An introduction to Pele’s biography, covering his early life, age, children, career, world cup achievements, family, and more.
Pele, also known as Edson Arantes do Nascimento, was a renowned former Brazilian professional footballer, renowned for his position as a forward. FIFA has honored him with the title “The Great,” recognizing his status as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He remains one of the most successful and widely recognized athletes of the 20th century.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born on October 23, 1940, in Torres Corazoniz, Minas Gerais, Brazil, to Fluminense footballer Dondinho (born Joao Ramos do Nascimento) and Celeste Arantes. He was the youngest of his two brothers.
Pele’s Profile Summary
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, popularly known as Pele, was born on October 23, 1940. He was a former Brazilian professional soccer player who played as a forward, recognized as one of the greatest players of all time and bestowed with the title ‘The Great’ by FIFA. His status as one of the most successful and popular athletes of the 20th century is evident from the accolades he received.
In 1999, he was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee and included in Time magazine’s list of the 100 most important people of the 20th century. Furthermore, Pele was bestowed with the title of World Footballer of the Century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) in 2000, and he was one of two co-winners of FIFA’s Player of the Century title. He holds the Guinness World Record for scoring 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, including friendly matches.
Pele began his career at Santos at the age of 15 and at 16, he represented the Brazilian national team. He achieved an unprecedented feat of winning three FIFA World Cups in 1958, 1962, and 1970, making him the only player to do so. With 77 goals in 92 appearances, he holds the record for being Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, and at the club level, he stands as Santos’ top scorer with 643 goals in 659 appearances.
In Brazil, Pele is hailed as a national hero for his significant contributions to football and his vocal advocacy for measures to enhance the social conditions of the underprivileged. His groundbreaking performance in the 1958 World Cup served as an inspiration as he emerged as the first black global sports star.
Throughout his career and post-retirement, Pele has received numerous individual and team awards in recognition of his on-field performances, record-breaking achievements, and enduring legacy in the sport.
Pele was named after American inventor Thomas Edison, with his parents deciding to drop the “i” in the name Edison and call him “Edson.” However, an error on his birth certificate resulted in many official documents listing him as “Edison” instead of “Edson,” the name he was known by.
Pele was originally referred to as “Dico” by his family but gained the nickname “Pelé” during his school days, supposedly due to his mispronunciation of the name of his favorite player, the local goalkeeper Bille of Vasco da Gama.
Pele grew up in poverty in Bauru, São Paulo, and he earned extra income by working as a servant in a tea room. He was taught to play by his father but couldn’t afford proper footballs, often resorting to playing with socks stuffed with newspaper and tied with string or grapefruits.
| Born | 23 October 1940 (age 82 years), Três Corações, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| Died | 30 December 2022 |
| Full name | Edson Arantes do Nascimento |
| Spouse | Marcia Aoki (m. 2016), Assíria Nascimento (m. 1994–2008), Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi (m. 1966–1982) |
| Children | Edinho, Sandra Regina Arantes do Nascimento, MORE |
| Number | 10 (New York Cosmos / Forward), 10 (Santos FC / Forward) |
| Height | 1.73 m |
| Career end | 1 October 1977 |
Pele’s Age
As of the current date, the former Brazilian professional footballer, born on 23 October 1940 in Torres Corazoniz, Minas Gerais, Brazil, to Fluminense footballer Dondinho and Celeste Arantes, is currently 82 years old. He has two older brothers.
Pele’s Career
Pele earned a place in the first team at the start of the 1957 season, becoming the league’s top scorer by the age of 16. Within ten months of his professional debut, he was called up to the Brazilian national team.
Following his stellar performances in the 1958 and 1962 World Cups, various wealthy European clubs attempted to sign him, including Real Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United. Despite signing a permanent contract with Inter Milan in 1958, the contract was canceled at the request of Santos’ president due to protests by Santos’ Brazilian fans.
In 1961, the Brazilian government, under the leadership of President Janio Cuadoros, declared Pele an “official national treasure,” preventing his transfer out of the country.
Pele secured his first major title with Santos in 1958 when the team claimed the Campeonato Paulista, with him finishing the tournament as the top scorer with 58 goals. Following the 1974 season, Pele retired from Brazilian club football after 19 seasons with Santos but continued to occasionally appear for Santos in official competitive matches.
Two years later, he joined the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League (NASL) for the 1975 season. His career concluded in an exhibition match between Cosmos and Santos on October 1, 1977, played to a sold-out crowd at Giants Stadium and televised on ABC’s Wide World of Sports worldwide.
Pele’s first international match resulted in a 2–1 loss to Argentina at the Maracana on July 7, 1957, where, at the age of 16 years and 9 months, he made his debut for Brazil, scoring his first goal and becoming the country’s youngest goalscorer.
Pele’s Goal-Scoring Abilities
Pele is associated with the phrase “The Beautiful Game” in reference to football. Renowned as a prolific goalscorer, he was celebrated for his ability to anticipate opponents in the box and convert opportunities with precise and powerful shots using both feet.
Additionally, he was renowned as a hardworking team player and a skilled striker with exceptional vision and intelligence. Known for his accurate passing and ability to link up with teammates to provide assists.
Pele’s goal-scoring records include being Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, with 77 goals in 92 appearances, and Santos’ top scorer with 643 goals in 659 appearances. He has scored an impressive total of 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, including friendly matches, and holds a Guinness World Record for this achievement.
In 2000, Pele was honored as the World Footballer of the Century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) and was one of two co-winners of FIFA’s Player of the Century title.
Pele’s Marriages
Pele has been married three times and has had multiple affairs, resulting in several children. In 1966, he married Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi, with whom he shares two daughters and a son. Later, in 1994, he married psychologist and gospel singer Assyria Lemos Seishas. In 2016, at the age of 73, Pele announced his marriage to Marcia Aoki, whom he had been dating since 2010, marking his third marriage.
Pele’s Children
Pele has had several affairs, potentially resulting in numerous children. However, known offspring include two daughters and a son from his first wife. His eldest daughter, Kelly Cristina, was born on January 13, 1967, and is married to Dr. Arthur DeLuca. His son, Edson “Edinho,” was born on August 27, 1970. Additionally, his second wife, Assyria Lemos Seishas, gave birth to twins, Joshua and Celeste, in 1996 through fertility treatments.
It is also known that Pele had a daughter named Sandra Machado from an affair in 1964 with a housemaid, Anizia Machado, but he refused to acknowledge her as his daughter, even after a DNA test confirmed their relationship. Despite legal recognition as his biological daughter based on DNA evidence in 1993, Pele never acknowledged her, and she passed away in 2006.
Furthermore, Pele had another daughter, Flávia Kurtz, from an extramarital affair with journalist Lenita Kurtz in 1968.
Pele’s Net Worth
Pele, a retired Brazilian footballer, has a net worth of $115 million, primarily amassed through endorsement deals and investments.
