1. One of history’s greatest soccer players
Pelé
One of history’s greatest soccer players

2. Biography
Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born in the small town of Tres Coracoes, Brazil on October 23, 1940
He got the nickname “Pele” as a child, for no particular reason
Pele left school after the 4th grade and became a cobbler’s apprentice

3. The Legend Begins
His mentor, Waldemar de Brito, was a former professional player and took Pele to tryout for a club in Sao Paulo when Pele was 15
He was rejected
He then tried out for a club in Santos and made the junior team
He quickly progressed to the reserves, then made the starting team

4. Professional Career
Age 15- Signed to Brazilian professional team, Santos.
Age 16- Became top scorer of the league
Led Santos to win numerous Copa Libertadores titles
Signed to the Brazilian National Team
Age 17- Played and won the 1958 World Cup
Continued to play the three following World Cups, winning two of them
1973-Signed to New York Cosmos after coming back from semi-retirement

5. Accomplishments Youngest goal scorer ever in the World Cup
Youngest player to score a hat-trick in the World Cup
Youngest player to play in the World Cup final Match
Youngest player to win World Cup final.
All time leading goal scorer: 1280 goals in 1363 games
Voted Football Player of the Century by IFFHS

6. Leadership on the Field
Extremely adept at handling the ball
Exceptional shooting, passing, and heading ability
Scored many goals
Was a master technician—he could stay calm and unrushed and develop plays on the fly, turning any group of 11 players into a formidable scoring force.

7. Leadership Off The Field
1992, Pele was appointed a UN ambassador for ecology and the environment.
1995, appointed to the position of "Extraordinary Minister for Sport“ for Brazil
Same year, appointed a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
Pele proposed legislation to reduce corruption in Brazilian football, later became known as the “Pele law”
Is now the president of the New York Cosmos, a new soccer club based in NYC

8. Sources
“Pele.” Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct <      wiki/Pele>.
Parris, Larose. "Pelé (Edson Arantes Do Nascimento)." Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History. Ed. Colin A. Palmer. 2nd ed. Vol. 4. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 10 Oct