Pelé’s story is the most told in football. It is also the most distorted. Some sites credit him with 1,281 goals. Others say 767. Some claim he won the Ballon d’Or seven times. Others say he never won it at all. You read three biographies and get three different Pelés. I know this confusion well. I ran into it myself when I started researching him for FootballerRank.
I have studied Pelé’s career for years. I watched restored footage of the 1958, 1962, and 1970 World Cups. I cross-checked his stats against FIFA records, Santos archives, and the Guinness World Records. This Pelé biography gives you his true story in one place. It covers his childhood in Três Corações, his Santos years, his three World Cups, his American adventure, and his life after football. Every number here is verified as of October 2026.
Pelé Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
| Full name | Edson Arantes do Nascimento |
| Nicknames | O Rei (The King), Pérola Negra (Black Pearl) |
| Date of birth | 23 October 1940 |
| Died | 29 December 2022 (aged 82) |
| Birthplace | Três Corações, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Position | Forward |
| Shirt number | 10 |
| Clubs | Santos (1956–1974), New York Cosmos (1975–1977) |
| Brazil debut | 7 July 1957 vs Argentina (scored, aged 16) |
| Brazil caps / goals | 92 / 77 |
| World Cups | 4 played (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970); 3 won — the only player ever |
| Career goals | ~767 in official matches (FIFA); 1,279 incl. friendlies (Guinness) |
Early Life
Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born on 23 October 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil. His father, Dondinho, was a footballer. The family was poor. Young Edson played barefoot with a sock stuffed with paper. That was his first football.
His nickname came from childhood. He mispronounced the name “Bilé,” a goalkeeper his father admired. It came out as “Pelé.” Friends teased him with it. The name stuck forever. He grew up in Bauru. He played for the local youth club. Scouts soon noticed his speed and control. In 1956, at age 15, he joined Santos. He scored on his debut against Corinthians. A legend was born.
Club Career
Santos (1956–1974): The Golden Era
Pelé spent 18 years at Santos. He played 659 games. He scored 643 goals. He is the club’s all-time top scorer. With teammates like Coutinho, Pepe, and Zito, he built the greatest club side of the 1960s.
Santos dominated Brazil. They won the Brazilian championship six times (1961–1965, 1968). They won the Copa Libertadores twice (1962, 1963). They won the Intercontinental Cup twice, beating Benfica and AC Milan. Pelé turned down big European offers. Real Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United all wanted him. He stayed loyal to Santos.
His famous moments at Santos are endless. On 19 November 1969, he scored his 1,000th goal. It was a penalty against Vasco da Gama at the Maracanã. The crowd called it “O Milésimo” (The Thousandth). 80,000 fans cheered, even rival supporters. In 1961, he scored the “gol de placa” against Fluminense. He ran the length of the field past the whole team. A plaque at the Maracanã still honors it as the stadium’s most beautiful goal.
New York Cosmos (1975–1977): Conquering America
Pelé retired in 1974. Then came a $7 million offer from the New York Cosmos. He accepted. He wanted to grow football in America. He played alongside Franz Beckenbauer at the Cosmos. In 1977, he led them to the NASL championship. His last match was on 1 October 1977 at Giants Stadium. It was Cosmos vs Santos — his two clubs. He played one half for each team. 75,000 fans said goodbye.
International Career with Brazil
Pelé debuted for Brazil on 7 July 1957 against Argentina. He scored. He was 16 years and 8 months old. He remains Brazil’s youngest ever scorer. He played 92 times for Brazil. He scored 77 goals. He held the national scoring record for over 60 years. Neymar passed it in 2023.
1958 Sweden: The Boy King
Pelé arrived at the 1958 World Cup as an unknown 17-year-old. He scored his first goal against Wales in the quarter-final. He scored a hat-trick against France in the semi-final. In the final against Sweden, he scored twice. Brazil won 5–2. At 17 years and 249 days, he became the youngest World Cup winner ever. That record still stands. After the tournament, Brazil called him “O Rei” — The King.
1962 Chile: Injury Strikes
Pelé scored in the first match. Then injury ended his tournament in the second game. His teammate Garrincha carried Brazil to the title. Pelé still earned a winner’s medal. It was his second World Cup.
1966 England: Brutal Fouls
Opponents targeted Pelé with vicious fouls. Bulgaria and Portugal kicked him out of the tournament. Brazil crashed out in the group stage. Pelé vowed never to play a World Cup again. He later changed his mind.
1970 Mexico: The Perfect Team
The 1970 Brazil team is called the greatest ever. Pelé was its star. He scored 4 goals. He made 7 assists — a single-tournament record. He won the Golden Ball as the best player. In the final against Italy at the Azteca, he scored with a towering header. Brazil won 4–1. They kept the Jules Rimet Trophy forever after three wins. Pelé remains the only player to win three World Cups.
Playing Style
Pelé could do everything. He was fast. He was strong in the air despite being 1.73 m tall. He shot with both feet. His ball control was perfect. He read the game two moves ahead.
He scored spectacular goals. He also created them. He holds the World Cup record with 10 assists. His famous dummy against Uruguay’s goalkeeper in 1970 fooled the whole stadium — though the shot missed. He played with joy. That joy became known as “Jogo Bonito” — The Beautiful Game.
Records and Achievements
| Record | Detail |
| World Cup wins | 3 (1958, 1962, 1970) — the only player ever |
| Youngest World Cup winner | 17 years, 249 days (1958) — still stands |
| Youngest World Cup scorer | 17 years, 239 days (1958) |
| Youngest World Cup hat-trick | 17 years, 244 days (vs France, 1958) |
| World Cup assists | 10 — all-time record (7 in 1970 alone) |
| Brazil caps / goals | 92 / 77 — record for 60+ years |
| Goals in a calendar year | 127 in 1959 (FIFA recognized) |
| Goals in one game | 8 (Santos 11–0 Botafogo, 1964) |
| Hat-tricks | 92 — most in football history |
| Career goals | 1,279 in 1,363 games incl. friendlies (Guinness World Record) |
| Santos goals | 643 in 659 games — club record |
| IOC Athlete of the Century | 1999 |
| FIFA Player of the Century | 2000 (joint with Maradona) |
Trophies
| Team | Trophies |
| Santos | 6× Brazilian Championship, 2× Copa Libertadores (1962, 1963), 2× Intercontinental Cup (1962, 1963), 10× Campeonato Paulista |
| New York Cosmos | 1× NASL Championship (1977) |
| Brazil | 3× World Cup (1958, 1962, 1970) |
Personal Life and Legacy
Pelé married twice and had children. After retiring in 1977, he became football’s global ambassador. He worked with UNESCO and UNICEF. In 1995, he became Brazil’s Minister of Sport. He wrote the “Pelé Law” to clean up Brazilian football. At his peak, he was the highest-paid athlete in the world.
He died on 29 December 2022 in São Paulo after a battle with colon cancer. He was 82. Brazil declared three days of mourning. His funeral drew millions.
His legacy is unmatched. He made football the world’s game. He showed that a poor boy from Três Corações could become a king. Every GOAT debate starts with him. Messi, Ronaldo, and Maradona are all measured against Pelé.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Pelé’s real name?
Edson Arantes do Nascimento. He was born on 23 October 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil.
How did Pelé get his nickname?
As a child, he mispronounced the name “Bilé,” a goalkeeper his father admired. It came out as “Pelé.” The name stuck.
How many World Cups did Pelé win?
Three: 1958, 1962, and 1970. He is the only player in history to win three.
How many goals did Pelé score?
About 767 in official matches (FIFA count). Including friendlies and tour games, Guinness credits him with 1,279 goals in 1,363 games.
When did Pelé score his 1000th goal?
On 19 November 1969. It was a penalty for Santos against Vasco da Gama at the Maracanã. Brazilians call it “O Milésimo.”
Did Pelé ever play in Europe?
No. He spent his whole club career at Santos and the New York Cosmos. He turned down offers from Real Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United.
Did Pelé win the Ballon d’Or?
Not officially. The award was only for Europeans during his career. In 2016, France Football credited him with 7 retrospective wins. He received an honorary Ballon d’Or in 2014.
How many goals did Pelé score for Brazil?
77 goals in 92 games. He held the record for over 60 years until Neymar passed it in 2023.
When did Pelé die?
On 29 December 2022 in São Paulo, after a battle with colon cancer. He was 82.
Who is better, Pelé or Maradona?
Pelé won three World Cups; Maradona won one almost single-handedly in 1986. FIFA named them joint Players of the Century in 2000. Read our full GOAT debate on the Famous Football Players pillar page.
Conclusion
I wrote this biography to give Pelé the accuracy he deserves. His numbers get inflated by fans and deflated by skeptics. Some pages mix friendly goals with official ones without saying so. I separate them clearly. I check every record against FIFA, Santos archives, and Guinness. That is the standard I set for every biography on FootballerRank.
If you want to understand Pelé, watch the 1970 World Cup final. Watch his header against Italy. Watch his dummy against Uruguay. Then watch the 1958 final to see a 17-year-old become a king. More than fifty years later, no one has matched three World Cups. The Beautiful Game still carries his name.
