Pelé was not only one of the greatest footballers in sports history, but also became politically and socially active as he grew older. These stages of life shaped the Brazilian.
In 1977 Pelé played the last game of his active career in the USA.
1940: Poor circumstances and a lot of talent
Born in 1940 in the southern Brazilian city of Três Corações, Edson Arantes do Nascimento grew up poor. His father, a gifted footballer himself but unable to make it onto the world stage, encourages his son’s talent. Pelé, as his nickname soon became, became a professional footballer at FC Santos at the age of just 16. In 1957 he became part of the Brazilian national team.
1958: The first World Cup participation brings the first title
In 1958, Pelé took part in his first world championships in Sweden. Brazil wins and Pelé takes his first title. This made him a football icon in his home country. In 1962, Brazil wins the World Cup again, although Pelé is injured during the tournament.
1966: First marriage and World Cup defeat
Pelé and his first wife Rosemeri became parents to Kelly Cristina in January 1967.
Pelé married Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi in 1966. The marriage produces three children. Also in 1966, the World Cup takes place in England and although Brazil are considered favourites, England wins the tournament. Brazil is eliminated in the preliminary round.
1969: The thousandth goal
A penalty kick becomes Pelé’s 1,000th goal on November 19, 1969, confirming his hero status in Brazil. However, the following year’s meeting with Emílio Garrastazu Médici, the president of the Brazilian military dictatorship, brought strong criticism. Despite initial quarrels with the poor World Cup performance in England, Pelé takes part in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. He wins his third world title.
1975: Move to New York and end of active career
From 1975 Pelé played for Cosmos New York, a club that Franz Beckenbauer also joined. In 1977 Pelé ended his active career. From then on he established himself as a businessman. In 1982, Pelé and Rosemeri divorced.
1994: Remarriage and political engagement
In 1994 Pelé married again, namely the Brazilian singer Assíria Seixas Lemo. The couple will have twins. From 1995 to 1998, Pelé served as Brazil’s sports minister. Since the end of his active career, he has become increasingly involved in society, including as a UN ambassador. He has also received honors such as “World Footballer of the Century”. In 2008, Pelé divorced for the second time. It is now also public that he is the father of two illegitimate children.
2016: Personal and health ups and downs
Even in old age, Pelé still likes to be in the public eye. In 2019, for example, he appeared with French soccer star Kylian Mbappé.
Pelé married for the third and last time in 2016, this time to entrepreneur Marcia Cibele Aoki, with whom he had been in a relationship for several years. In 2017, one of Pelé’s sons went to prison for involvement in drug deals. Despite several operations, for example on the hip or the spine, Pelé did not withdraw from the public in the last years of his life. He likes to show up with football stars like Kylian Mbappé.
2022: Death at the age of 82
For several weeks, the media followed Pelé’s state of health, who was in the Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo because of the colon cancer he was diagnosed with the previous year. On December 29, 2022, Pelé died at the age of 82.