SOCCER MAGIC PELE
Post by: Admin
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Created Date: Fri, May 13, 2016
Pele scored a total of 1,283 first-class goals, including 77 for Brazil. He won three World Cups, two World Club Championships and nine Sao Paulo State Championships.. Pele was named after American inventor Thomas Edison, his real name being Edson Arantes do Nascimiento. Pele was signed by Santos when he was 15. He scored four goals on his league debut in a match against FC Corinthians on September 7, 1956.At 17, Pele became the youngest ever winner of a World Cup. He also scored twice in the final against home side Sweden.Pele was appointed as Minister of Sport in Brazil in 1995, serving until 1998. He was voted athlete of the century by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1999. In 1997, Pele was given an honorary British Knighthood.On November 19, 1969, Pele scored his 1000th career goal. Hundreds raced onto the pitch to mob the Brazilian star and it took over 30 minutes for the game to resume. At Santos, November 19 is known as 'Pele Day' to celebrate the anniversary of his 1,000th goal.Pele is fifth on the all-time World Cup goalscorers list with 12 - and the second highest-placed Brazilian behind Ronaldo.Pele has helped raise millions of pounds for charitable causes including Great Ormond Street and Harlem Street Soccer. Noted English football writer Geoffrey Green once declared: “Di Stefano was manufactured on earth, Pele was made in heaven.” Pele once said: "A penalty is a cowardly way to score." In Brazil he is often called “Pérola Negra”, which means Black Pearl. In 1993, Pele was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.