Why Pelé is still the world's greatest soccer player

Pelé in Viña del Mar, Chile, with two fans a few days before Brazil's quarter final with England—Pelé did not participate in that match and was out for the remainder of the competition after pulling a muscle during a first-round game against Czechoslovakia. Nonetheless, Brazil went on to win the World Cup.

Getty Images

7 / 34 Fotos

The most successful league goal-scorer in the world -

In his career, the Brazilian ace scored 650 competitive goals in 694 league matches, for Santos and the New York Cosmos.

Getty Images

8 / 34 Fotos

Brazil's leading goalscorer -

Pelé is the all-time leading goalscorer for Brazil, with 77 goals in 91 appearances.

BrunoPress

9 / 34 Fotos

The 1966 World Cup -

Pelé lies injured on the ground during Brazil's clash with Portugal. Lending the Brazilian a hand is Portugal's Eusébio.

BrunoPress

10 / 34 Fotos

The 1970 Brazil World Cup team -

Brazil's 1970 World Cup squad is considered by many sports commentators as the greatest soccer team in history. Back row left to right: Carlos Alberto, Brito, Wilson Piazza, Félix, Clodoaldo, Everaldo, Mário Zagallo (manager). Front row left to right: Jairzinho, Roberto Rivelino, Tostão, Pelé, Paulo Cézar. Not pictured is Gérson.

BrunoPress

11 / 34 Fotos

The 1970 World Cup -

The 1970 World Cup Final in Mexico saw Brazil beat Italy 4–1, and Pelé claim his third World Cup winners' medal. Pictured: Pelé's shot saved by Italy goalkeeper Enrico Albertosi.

BrunoPress

12 / 34 Fotos

Third World Cup win -

A celebrating Pelé, surrounded by teammates, hoists the World Cup trophy in Mexico.

Getty Images

13 / 34 Fotos

Pelé Museum -

Young fans admire the soccer artifacts at the Pelé Museum in Santos. Inaugurated in 2014, the museum displays a 2,400 piece collection of Pelé memorabilia. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

Wikimedia/Creative Commons

14 / 34 Fotos

World record -

According to Guinness World Records, the Brazilian remains the soccer player with the most career goals—1,279 in 1,363 games. He's pictured celebrating after scoring the opening goal against Italy in the 1970 World Cup Final in Mexico.

Reuters

15 / 34 Fotos

Singing and scoring -

Few realize that music has played an important role in the soccer legend's life. He started writing songs and playing the guitar during his days with Santos as a way of passing the hours during long periods in team hotels. Some of his compositions have been recorded by Brazilian music stars, including the late Elis Regina and the sambista Jair Rodrigues.

BrunoPress

16 / 34 Fotos

1,000th goal -

On November 19, 1969, Pelé made soccer history when he scored his 1,000th goal during a match against Vasco da Gama at the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Getty Images

17 / 34 Fotos

Stamp of approval -

A Brazil postage stamp commemorating the soccer icon's landmark 1,000th goal.

Public Domain

18 / 34 Fotos

Signing up for the USA -

Pelé signing a soccer ball for US President Richard Nixon at the White House in 1973, two years before joining the New York Cosmos.

Public Domain

19 / 34 Fotos

Entering the Cosmos -

Pelé joined American professional soccer club the New York Cosmos on June 10, 1975. He made his official debut with the club on June 15, against the Dallas Tornado. The game was broadcast to 22 countries and covered by more than 300 journalists from all over the world.

BrunoPress

20 / 34 Fotos

Retirement from soccer -

Pelé wearing the Cosmos' number 10 jersey. The number was retired by the team in his honor after Pelé's final game in October 1977, an exhibition match against his old club Santos.

Public Domain

21 / 34 Fotos

'Escape to Victory' (1981) -

Pelé joined the cast of this WWII film about a group of Allied prisoners of war who play an exhibition match of soccer against a German team. Starring Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine, the movie also featured other professional soccer players, including England's 1966 World Cup team captain Bobby Moore (1941–1993).

BrunoPress

22 / 34 Fotos

With Banks, of England -

Pelé and former England goalkeeper Gordon Banks (1937–2019) with a picture of the famous save Banks made to deny the Brazilian a goal during the 1970 World Cup. Pelé, and numerous journalists and pundits, would later describe the save as the greatest in the history of the game.

Getty Images

23 / 34 Fotos

Jules Rimet Trophy -

Pelé kisses a replica of the Jules Rimet World Cup Trophy, which was used in the tournament from 1930 to 1970. Brazil won the trophy outright in 1970. The original trophy was stolen once, in 1966, and then again in 1983, after which it was never recovered.

Getty Images

24 / 34 Fotos

World Player of the Century -

In 1999, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) voted Pelé the World Player of the Century.

BrunoPress

25 / 34 Fotos

Knighthood -

Pelé at 10 Downing Street during a visit to London in 2011. He donated a soccer jersey to Prime Minister David Cameron, and met children involved with the Street League charity. In 1997, he received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace.

BrunoPress

26 / 34 Fotos

Film celebrity -

The retired legend and wife Marcia Aoki attend the world premiere of 'Pelé: Birth of a Legend' during the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival. Aoki is Pelé's third wife.

Getty Images

27 / 34 Fotos

Write on! -

The former player has published several autobiographies, which he has enthusiastically promoted around the world. His personal appearances in Brazil, however, are always the most colorful.

BrunoPress

28 / 34 Fotos

Fantastic support -

Brazilian fans pay tribute to their hero during a World Cup game by donning smiling Pelé masks. Long after he stopped playing, Pelé is still revered by soccer fans around the world.

BrunoPress

29 / 34 Fotos

Ambassador -

Since he hung up his boots, Pelé has traveled the world as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. In fact, the most notable area of his life since soccer is his ambassadorial work. He's pictured here in 2018 attending the World Economic Forum on Latin America in São Paulo.

Reuters

30 / 34 Fotos

Promoting soccer stars of the future -

The Brazilian has spent much of his post-sports career encouraging others to take up the game, including women. He's seen here during an event in Copenhagen promoting women's soccer.

BrunoPress

31 / 34 Fotos

Declining health -

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Argentina's former midfield star Diego Maradona pose for pictures with Pelé ahead of the Final Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament. It was during this event that the Brazilian was first pictured using a wheelchair in public.

Getty Images

32 / 34 Fotos

"Embarrassed" -

Pelé pictured in April 2019 arriving at Guarulhos International Airport near São Paulo. His son Edinho said recently that his father is now "embarrassed" to leave the house because of ill health. The former soccer great has had problems with his hip for several years and now needs a frame to walk. What's more, many of his recent public appearances have been made in a wheelchair.

Getty Images

33 / 34 Fotos

A legend -

Several decades after closing his career, Pelé is still lauded as one of the best players in history, and frequently ranked the best player ever. Indeed, legendary Manchester United and 1966 England World Cup-winning team member Sir Bobby Charlton has stated: "I sometimes feel as though [soccer] was invented for this magical player."

BrunoPress

34 / 34 Fotos

Why Pelé is still the world's greatest soccer player

The Brazilian soccer legend's spectacular career spotlighted

11/02/20 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Sports

Press reports surrounding the well-being of Pelé suggest the Brazilian soccer legend is too "embarrassed" to leave his house due to ill health. Now very "fragile" according to his son, Edinho, Pelé—regularly ranked as the best player in history—requires a frame to walk, and many of his recent public appearances have seen him in a wheelchair.

With June marking the 50th anniversary of Pele´s final World Cup title, won in Mexico, the career of the world's most prolific goal scorer and three-time World Cup winner is back in the spotlight.

Click through this gallery and take a nostalgic look back at the man who coined the phrase "The Beautiful Game," and whose electrifying skill and dazzling footwork on the field still inspires would-be soccer players today.