User:Iadhxm/sandbox

Pelé Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, was a professional football player, born on October 23, 1940 in Três Corações, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. He was named after American inventor Thomas Edison. As a young man, Pelé joined a youth squad coached by Waldemar de Brito, a former member of the Brazilian national soccer team. De Brito eventually convinced Pelé's family to let the budding phenom leave home and try out for the Santos professional soccer club when he was 15. Pelé signed with Santos, and immediately starting training and practicing with the team, he then went on to score his first professional goal of his career before he turned 16, in 1956, he was the top scorer in the Italian League, [Serie A Serie A], in his first season, that’s when he was recruited to play for the Brazilian National Team. The world was officially introduced to Pelé in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, which only happens every 4 years. Pele made a very good impression, displaying remarkable speed and athleticism, the 17-year-old managed to score 3 goals in a 5-2 semi-final win against France, then went on to score another 2 goals in the final, 5-2 win against the hosts, Sweden. And then won his first World Cup at only 17 years of age, and till now is the only player in football history to win a world cup while being only 17 years old. Pelé announced his retirement in 1994, but in 1995 he agreed to a 3 year, 7-million-dollar contract at New York Cosmos of the North American League to promote football in the United States. He then retired in 1977 after leading the club to win the league. Pelé’s father, known as Dondinhio, is a retired football player who was forced to retire after getting a career ending injury, and had a hard time earning a living for his family, Pelé didn’t have the world gifted him and had to grow up in poverty, as his family didn’t have much money and it was hard for the family. As a young 11 yearn old boy, Pelé used to polish shoes in order to help provide for the family to contribute money, but that never stopped him from his dream of becoming a football player. He showed a lot of interest in football and he was really talented. He used to go on the streets and play with a ball made up of socks with his friends, he never ever stopped thinking about giving up to pursue his dream and become a football player, this shows no matter what point you are in life, never stop chasing your dreams. He once said “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do”. This is a very inspirational quote and it can perhaps help young people who are trying to become something like Pelé achieve their dream, you always need to work hard to accomplish what you want to do in life. Pelé went on to become one of the best footballers known to mankind just because he never gave up and always had faith in himself. The 11-year-old caught the eye of Waldemar de Brito, he stated that Pelé had potential to be the best football player alive Whether or not he truly believed in his passionate statement at the time he made it remains immaterial. Pelé proved himself to Santos at the age of 16 and that’s where his journey started.

Pelé has achieved a lot in life and football, he has won so many trophies its insane. Pelé has won three world cups in total, the first one, he won at only 7 years of age in 1958 in Sweden, where the Brazilian team went on to beat the hosts of the world cup over a 5-2 win and Pelé helped them to brazil win their first World Cup, not only that, he scored 2 of those goals, and he is the only player in history to win a world cup at 17 years old. His second world cup was in 1962 in Chile. And his third World Cup win was in 1970 in Mexico. He also won 6 league titles with Santos, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968. He’s also a 2x Intercontinental Cup winner with Santos, 1962. 1963. He has also won the Copa Libertadores 2 times with Santos, finally before his retirement he won the North American League Title with New York Cosmos in 1977. He’s also the all-time leading goal scorer for brazil with 77 goals in 92 games, and he is the 4th all-time leading goal scorer with 767 goals.

People also compare Pelé with Argentinian Legend Diego Maradona; he was a professional football player who died recently at 60 years old. Back in the day, people were always comparing these two legends, these two were really the talk back then. Most people would say Pelé is better but some others think its Maradona, but in reality, Pelé has better stats and achievements. People also talk about R9 (Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima) he is a 2002 world cup winner, and has won Ballon d'or 2 times, he is considered to be one of the best