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Who is the Greatest Player in Football History
Born Edson Arantes do Nasciment, Pelé is often recognized by many as the greatest player ever to grace the game of football.
Once, Cristiano Ronaldo was quoted as saying, “Pele is the greatest player in football history and there will only be one Pele.”
He played for the Brazilian National team, the Brazilian football team Santos, and American soccer team, New York Cosmos (Although he had already passed his prime at that time).
Between 1956 and 1977, he netted a staggering 1,282 goals in 1,362 appearance during his career which make him the all-time highest goal scorer in football history for Club and Country.
In 659 games for Santos, his 643 goals total was the record highest number of goals scored by a player for a single Club until Lionel Messi broke it in December 2020.
His 77 goals in 92 games for Brazil national team remains the highest in their history, while any Player who played for Santos has yet to crack his 643 goals record for the Club.
During his playing days, the Brazilian won 29 major trophies and many individual honours including
- The youngest player to win the FIFA World Cup
- The youngest player to score in a FIFA World Cup game
- The youngest player to play in a FIFA World Cup Final
- The youngest player to score in a FIFA world Cup Final
- The youngest player to score a hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup game
All of these he attained at the 1958 FIFA World Cup at the age of seventeen.
Pelé was the greatest player with global renown, adored by many Players around the World because of his propensity for sensational goals and incredible skills, and here are the five things you might not know about the legend.
He’s the only player to win the World Cup three times.
Pelé won the World Cup three times with Brazil (1958, 1962 and 1970). He’s the only player to have achieved this feat in the history of football.
There was a 48-hour ceasefire agreement during the Nigerian civil war because of Pelé.
In 1969 during the Nigerian civil war between the federal troops and the Biafran army both parties agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire to watch Pelé play in a friendly game in Lagos.
The Inter Milan deal that fell through.
Pelé was coveted by several European teams in their vain attempt to secure the service of the Brazilian but only Inter Milan came close to signing him. The deal fell through after a protest by Santos fans who didn’t want Pele to leave the club.
He couldn’t afford a football so he improvised.
He was a poor boy who couldn’t afford a proper football so he stuffed paper in a sock which he tied and played as football.
Pelé was officially declared a national treasure by the Brazilian government.
Pelé was declared a national treasure by the Brazilian government in 1961 to prevent his transfer from the country.
The football world has witnessed many great players electrifying the beautiful game in its history. But none has produced such intrigue and magic as Pelé and he is arguably one of the greatest players of all times
