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Birth of a Legend
Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born on October 23rd, 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil -
Heartbreak at the Maracana
Brazil was upset 2-1 by Uruguay at the Maracana Stadium in Rio. This event is significant because Pele had said to his sobbing father: "Don’t cry, Papa. I’ll win the World Cup for you" -
Debut for Santos
Edson (nicknamed Pele) makes his debut against FC Corinthians on September 7th, 1956; coincidentally on Brazil's independence day. He scored four goals -
First Hatrick for Santos
Pele scores his first hatrick (3 goals) for Santos against Lavras -
First International Goal
A 16-year old Pele scored his first international goal in a 2-1 loss to Argentina -
First World Cup Goal
A 17-year old Pele marks his first of 77 World Cup goals for Brazil in Sweden. It was the only goal in a narrow 1-0 win over Wales -
Hattrick for Brazil
Pele scores his first World Cup hattrick vs France in a convincing 5-2 victory in the semi-finals -
World Champions
Brazil are finally world champions after a 5-2 win over the host country Sweden. Pele scored two goals in the final and won the Best Young Player Award as well as making the Team of the Tournament -
" A National Treasure"
Pele is declared a "national treasure" to prevent him from being transferred to a club in another country -
Out of the World Cup
Just shy a few months shy of 22-years old, Pele is put out of the World Cup through injury in the second group stage match against Czechoslovakia -
World Champions Again
Brazil are back-to-back world champions as they beat Czechoslovakia 3-1 in the final. This is the second World Cup that a team with Pele has won -
Civil War Cease-Fire
The two sides involved in the Nigerian civil war call a cease-fire to watch Pelé and the Santos team play an exhibition game in Lagos. -
1000th Career Goal
Pele scores his 1000th career goal. An incredible feat that very few players have managed to reach -
World Champions for the Third Time
Pele and Brazil's 1970 team became champions for the third time beating Italy 4-1 in the final. Brazil became the first nation to win three times and therefore could keep the Jules Rimet Trophy -
Debut for the Cosmos
Pele makes his debut for New York against the Dallas Tornadoes, he scored but the final score was 2-2 -
Retirement from "The Beautiful Game"
Pele retires after a long but very successful career. His final game was an exhibition between the New York Cosmos and Santos (Peles current and old teams). He played one half for New York and one half for Santos. He ended the game shouting "Love. Love. Love." and urged people to pay attention to the youth -
Knighthood
Pele recieved an honourary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth -
Co-Player of the Century
Pele is named joint Player of the Century with Argentine legend Diego Maradona -
Kidney Stones
A 74-year old Pele is hospitalized with kidney stones -
Prostate Surgery
Pele undergoes prostate surgery to remove a condition. This is the second time he's been hospitalized in six months
