Pelé
[key], 1940–2022, Brazilian soccer (football) player. His real name
is Edson Arantes do Nascimento. Perhaps the greatest player in the history
of soccer, Pelé began playing at the age of 5 and joined the Santos
team at 16. Playing inside left forward, he led his team to numerous
championships and the Brazilian national team to world championships in
1958, 1962, and 1970. He held every scoring record in Brazil, and in
international matches he scored an average of one goal per game. His playing
style was marked by superb ball control and great tactical ability. In 1971
he retired from the Brazilian national team but continued to play with
Santos. He retired (1974) from the Santos team and played in the United
States with the New York Cosmos (1975–77). He scored 1,281 goals
during his career. Pelé became Brazil's minister of sports in 1995,
serving until 1998.
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