Pelé

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, widely recognized as Pelé, was born on October 23, 1940, and passed away on December 29, 2022. This legendary Brazilian footballer, who played as a forward, is celebrated as one of the greatest athletes in sports history, often hailed as "the greatest" by FIFA. Pelé's remarkable career saw him named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999 and he was featured in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential figures of the 20th century. In 2000, he was awarded the title of World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) and was one of two joint winners of FIFA's Player of the Century accolade.

Pelé debuted with Santos FC at just 15 and joined the Brazil national team at 16. He uniquely secured three FIFA World Cup titles, winning in 1958, 1962, and 1970, a record unmatched by any player. With 77 goals in 92 international appearances, he remains Brazil's all-time leading scorer. At the club level, he scored 643 goals in 659 matches for Santos and played a pivotal role in winning the Copa Libertadores in 1962 and 1963.

Beyond his extraordinary goal-scoring ability, Pelé was known for his versatility on the pitch, capable of both scoring and creating plays. Following his retirement in 1977, he became a global ambassador for football and served as Honorary President of the New York Cosmos. A national icon in Brazil, Pelé's legacy transcends the sport, inspiring generations and advocating for social change.