How old is pele

Considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, the football legend better known as "Pele," celebrates his 80th birthday this Friday.

Confined to his home in Brazil because of the pandemic, he reaches this milestone with his trademark laugh. The football great has suffered from a series of health problems in recent years, but has not lost his charisma or sense of humor. I hope that when I get to heaven God welcomes me the same way that everyone welcomes me today thanks to our beloved football.

I was always very happy wearing this jersey. Thank you for all your warm wishes for my birthday," he said in an Instagram post on Wednesday that was accompanied by a photo of himself celebrating one of his 1, goals including those from unofficial matches.

Eight years in later, however, his so-called joke became a reality when he won the first of his record-breaking three World Cup titles. It was a rubbish name. Edson sounded so much more serious and important. When he was 6, the family moved to a larger town in southern Brazil, where he shined shoes and sold roasted peanuts outside movie theaters to earn money for a soccer ball. Unable to afford shoes himself, he also frequently played barefoot, and his friends eventually formed a team called the Shoeless Ones.

But at that time, we didn't have too many Brazilian players outside the country. I was very happy at my team, Santos. He went on to score a world record goals in games 77 of which for Brazil. In aged just 17, Pele entered the record books as the youngest ever World Cup winner after scoring twice in the final against Sweden. His club-level career record of goals in matches turned Pele into the leading all-time Goalscorer for Santos. Retirement Pele entered semi-retirement at the end of the season, but his love of the game saw him return to occasionally play for Santos.

Footballing Inspiration Despite retiring over 40 years ago, young players from much later football generations across the world still aspire to become another Pele even though many never had the honor to see him play. Related articles. Published On 18 Sep Today, he has taken two steps forward. More from News. Vietnam reconsiders methane-emitting rice amid climate crisis.