This is How Pele Became a Legend

Pele is more than a name. “Best football player of all time” is just one of the titles that fit in its conceptual immensity. Pele is practically an entity.

If football, as sociologists say, is analogous to a religion, then Pele is a deity. His goals, however, weren't exactly miracles, at least not in the sport's most commonly used term. They were something like an ethereal gift, something beyond comprehension.

Wearing the sacred number 10 shirt, either for Santos or for the Brazilian National Team, Pelé accumulates in his career passages that are decorated and remembered. In the following text, with the help of sports specialist Kate Richardson, from the website mightytips.com, we briefly tell the story of Pele. You can check Kate’s profile here and know more about her other works. Kate talks about possible sports betting in Canada, Brazil, Australia, and so on.

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Now let's move on to our main topic of the article.

Pele's start at Santos

When he arrived at Vila Belmiro, Pele was presented as the future best player in the world. Today we know that was absolutely right, not only because of how many goals did Pele score in his career but for all his talent.

At the age of 15, Pele already showed an above-average physique, enormous ability to control and shoot the ball, and a speed of reasoning to envy supercomputers. Many even asked "how old is Pele"? Because they couldn’t believe he was only 15.

He debuted in the professional team at that age, entering the second half and scoring a goal in a friendly tournament match against Corinthians de Santo André.

Pele's History in the Brazilian National Team

Pele's first goal in the World Cup with the Brazilian national team was a painting. It took place in the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup, against Wales.

The ball came from the right, dripping high at the entrance of the area. Didi, the star of that Cup, went against the ball, heading it towards number 10, who, inside the area, had his back to the Welsh defender.

Pele dominated the ball in his chest and immediately pulled it back. In fractions of a second, the boy had already turned and was facing the goal with the armed kick. When the ball entered the net, there was a lot of emotion, but zero surprises.

A year earlier, Pele was already enchanting in the Copa Rocca, which was also his first tournament won by the Brazilian national team.

Pele and injuries in the 1962 and 1966 World Cups

Pelé redeemed the idol Zizinho and kept his promise to his father at just 17 years old. To this day, he is the youngest world champion, holding the title and vice-top scorer. And it was just getting started.

In 1962, already a consecrated ace, decreed as a “national treasure” by the Brazilian government and author of 500 goals, half of the total of how many goals has Pele scored in his career, the King was twice World Champion.

Even so, the Cup in Chile was a different experience for Pelé. The number 10 was injured in the second match of the competition, a 0-0 against Czechoslovakia, curiously the opponent of the final.

In 1966, in England, the injury happened even earlier, in the opening match against Bulgaria. This time, the “Seleção” couldn’t manage without their biggest star. Mainly because they also didn’t have names such as:

1. Amarildo
2. Zagallo
3. Didi
4. Garrincha

Pele's 1,000th goal

He scored his 1,000th goal. It was November 1969, on one of his favorite stages, the Maracanã.

Fate was a little cruel to him, but no more than Vasco's defenders who, after seeing the number 10 pass through markers, knocked him down in the area and prevented him from making the thousandth a beautiful goal.

Worse, they made it be a penalty goal, which Pele himself admitted not liking to score goals like that. The King even tried to avoid the charge, but the clamor of his fans, who almost exploded in expectation, “forced” him to score and go down in history at that very moment.

Pele of the 1970 World Cup: the “millennial” point guard

This was a different Pele, mainly because he had already surpassed the thousand goals mark, which was completed in 1969. Then he was approaching 30, and after 15 years of being hunted by defenders all over, his physique had changed.

Not that the King was heavy in Mexico. Quite the opposite. He went back and forth with ease and had the power needed to jump and stay in the air, as Italian defender Burgnich said when remembering the star's header in the final.

It turns out that Pele in the 1970 World Cup was more point guard, more cerebral, dosing energy and looking, with a pass, to anticipate the next three. The assist he gives for Carlos Alberto Torres ' anthological goal, also against Italy, is his most symbolic move.

Pele in the New York Cosmos

Many may not know, but the question “what team did pele play for outside Brazil?” has an answer. Bought for a paltry 9 million dollars, he went to the New York Cosmos, playing alongside Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto Torres.

He played in 111 matches for the American club. He scored 65 goals and made the Americans pay more attention to soccer. On October 1, 1977, the King said goodbye to football. The occasion was perfect, a match between Cosmos and Santos.

He played for the Americans in the first half and played his last 45 minutes as a professional player wearing the Santos shirt. At 10, of course.

Bet on Brazilian Football Stars

In addition to Neymar, there are currently many Brazilians spread across world football. And you can bet on them at the best bookmakers.

Whether in the Brazilian championship, in European competitions or even in the "Seleção", you will certainly find the best Brazilian stars present in sports betting. 

Title: This is How Pele Became a Legend

Description: Pele is a living legend of Brazilian and world football. Get to know a little more about his career and find out how he became the legend he is today.