aged 17 years and 244 days (for Brazil vs France, 1958)<ref name="Statistics" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Asgar Nalwala |first=Ali |date=25 November 2022 |title=Youngest footballers in men's FIFA World Cup: Norman Whiteside leads list of wonderkids! |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/youngest-fifa-world-cup-player-football |access-date=18 January 2023}}</ref>
* Youngest player to play in a [[List of FIFA World Cup finals|FIFA World Cup Final]]: aged 17 years and 249 days ([[1958 FIFA World Cup Final|1958]])<ref name="Cup58">{{cite news|last1=Dhar|first1=Pulasta|title=World Cup 1958 and 1962: The story of Brazil and Pele begins...|url=http://www.firstpost.com/sports/world-cup-1958-and-1962-the-story-of-brazil-and-pele-begins-1489947.html|access-date=29 July 2017|work=First Post|date=9 June 2014}}</ref><ref name=":9" />
* Youngest goalscorer in a FIFA World Cup Final: aged 17 years and 249 days (for Brazil vs [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]], 1958)<ref name="Cup58"/><ref name=":9" />
* Youngest player to score twice in a FIFA World Cup Final: aged 17 years and 249 days (for Brazil vs Sweden, 1958)<ref name=":3" />
* Youngest player to play for Brazil in a FIFA World Cup: aged 17 years and 234 days<ref name=":9" /> 
* Youngest player to start a knockout match at a FIFA World Cup<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barca Blaugranes Staff |title=World Cup: Gavi youngest knockout starter since Pele |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/fifa-world-cup/world-cup-gavi-youngest-knockout-starter-since-pele/ar-AA14Ytix |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212182653/https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/fifa-world-cup/world-cup-gavi-youngest-knockout-starter-since-pele/ar-AA14Ytix |archive-date=12 December 2022 |access-date=12 December 2022 |publisher=MSN}}</ref>
* Youngest player to reach five FIFA World Cup knockout stage goals<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Sam |date=13 December 2022 |title=Kylian Mbappe is nowhere near Pele's GOAT status even if he wins another World Cup |url=https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/kylian-mbappe-pele-world-cup-2026378 |access-date=13 December 2022 |website=[[i (newspaper)|i]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 December 2022 |title=Which player has scored the most goals in World Cup knockout games? {{!}} The Knowledge |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/07/which-player-has-scored-the-most-goals-in-world-cup-knockout-games |access-date=13 December 2022 |website=The Guardian}}</ref>
* Youngest player to debut for Brazil national football team: aged 16 years and 259 days (Brazil vs [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]], 1957)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rai |first=Shreyas |date=17 November 2023 |title=Who is the youngest footballer to play for Brazil? |url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/who-is-the-youngest-footballer-to-play-for-brazil/blt3eb65ea027b9e42f |access-date=16 January 2024 |website=Goal.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 November 2023 |title=Endrick and Brazil's youngest debutants |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/endrick-and-brazils-youngest-debutants |access-date=16 January 2024}}</ref>
* [[Brazil national football team#Youngest goalscorer|Youngest goalscorer]] for Brazil national football team: aged 16 years and 259 days (Brazil vs Argentina, 1957)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Chris |date=7 September 2020 |title=Ansu joins Rooney, Mbappe, Pulisic and Pele among youngest scorers |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/blog-the-toe-poke/story/4175220/ansu-fati-joins-rooneymbappepulisic-and-pele-among-youngest-international-goal-scorers |access-date=13 December 2022 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref>
* Youngest Top Scorer in the Campeonato Paulista<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 December 2022 |title=A primeira vez de Pelé com a camisa do Santos |url=https://esportes.yahoo.com/noticias/primeira-vez-pel%C3%A9-com-camisa-194316772.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229201951/https://esportes.yahoo.com/noticias/primeira-vez-pel%C3%A9-com-camisa-194316772.html |archive-date=29 December 2022 |access-date=12 February 2023 |publisher=Yahoo! |language=pt-BR}}</ref>
* First player to score in three successive FIFA World Cups<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fernando |first=Shemal |date=25 September 2022 |title=The King of Football and Player of the Century |url=https://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2022/09/25/sports/king-football-and-player-century |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=Sunday Observer}}</ref>
* First teenager to score in a FIFA World Cup Final<ref>{{Cite web |last=Twomey |first=Liam |date=15 July 2018 |title='Welcome to the club' - Pele praises Kylian Mbappe for becoming the second teenager to score in a World Cup final |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/world-cup-2018-france-croatia-pele-kylian-mbappe-welcome-to-the-club-teenage-scorer-goal-video-a8448611.html |access-date=10 January 2023 |website=The Independent}}</ref>
* One of only five players to have scored in four different FIFA World Cup tournaments<ref>{{Cite web |last=Diamond |first=Harry |date=25 November 2022 |title=Appreciating the five players to score in four different World Cups |url=https://thefootballfaithful.com/players-score-in-four-different-world-cups/ |access-date=16 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=22 November 2022 |title=Messi becomes fifth player to score in four World Cups |url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latest-news/messi-becomes-fifth-player-to-score-in-four-world-cups/ |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=Jamaica Observer}}</ref>
* One of only five players to have scored in two different FIFA World Cup Finals<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 May 2018 |title=World Cup records – Most trophies, top goalscorers, penalty shootout form & amazing statistics |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/world-cup-records-most-trophies-top-goalscorers-penalty-shootout-/1b0mdjhxj85wr1odw2t5c7lf0m |access-date=16 December 2022 |work=[[Goal (website)|Goal]]}}</ref>
* Scored in two FIFA World Cup Finals for [[List of FIFA World Cup winning players#Winning players|winning teams]] (shared with [[Vavá]])
* Most assists provided in FIFA World Cup history: 10 (1958–1970)<ref name="indiatoday.in">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/football/story/happy-birthday-pele-turns-77-brazil-football-santos-fc-1070141-2017-10-23|title=On this day: The greatest footballer on the planet, Pele, turns 77|author=Rohan Sen |date=23 October 2017 |magazine=India Today}}</ref>
* Most assists provided in a single FIFA World Cup tournament: 6 (1970)<ref name="80th birthday">{{cite news |date=21 June 2020 |title=Happy 80th birthday to 'The King' |publisher=FIFA |url=https://www.fifa.com/news/happy-80th-birthday-to-the-king |access-date=24 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023121730/https://www.fifa.com/news/happy-80th-birthday-to-the-king |archive-date=23 October 2020}}</ref>
* Most assists provided in FIFA World Cup Final matches: 3 (1 in 1958 and 2 in [[1970 FIFA World Cup Final|1970]])<ref name="80th birthday"/>
* Most assists provided in FIFA World Cup knockout phase: 6 (shared with [[Lionel Messi|Messi]])<ref>{{Cite web |year=2022 |title=The World Cup records Messi owns and is chasing |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/lionel-messi-fifa-world-cup-records-milestones-argentina-appearances-assists-goals |access-date=14 December 2022}}</ref>
* Most goals from open play in FIFA World Cup Final matches: 3 (2 in 1958 and 1 in 1970) (shared with [[Vavá]], [[Geoff Hurst]] and [[Zinedine Zidane]])<ref>{{cite news |title=Zidane off as Italy win World Cup |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991652.stm |access-date=23 March 2019 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>
* Most FIFA World Cup goal involvements for Brazil<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guilherme |first=Maniaudet |date=30 December 2022 |title=Não foram só gols: Pelé é o maior garçom do Brasil em Copas do Mundo |url=https://ge.globo.com/pele/noticia/2022/12/30/nao-foram-so-gols-pele-e-o-maior-garcom-do-brasil-em-copas-do-mundo.ghtml |access-date=12 February 2023 |website=ge |language=pt-br}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 November 2022 |title=THE PLAYER WITH MOST GOAL INVOLVEMENTS |url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/2313 |access-date=12 February 2023 |website=iffhs.com}}</ref>
* Most goals scored in the [[Copa Bernardo O'Higgins]]: 3 (shared with Quarentinha)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brazil national football team statistics and records: top scorers - Copa Bernardo O'Higgins |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/brazil/tab/stats/option/scorers/comp/433/ |access-date=1 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chile national football team statistics and records: top scorers - Copa Bernardo O'Higgins |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/chile/tab/stats/option/scorers/comp/433/ |access-date=1 April 2024}}</ref>
* Only player to reach 25 international goals as a teenager<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=7 December 2022 |title=Pelé: A look at his records and greatest achievements |url=https://www.lifestyleasia.com/ind/living/people/pele-achievements-and-records/ |access-date=11 December 2022 |website=Lifestyle Asia India}}</ref>
* Only player to score in a FIFA World Cup before turning 18<ref name=":1" />
* Only player to score a hat-trick in a FIFA World cup before turning 18<ref>{{Cite web |last=Furniss |first=Matt |date=17 November 2022 |title=FIFA World Cup Hat-Tricks: The Facts |url=https://theanalyst.com/2022/11/world-cup-hat-tricks-fifa/ |access-date=20 December 2022 |website=The Analyst}}</ref>
* Only player to have [[Intercontinental Cup (football)#Hat-tricks|scored a hat-trick]] in the Intercontinental Cup<ref>{{Cite web |last=GÜELL |first=ROBERT |date=16 December 2015 |title=Luis Suárez scores first ever hat-trick in Club World Cup |url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/1074456/luis-suarez-scores-first-ever-hat-trick-in-club-world-cup |access-date=12 December 2022 |publisher=FC Barcelona}}</ref>
* Only player to have scored a hat-trick in the Copa Bernardo O'Higgins<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brazil national football team statistics and records: hat tricks - Copa Bernardo O'Higgins |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/brazil/tab/stats/option/hattricks/comp/433/ |access-date=1 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chile national football team statistics and records: hat tricks - Copa Bernardo O'Higgins |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/chile/tab/stats/option/hattricks/comp/433/ |access-date=1 April 2024}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+
|-
!scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Title
!scope="col"| Role
!scope="col"| Notes
! {{abbr|Ref|References}}
|-
|1969
!scope="row"|''Os Estranhos''
| Plínio Pompeu
| TV series
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Xavier |first=Nilson |title=Os Estranhos |url=http://teledramaturgia.com.br/os-estranhos/ |access-date=3 December 2022 |website=Teledramaturgia |language=pt-BR}}</ref>
|-
|1971
!scope="row"|''O Barão Otelo no Barato dos Bilhões''
| Dr. Arantes/Himself
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 March 2016 |title=Filmografia – O Barão Otelo No Barato Dos Bilhões |url=http://cinemateca.gov.br/cgi-bin/wxis.exe/iah/?IsisScript=iah/iah.xis&base=FILMOGRAFIA&lang=P&nextAction=search&exprSearch=ID=024650&format=detailed.pft |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225735/http://cinemateca.gov.br/cgi-bin/wxis.exe/iah/?IsisScript=iah/iah.xis&base=FILMOGRAFIA&lang=P&nextAction=search&exprSearch=ID=024650&format=detailed.pft |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=3 December 2022 |website=Cinemateca Brasileira}}</ref>
|-
|1972
!scope="row"|''A Marcha''
| Chico Bondade
|
|<ref name="JB1">{{cite news|title=Pelé levou sua arte até para o cinema|url=http://www.jb.com.br/esportes/noticias/2010/10/23/pele-levou-sua-arte-ate-para-o-cinema/|work=[[Jornal do Brasil]]|date=23 October 2010|accessdate=3 December 2022}}</ref>
|-
|1981
!scope="row"|''[[Escape to Victory]]''
| Corporal Luis Fernandez
|
|<ref name="BFI">{{Cite web |title=Pelé |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba19d4114 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608092850/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba19d4114 |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 June 2017 |access-date=3 December 2022 |website=British Film Institute}}</ref>
|-
|1983
!scope="row"|''A Minor Miracle''
| Himself
| Also known as ''Young Giants''
|<ref name="BFI"/>
|-
|1985
!scope="row"|''Pedro Mico''
|
|
|<ref name="JB1"/>
|-
|1986
!scope="row"|''[[Hotshot (film)|Hotshot]]''
| Santos
|
|<ref name="BFI"/>
|-
|1986
!scope="row"|''[[Os Trapalhões e o Rei do Futebol]]''
| Nascimento
|
|<ref name="JB1"/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://cinemateca.gov.br/cgi-bin/wxis.exe/iah/?IsisScript=iah/iah.xis&base=FILMOGRAFIA&lang=p&nextAction=lnk&exprSearch=ID=025453&format=detailed.pft#1 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160327195048/http://cinemateca.gov.br/cgi-bin/wxis.exe/iah/?IsisScript=iah/iah.xis&base=FILMOGRAFIA&lang=p&nextAction=lnk&exprSearch=ID=025453&format=detailed.pft|archive-date=27 March 2016|title=Os Trapalhões e o Rei do Futebol | publisher=[[Cinemateca Brasileira]] | accessdate=22 June 2014 | language=Portuguese}}</ref>
|-
|1989
!scope="row"|''[[Solidão, Uma Linda História de Amor]]''
|
|
|<ref name="JB1"/>
|-
|2001
!scope="row"|''[[Mike Bassett: England Manager]]''
|Himself
|
|<ref name="BFI"/><ref name="JB1"/>
|-
|2016
!scope="row"|''[[Pelé: Birth of a Legend]]''
| Man sitting in hotel lobby
| [[Cameo appearance]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Ashley |date=10 May 2016 |title=Pelé: Birth of a Legend continues the soccer star's big screen legacy |url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/may/10/pele-birth-of-a-legend-brazil-soccer-tribeca-film |access-date=5 December 2022 |website=The Guardian}}</ref>
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Association football|Brazil|Biography|Sports|Football}}
* [[List of Brazil national football team hat-tricks]]
* [[List of international goals scored by Pelé]]
* [[List of international goals scored by Pelé#Hat-tricks|List of international hat-tricks scored by Pelé]]
* [[List of men's footballers with 500 or more goals]]
* [[List of men's footballers with 50 or more international goals]]
* [[Pelé runaround move]]
* [[Torcida Jovem|Torcida Jovem of Santos FC School of Samba]]
{{Clear}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Cite book |last1=Bar-On |first1=Tamir |date=2014 |title=The World Through Soccer: The Cultural Impact of a Global Sport |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |isbn=978-1442234734 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ipr0ngEACAAJ}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Bellos |first1=Alex |date=2003 |title=Futebol: The Brazilian Way of Life |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury]] |isbn=0747561796 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dc0yHDBFOF8C}}
* {{Cite book |last=Blevins |first=David |date=2011 |title=The Sports Hall of Fame Encyclopedia: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Soccer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aB8sCV5nVaoC |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0810861305}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Darby |first1=Paul |date=2002 |title=Africa, Football, and FIFA: Politics, Colonialism, and Resistance |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=0714649686 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gWnHzZjWKWUC}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Dunmore |first1=Tom |date=2011 |title=Historical Dictionary of Soccer |publisher=[[Scarecrow Press]] |isbn=978-0810873957 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_7TNBHVrTEkC}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Dunmore |first1=Tom |date=2015 |title=Encyclopedia of the FIFA World Cup |publisher=[[Scarecrow Press]] |isbn=978-0810887435 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4uJdBgAAQBAJ}}
* {{Cite magazine |title=World's Highest Paid Athlete: Brazilian Soccer Star Earns $150,000 a Year |date=1963 |magazine=Ebony |publisher=[[Johnson Publishing Company]] |oclc=1567306 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d04FVw8V0YoC}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Freedman |first1=Lew |date=2014 |title=Pelé: A Biography |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |isbn=978-1440829819 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o6mSAwAAQBAJ}}
* {{Cite book |last=Heizer |first=Teixeira |date=1997 |title=O jogo bruto das copas do mundo |language=pt-BR |publisher=Mauad Editora Ltda |isbn=8585756527 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uGUPFTUedssC}}
* {{Cite book |last=Magill |first=Frank Northen |date=1999 |title=Dictionary of World Biography: The 20th century, O–Z |publisher=Routledge |isbn=1579580483 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uiQAaGgOChIC}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Marcus |first1=Joe |date=1976 |title=The World of Pelé |publisher=Mason Charter Publishing |isbn=0884053660 |page=[https://archive.org/details/worldofpele0000marc/page/200 200] |url=https://archive.org/details/worldofpele0000marc |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Pelé |date=2008 |title=Pelé: The Autobiography |publisher=[[Simon and Schuster]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NalAgJSnEUUC |isbn=978-1847394880}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Pelé |last2=Fish |first2=Robert L. |date=1977 |title=My Life and the Beautiful Game: The Autobiography of Pelé |publisher=[[Doubleday Publishing]] |isbn=0385121857 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o_OBAAAAMAAJ}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q12897|c=Category:Pelé|q=Pelé|n=Pelé|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no}}
* {{FIFA player}}
* {{UEFA player}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090108154314/http://national.soccerhall.org/famers/edson_nacmento.htm Pelé] at National Soccer Hall of Fame
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091120182603/http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/32492/pele-a-legend-looks-back Pelé: A Legend Looks Back] – slideshow by [[Life (magazine)|''Life'' magazine]]
* [https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/pele-intlg.html List of Goals for Brazil]
* [http://www.santosfc.com.br/pele/ Pelé] at Santos official website
* [http://www.planetworldcup.com/LEGENDS/pele.html Pelé] at Planet World Cup

{{S-start}}
{{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[Pinga (footballer, born 1924)|Pinga]]}}
{{s-ttl
| title = Jersey number 10 for [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]]
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Rivellino]] }}
{{S-break}}
{{S-off}}
{{S-new|minister}}
{{S-ttl
| title = [[Ministry of Sports (Brazil)|Minister of Sports]]
| years = 1 January 1995 – 30 April 1998}}
{{S-vac
| next = [[Rafael Greca]]
| as = Minister of Sports and Tourism
}}
{{S-end}}
{{Pelé}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Brazil squads
| bg = #FFDF00
| fg = #008000
| bordercolor = blue
|list1=
{{Brazil squad 1958 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Brazil squad 1959 South American Championship (Argentina)}}
{{Brazil squad 1962 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Brazil squad 1966 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Brazil squad 1970 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{New York Cosmos}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Rod Laver]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year]]|years=1970}}
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{{1958 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{1970 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{1959 South American Championship (Argentina) Team of the Tournament}}
{{FIFA World Cup Statistical Summary's Best Player}}
{{FIFA World Cup Best Young Player}}
{{Copa America top scorers}}
{{Copa América MVP}}
{{Copa Libertadores top scorers}}
{{Taça Brasil top scorers}}
{{Torneio Rio – São Paulo top scorers}}
{{Campeonato Paulista top scorers}}
{{South American Footballer of the Year}}
{{Bola de Ouro}}
{{North American Soccer League (1968–1984) MVP}}
{{1960 World Soccer World XI}}
{{1961 World Soccer World XI}}
{{1962 World Soccer World XI}}
{{1963 World Soccer World XI}}
{{1964 World Soccer World XI}}
{{1965 World Soccer World XI}}
{{1966 World Soccer World XI}}
{{1975 NASL All-Stars}}
{{1976 NASL All-Stars}}
{{1977 NASL All-Stars}}
{{FIFA World Cup All-Time Team}}
{{World Team of the 20th century}}
{{South American Team of the 20th Century}}
{{FIFA World Cup Dream Team}}
{{Copa América Historcial Dream Team}}
{{Ballon d'Or Dream Team}}
{{IFFHS Men's World Team of the 20th Century}}
{{IFFHS Men's South American Team of the 20th Century}}
{{IFFHS All-time Men's World Dream Team}}
{{IFFHS All-time Men's South American Dream Team}}
{{FIFA 100}}
{{Golden Foot Legends Award}}
{{Ballon d'Or Additional Awards}}
{{FWA Tribute Award}}
{{FIFA Special Award}}
{{Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame}}
{{National Soccer Hall of Fame members}}
{{BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year}}
{{Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award}}
{{BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award}}
{{Order of Cultural Merit}}
{{Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pele}}
[[Category:Pelé| ]]
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:1958 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1962 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1966 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1970 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Afro-Brazilian people]]
[[Category:Afro-Brazilian sportspeople]]
[[Category:Association football people awarded knighthoods]]
[[Category:FIFA World Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:BBC Sports Personality Lifetime Achievement Award recipients]]
[[Category:BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Brazil men's international footballers]]
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[[Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players]]
[[Category:Copa Libertadores–winning players]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in São Paulo (state)]]
[[Category:Deaths from colorectal cancer in Brazil]]
[[Category:Deaths from multiple organ failure]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States]]
[[Category:FIFA 100]]
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[[Category:Honorary Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]
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[[Category:Knight's Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (civil)]]
[[Category:Knights of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Laureus World Sports Awards winners]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:National Soccer Hall of Fame members]]
[[Category:New York Cosmos (1970–1985) players]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players]]
[[Category:People from Três Corações]]
[[Category:Recipients of the National Order of Merit (Brazil)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Olympic Order]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Cultural Merit (Brazil)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Military Merit (Brazil)]]
[[Category:Santos FC players]]
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[[Category:South American Footballer of the Year winners]]
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