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Pelé

(Edson Arantes do Nascimento; Três Corações, 1940 - São Paulo, 2022) Futbolista brasileño. El mejor futbolista de todos los tiempos, en opinión de muchos, fue rechazado por los principales clubes de fútbol brasileños en los comienzos de su carrera deportiva, hasta que, tras jugar en varias formaciones secundarias, en 1956 fichó por el Santos de São Paulo. Su padre había sido un jugador de fútbol mediocre que se retiró tempranamente. Mientras aprendía el oficio de dominar el balón, Pelé se ganaba la vida como limpiabotas. Pero a los once años ya se habían fijado en él, y a los quince llegó al Santos, el equipo de su vida, después de la selección nacional de Brasil.

Entre 1956 y 1974, Pelé ofreció en el Santos verdaderos recitales futbolísticos. La Perla Negra , uno de los apelativos que recibió, era un jugador de corpulencia media que conjugaba una gran habilidad técnica, un poderoso disparo con ambas piernas y una inusitada capacidad de anticipación. A lo largo de su dilatada carrera deportiva, Pelé ganó con su club diez Campeonatos Paulistas (siendo el máximo realizador en once), cinco Torneos Río-São Paulo, dos veces la Copa Libertadores y otras dos la Copa Intercontinental en los mismos años (1962 y 1963), y, en 1962, el primer Campeonato Mundial de clubes.

Pelé debutó en la selección brasileña con sólo diecisiete años y, ya entonces, su contribución a la magia del juego carioca fue clave para la obtención del título mundial en Suecia en 1958. La incorporación de los jóvenes Pelé y Garrincha puso en marcha un juego artístico, fluido y dominador (el llamado jogo bonito ) que muy poco tenía que ver con el fútbol de fuerza y pelotazo de los conjuntos anglosajones o con la improvisación de los mediterráneos.

Se iniciaba así en los campeonatos mundiales una etapa brillante, marcada por la figura legendaria de Pelé, que asombró al mundo con su juego, su clase, su intuición, su control de la pelota y del disparo. En el Mundial de Suecia de 1958, un gol suyo frente a País de Gales hizo que los brasileños se plantasen en las semifinales contra Francia, a la que batieron por un aplastante 5-2, con tres goles de Pelé. En la final, la máquina brasileña arrolló a los anfitriones hasta dejar el marcador final en 5-2, nuevamente con tres tantos de Pelé.

Pelé había llegado al Mundial de Suecia como suplente, como un garoto (chaval) que prometía mucho, y regresó con la aureola que rodea a las leyendas. No tardaría en ser llamado O Rei (El Rey), apodo que Pelé recibió en 1961 de la prensa francesa. En los años venideros, Pelé confirmaría su propio mito, ganándose la consideración de mejor jugador de todos los tiempos al liderar los triunfos mundialistas de su país en los campeonatos de Chile (1962) y México (1970); los tres títulos mundiales valieron al combinado brasileño la adjudicación en propiedad del primer trofeo instituido, la llamada copa Jules Rimet.

Tras obtener todos los títulos posibles y haber contabilizado más de mil goles marcados en partidos oficiales (1.284 goles en 1.363 partidos, según las estadísticas), anunció su retirada del deporte activo en 1974. Sin embargo, Pelé (cuyo seudónimo carece aparentemente de significación alguna) fichó en 1975 por el Cosmos de Nueva York, equipo constituido por un conjunto de grandes figuras del fútbol a fin de promocionar este deporte en Estados Unidos.

Después de retirarse definitivamente en 1977, O Rei recibió numerosos galardones y reconocimientos, tales como el Premio Internacional de la Paz (1978) o el de Atleta del Siglo (1980). Aureolado por una fama sin fronteras, y habiéndose convertido en el deportista mejor pagado hasta el momento, Pelé inició una carrera relativamente exitosa en el cine como actor (llegó a participar en el largometraje de John Huston Evasión o victoria , de 1981), y en la música, como compositor de varias piezas, entre las que se incluye la banda sonora completa de la película de carácter biográfico Pelé (1977).

Pelé continuó también ejerciendo una importante influencia en el mundo del fútbol desde los despachos, y en 1995 fue nombrado ministro de Deportes en Brasil, cargo desde el cual impulsó la llamada Ley Pelé , con la cual pretendía modificar la legislación en materia de contratos deportivos entre clubes y jugadores.

Todavía unos pocos postulan para el título de mejor jugador de la historia a figuras como el holandés Johan Cruyff , el alemán Franz Beckenbauer o los argentinos Diego Armando Maradona , y, ya en el siglo XXI, Leo Messi , alegando que el altísimo nivel de exigencia del fútbol de las últimas décadas no es comparable al de los tiempos de O Rei . Pero es innegable que los registros de Pelé siguen imbatidos y parecen inalcanzables; si no el más grande de todos los tiempos, fue sin duda el primero de los grandes.

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Todos estaban sentados en un restaurante, distribuidos en diferentes mesas de un gran salón. El cineasta español Alex de la Iglesia había llevado a diferentes personas involucradas en la vida de Lionel Andrés Messi a hablar de la figura del argentino para un documental. Entre periodistas, entrenadores, jugadores, familia, y hasta las profesoras del colegio, todos conversaban sobre la pulga , de su influencia, de su calidad y de su vida.

Más deportes: Adiós al trono: falleció el Rey Pelé

Y en una de esas mesas, junto a los periodistas Ezequiel Fernández Moores y Juan Pablo Varsky, estaba César Luis Menotti, icónico entrenador argentino de la selección de 1978, que sacó a la selección albiceleste por primera vez campeona del mundo. Y en la charla llegaron las pregunta obvias, las que siempre se debaten al hablar de Messi. Los mismos cuestionamientos a la pulga por los que le exigían que, supuestamente, debía ganar un mundial de fútbol.

— ¿Messi es el mejor jugador de la historia? ¿Es mejor él o Maradona? ¿Alguien ha tenido la velocidad de Messi?

— Si —respondió Menotti, mientras cambiaba el tono para hablar de su majestad— Pelé. Para mí a Pelé hay que sacarlo. Cuando hablamos de fútbol a Pelé no lo pongas nunca, porque Pelé era de otro planeta.

Mire: Menotti recuerda a Pelé como “el más grande todos”

Sencillo: Pelé es el más grande de todos, el rey del fútbol. Y lo dijo, nada más y nada menos, uno de los entrenadores históricos del fútbol argentino, los grandes rivales de Brasil. Un estratega que con la albiceleste fue campeón del mundo, que dirigió a Diego Armando Maradona —quien alguna vez lo consideró el mejor técnico que tuvo en su carrera— y que es uno de los pensadores más destacados para hablar de la pelota.

Pelé, que falleció este jueves tras una larga lucha contra el cáncer de colon, modificó el fútbol, lo revolucionó. Los que lo vieron lo dicen: inventó todo. Todo lo que vemos hoy en día en el balompié, Pelé ya lo había hecho, 70 años atrás. Él fue el primer diez. O mejor, él fue el que le dio el significado a esa camiseta, la de los cracks, la de las estrellas. Por él, que en el Mundial de 1966 —el único de los que jugó que no ganó— lo sacaron a golpes y patadas, se inventaron las tarjetas.

Le puede interesar: Pelé y las cifras que lo consagraron como el rey del fútbol

Su figura siempre fue reconocida por sus contemporáneos. Los que lo vieron saben, y es consenso general, que como Pelé no hubo otro jugador en la historia.

En Brasil, O rei es un ícono. Ganador de tres mundiales (1958, 1962 y 1970), Edson Arantes do Nascimento puso a Brasil en el mapa, como le había prometido a su padre cuando, desconsolado, lloraba la derrota de la selección verdeamarela en el Mundial de 1950, en su casa, en el Maracaná de Río de Janeiro contra Uruguay.

Pelé llegó a Suecia en 1958 con apenas 17 años a cumplirle la promesa a su primogénito de sacar a Brasil campeona del mundo. Y no solo se llevó la copa, también dejó un espíritu que representó al fútbol brasileño para siempre. Su legado quedó en la esencia del balompié carioca, un juego tan alegre como exuberante.

Estrella eterna del Santos con el que dominó el mundo, Pelé era una pantera venida de Minas Gerais, que destacaba por su capacidad técnica, velocidad y potencia. En esa Copa del Mundo del 58, su calidad, inverosímil al tratarse un niño, fue determinante en el primer trofeo de la Canarinha, el sendero que marcó el camino del mejor futbolista que ha visto el planeta.

Le invitamos a leer: Brasil, de luto por la pérdida de su astro Pelé

Era tan bueno que los rivales le temían solo de verlo respirar y acercarse. Su influencia permeó el mundo, fue la primera gran figura que tuvo el fútbol. El héroe pionero de la pelota.

Su capacidad la definió bien Hugo Orlando Gatti e l Loco, ex arquero argentino, quien se rindió en varias ocasiones a los pies del más grande, a quien llamaba “el futbolista perfecto”. “Era el único delantero que hacía paredes con los defensores contrarios”, dijo el histórico portero de River Plate y Boca Juniors.

— ¿Qué diferencia hay entre Pelé y Maradona? —pregunta el periodista.

— Cuando se habla de fútbol, los que tuvimos la suerte de jugar contra él y haberlo visto jugar, a Pelé hay que separarlo, después podemos hablar de los demás. —responde Gatti— Pero lejos. Tenía todo, es lo más completo que vi. Perfecto es Dios, pero Pelé futbolísticamente rozó la perfección.

Así también lo definía Alfio El Coco Basile, que como jugador se midió con el brasileño y como entrenador dirigió tanto a Messi como a Maradona, los dos que pueden compararse con su legado.

Para el Coco, Pelé era el jugador total: “Tenía todo. Zurda y derecha, le daba con las dos. Gambeteaba con las dos piernas. Era guapo, malo —cuando vos le pegabas ya había quebrado a dos o cuatro—, cabeceaba, tenía un pecho gigante que daba miedo, daba un doble salto, se quedaba suspendido en el aire y con la cabeza te reventaba el arco”.

Toda la información de Catar 2022 en un solo lugar, encuéntrela aquí

“Pelé era el único jugador que daba miedo. Faltaba un minuto y era una cosa tremenda. ¡Tiraba paredes con el defensor! Se inventó todo. Tenía doble salto. Como los basquetbolistas, saltaba y cuando estaba en la tierra, volvía a saltar. Era imparable”, recuerda Gatti.

Fue tanta la influencia de Pelé que hoy, 66 años después de su debut con Santos, su figura se compara con la de los más grandes. Lo dijo el mismo rey cuando le preguntaron si él era el mejor de la historia. Respondió con una falsa modestia que lo resumió todo. “No sé. Yo recuerdo que unos años atrás todos decían: ‘¿Quién es mejor, Pelé o Di Stefano?’ Después de Di Stefano: ‘¿quién es mejor, Pelé o Sivori?’ y después, ‘¿Pelé o Maradona?’ Yo no sé la respuesta, pero para mí siempre es un orgullo estar con los mejores”.

Por eso, el fútbol llora a Pelé, que con 82 años falleció en Sao Pablo el pasado jueves. Desde hace un par de años, O rei luchó contra un cáncer de colón que empeoró con el paso del tiempo. Tras someterse a varias operaciones y quimioterapias, el panorama se volvió insostenible.

La situación se volvió crítica en el último mes, cuando el astro brasileño estuvo internado durante más de cuatro semanas en el hospital para someterse a un tratamiento paliativo con el propósito de brindarle una mejor calidad de vida.

Sin embargo, tras una larga lucha, la vida del mejor jugador de los tiempos llegó a su fin. Maradona, tal vez su mayor rival simbólico, con el que siempre se lo compara al hablar de los más grandes, lo definía como “el mejor”.

Y esa fue una historia que tuvo muchos capítulos, en la que ambos tuvieron amores y odios, pero en la que el Diego , fallecido en 2019, siempre reconoció la grandeza del astro brasileño. “Maradona es Maradona. Pelé fue el más grande, yo soy un jugador normal”, así lo definió Pelusa. Ese es el legado de Edson Arantes do Nascimento Pelé , el jugador que inventó todo, el más grande de la historia.

🚴🏻⚽🏀 ¿Lo último en deportes?: Todo lo que debe saber del deporte mundial está en El Espectador

Por Fernando Camilo Garzón

Temas recomendados:, de qué murió pelé, funeral de pelé, santos pelé, pelé biografía.

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Why is Pelé significant?

How did pelé become famous, what are pelé’s achievements, how was pelé influential.

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• ESPN Classic - Pele, King of Futbol
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Brazilian football (soccer) player Pelé is regarded as perhaps the greatest player in the history the game. During his career he was probably the most famous and possibly the best-paid athlete in the world. He was part of the Brazilian national teams that won three World Cup championships (1958, 1962, and 1970).

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, debuted for the Brazilian national football (soccer) team in 1957 at age 16. He scored a hat trick in the 1958 World Cup semifinal against France and two goals in the victory over Sweden in the championship game. Afterward the Brazilian government declared him a national treasure.

Pelé’s electrifying play and penchant for scoring spectacular goals made him a star around the world. He led Brazil to three World Cup football (soccer) championships (1958, 1962, and 1970). He scored 12 goals in World Cup play and tallied more than 1,000 goals in first-class matches. In 1999 he was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee.

In addition to having been named a national treasure by the Brazilian government in 1958, Pelé was such a huge international star that when his club team, Santos FC, traveled to Nigeria in 1967, a 48-hour cease-fire in that country’s civil war was called to allow all to watch him play.

Pelé (born October 23, 1940, Três Corações, Brazil—died December 29, 2022, São Paulo, Brazil) was a Brazilian football (soccer) player, in his time probably the most famous and possibly the best-paid athlete in the world. He was part of the Brazilian national teams that won three World Cup championships (1958, 1962, and 1970).

After playing for a minor league club at Bauru , São Paulo state, Pelé (whose nickname apparently is without significance) was rejected by major club teams in the city of São Paulo . In 1956, however, he joined the Santos Football Club, which, with Pelé at inside left forward, won nine São Paulo league championships and, in 1962 and 1963, both the Libertadores Cup and the Intercontinental Club Cup. Sometimes called “Pérola Negra” (“Black Pearl”), he became a Brazilian national hero. He combined kicking power and accuracy with a remarkable ability to anticipate other players’ moves. After the 1958 World Cup , Pelé was declared a national treasure by the Brazilian government in order to ward off large offers from European clubs and ensure that he would remain in Brazil . On November 19, 1969, in his 909th first-class match, he scored his 1,000th goal.

Pelé made his international debut in 1957 at age 16 and the following year played his first game in the World Cup finals in Sweden . The Brazilian manager was initially hesitant to play his young star. When Pelé finally reached the field, he had an immediate impact, rattling the post with one shot and collecting an assist. He had a hat trick in the semifinal against France and two goals in the championship game, where Brazil defeated Sweden 5–2. At the 1962 World Cup finals, Pelé tore a thigh muscle in the second match and had to sit out the remainder of the tournament. Nonetheless, Brazil went on to claim its second World Cup title. Rough play and injuries turned the 1966 World Cup into a disaster for both Brazil and Pelé, as the team went out in the first round, and he contemplated retiring from World Cup play. Returning in 1970 for one more World Cup tournament, he teamed with young stars Jairzinho and Rivelino to claim Brazil’s third title and permanent ownership of the Jules Rimet Trophy. Pelé finished his World Cup career having scored 12 goals in 14 games.

Pelé’s electrifying play and penchant for spectacular goals made him a star around the world. His team Santos toured internationally in order to take full advantage of his popularity. In 1967 he and his team traveled to Nigeria, where a 48-hour cease-fire in that nation’s civil war was called to allow all to watch the great player.

Pelé announced his retirement in 1974 but in 1975 agreed to a three-year $7 million contract with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League and to promote the game in the United States . He retired after leading the Cosmos to the league championship in 1977.

Pelé was the recipient of the International Peace Award in 1978. In 1980 he was named Athlete of the Century by the French sports publication L’Equipe , and he received the same honor in 1999 from the International Olympic Committee . In 2014 the Pelé Museum opened in Santos, Brazil. In addition to his accomplishments in sports, he published several best-selling autobiographies and starred in several successful documentary and semi-documentary films. He also composed numerous musical pieces, including the soundtrack for the film Pelé (1977).

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Pelé: The inspiring story of ‘The King’ (nay ‘Legend’) of soccer

Pelé’s life is full of epic episodes and life lessons. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, had an enormous career in the world of soccer, but he also did great things off the field.

Pelé’s life

Edson Arantes was born in Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 1940. His parents were fellow soccer player João Ramos do Nascimento, known as Dondinho and Maria Celeste Arantes. It is said, by the way, that his mother was key to Pelé’s perseverance and success because she was adamantly opposed to his soccer career. He did everything to prove to her that he would make it and be the best in the world.

Pelé’s wives and children

As for his love life, Pelé married for the first time Rosemeri Cholbi, a marriage that would end in 1978. The reason would be the priority that the soccer star always gave to his work. From this union, he had four children named: Kelly, Christina, Edinho, and Jennifer.

Later, in 1994, Edson married again, this time to Assiria Seixas Lemos, a marriage that ended in 2008. He had twins Joshua and Celeste with her. In 2016, Pelé married for a third time to businesswoman Marcia Aoki, with whom he began a formal relationship in 2010.

Pelé, the king

As a child, Pelé struggled to make his debut in a soccer team in Brazil. It is said that many clubs rejected him, and in fact, before becoming a soccer player, he earned his living as a shoeshine boy. After tireless attempts, Pelé managed to make his debut in secondary teams in 1956.

When he was 16 years old, Santos de São Paulo would be the club that would sign him. It was on this team that the player showed his talent in soccer and earned the nickname of the “Black Pearl.” At Santos de São Paulo, Pelé was the top scorer in the 11 tournaments he played in, and led the club to victory for 10 years. He also won:

Pelé, at almost 17 years old, made his debut in the Brazilian national team in 1958, for the World Cup in Sweden, where he was a key player along with his teammate Mané Garrincha.

Pele and the ‘jogo bonito’ style

Pele and Garrincha made history together; they had a way of playing that the chroniclers of the time described as artistic and beautiful. Their style was very fluid and dominant and thus was born the “Jogo bonito” or “beautiful game” style in English.

This style would be the antithesis of other World Cup teams, as the English, for example, had a more brute style, with a lot of power and ball playing. Meanwhile, the Mediterranean teams did not have a defined style, and they were mostly known for improvising.

Pelé was consecrated as the best player in the world of his time with three World Cup triumphs, including the World Cup in Mexico in 1970. After years in soccer and have won as many titles as possible, in 1974 he announced his retirement… at least in Brazil because shortly after he was signed by an American team, in one of the first attempts of the United States to push soccer.

That was how Pelé arrived in New York, to the New York Cosmos, a team formed by several star players of that time, such as Giorgio Chinaglia, Franz Beckenbauer, and Carlos Alberto. Finally, in 1977, Pelé officially retired for good.

Pelé Statistics

Why was he nicknamed pelé.

Maybe you didn’t know, but his lifelong nickname, the one his family gave him, was Dico, that’s what they called him when he was a child.

When he came to professional soccer, he was nicknamed Pelé and he emerged in his brief role as a goalkeeper. He reminded the fans and journalists of the time of his father’s rivalry with another goalkeeper nicknamed Bilé. That was what he was originally called until he became Pelé.

By the way, he hated the nickname. In an interview, he mentioned that his name “Edson” was given to him after the famous inventor “Thomas Alba Edison” and that being called Pelé was something he never quite liked. He preferred the nickname “Black Pearl.”

Pelé in pop culture

In addition to being one of the greatest soccer players, Pelé had a facet as a singer-songwriter and also as an actor. During his time as a singer, Pelé released “Tabelinha” in 1969, a song he sang together with Elis Regina, a prominent singer of that time. Here you can listen to the song:

As an actor, Pelé stood out for his leading role in a movie called “Escape to Victory” (O Victory), directed by John Huston, and released in 1981. In that movie, he acted with industry legends like Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine, and other soccer stars like Bobby Morre and Paul Van Himst. This feature film is based on real events.

Pelé also made appearances in television series, documentaries, and feature films that chronicled his life and his time in soccer. For example, he was in The Simpsons.

Pelé’s health problems

As the years have gone by, Pelé’s health has naturally faced different problems. In 2021, he was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his colon, which required an operation to remove it. As a result, Pelé has been in and out of medical check-ups periodically.

Let’s also remember that in 2018, Pelé appeared in a wheelchair during the World Cup draw gala. The reason? He underwent hip surgery, which caused him a lot of pain and problems walking without assistance.

More recently, in early December 2022, Pelé was rushed to the hospital. According to his wife Marcia Aoki, she noticed an unusual swelling. Once in the hospital, specialists mentioned that he was suffering from decompensated heart failure. Although hospitalized, he was reported out of danger.

Titles and other appointments

Yes, Pelé had other official appointments and recognitions, beyond those obtained as a player. For example, in 1995 he was appointed Minister of Sports in Brazil, where he promulgated the “Pelé Law,” which sought to modify the legislation of sports contracts between club and player.

In 1977 he was named “Citizen of the World,” and this was not the only title that the UN would give Pelé. In 1992 he was appointed Ambassador for Ecology and the Environment.

How much did you know about Pelé? This man put the name of Brazil and soccer in the region on high. He will go down in history for his charisma, talent, and emotion that made generations of fans feel.

Story originally published in Spanish in Cultura Colectiva

Isabel Carrasco

History buff, crafts maniac, and makeup lover!

© Cultura Colectiva 2023

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Home › Players › Pelé

B orn on October, 23, 1940 in Minas Gerais, Brazil, Edson Arantes do Nascimento would become more commonly known around the world as Pelé. His father, João Ramos do Nascimento, played professional soccer himself, but his career never brought him much in the way of money. As the legend goes, Pelé’s family could not even afford to buy a ball for him, so he stuffed socks and molded them into the shape of a ball to kick around.

Basic facts

Birth: 1940 Death: 2022 Country: Brazil Position: Forward

Santos FC (1956-1974) New York Cosmos (1975-1977)

Club football: 694 matches, 650 goals National team: 92 matches, 77 goals

Early career

Although he continued to struggle financially in São Paulo, working a variety of jobs to help his family, the young Pelé found his true talent on the field. Under the tutelage of his father and a former national team player named Waldemar de Brito, Pelé began to mature as a player on the Bauru Athletic Club juniors. Coach de Brito recognized his ability and recommended him for a tryout with Santos FC. The team’s management agreed with de Brito’s assessment and signed Pelé in June 1956. A mere three months later, Pelé scored a goal in his debut match. Although few people knew it at the time, this foreshadowed the success to come in the rest of Pelé’s professional career.

Stardom of a youngster

Only a short year later, Pelé topped the list of scorers in the league. His performance, at the tender age of 17, caught the attention of the national team. He would not disappoint. In his first appearance on the world stage, he scored key goals in both the semifinal and the final match of the 1958 World Cup to win it for Brazil . At this point, he had achieved superhero status in Brazil and became a household name around the world. The Brazilian government honored him as a “national treasure,” which elevated his status at home, but also prevented him from taking advantage of offers a broad.

Struggle with injuries

On an individual level, the next two World Cups turned out disappointing due to injuries. The Brazilian side still won the tournament in 1962, but they fell way short in 1966 without their star player—they were eliminated in the group stage. During this era, though, Pelé continued to excel on his club team, Santos. Consistently a top scorer, he often faced teams who had altered their play specifically to deal with the threat he posed. Despite this, he still managed to score 60 goals in the 1964 season and 101 goals the year after that.

Retirement and comeback

By the time 1970 rolled around, Pelé had reportedly decided to hang up his hat and leave while he was on top. However, he was eventually coaxed into playing one last World Cup for Brazil in Mexico on what many consider as the best team in history. Pelé contributed to Brazil’s tournament win with goals and several important assists, earning himself the Golden Ball award for his play. Pelé continued with the Brazilian team for about another year, finally calling it quits in 1971. A few years after that, he said goodbye to his fans at Santos, too. His days as a player were still not over, though.

Late career

Although he had long said that he would only ever play for Santos, he could not resist answering the call from the New York Cosmos in 1975. The North American Soccer League (NASL) represented a significant step down in terms of the level of play that Pelé was accustomed to. The burgeoning league benefitted greatly from this ambassador of the game, though, and ticket sales rose. The American public, largely unfamiliar with the game, took notice. Pelé led the Cosmos to a championship before retiring for good, an event marked by an exhibition match between his adoptive New York team and Santos.

Legacy and life after the football career

At the time of his retirement in 1977, Pelé had amassed a series of seemingly unbreakable records. He had racked up a total of 1,283 goals in 1,363 matches, making him the top scorer in Brazilian national team history and FIFA history. Just as impressively, he managed to pull off 92 hat-tricks. He also set a record for the most FIFA World Cup wins for an individual, with three medals to his name. His early years should not be overlooked, though. The young Pelé burned bright, becoming the youngest player to score a hat-trick and the youngest player to score in a World Cup final match. Retirement saw “O Rei” go on to campaign for a variety of causes, including poverty reduction, anti-corruption movements, and environmental protection. He also received an honorary knighthood, served as the Minister of Sport in Brazil, and assumed the role of a UNICEF Goodwill ambassador. Of course, he never stopped promoting the game throughout the world, including FIFA events and Olympic ceremonies. Perhaps most memorable of all, he popularized the phrase “the beautiful game” as shorthand for the game he loved so much. Generations of enthusiasts have imagined themselves playing with the grace and beauty of “The Black Pearl.” He could strike the ball with astonishing accuracy or flick it off to a teammate through a thick web of defenders’ legs. His iconic goal-scoring bicycle kick in Belgium in 1968 sent young players from all over rushing outside for hours of painful practice. What dazzled many of his fellow players was his uncanny ability to work his way out of almost any situation with sheer skill. For those who have wondered about the origin of the name “Pelé,” the answer proves elusive. Some have claimed that it came from Pelé’s poor pronunciation of the name of a goalie he admired named “Bilé.” According to this version of events, his teammates half-mockingly gave him the name “Pelé” and he could not shake it. Pelé himself has never given a definitive account of how he got the name. In fact, he claimed he never cared for it much. Like so much else in this superstar’s life, though, the magic lies not in minute biographical details or trivia, but in the legacy that Pelé left on the field. Pelé passed away in december 2022, at the age of 82.

By Rosa Nelson

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References: http://www.biography.com/people/pel%C3%A9-39221#more-world-cup-titles http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/10874465/How-and-why-Peles-mystique-and-reputation-as-the-worlds-greatest-ever-footballer-has-been-overhyped.html http://www.goal.com/en/news/60/south-america/2010/10/21/2176031/70-facts-about-brazil-legend-pele Image source: Image sources: 1, 3 FIFA – World Cup Official Film 1970 2 Scanpix

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Muere Pelé, que salió de una favela brasileña para convertirse en el mejor futbolista del mundo

Pelé, la leyenda del fútbol que más títulos mundiales ha ganado, falleció el jueves en Sao Paulo, a la edad de 82 años. En 2021, a Pelé se le extirpó un tumor de colon y luego tuvo una operación de prótesis de cadera.

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Pelé, el futbolista que surgió de una empobrecida favela brasileña para convertirse en el deportista más famoso y, durante un tiempo, mejor pagado del mundo durante una carrera espectacular que produjo más títulos de la Copa del Mundo y más momentos sobrecogedores que ningún otro, ha muerto en Sao Paulo.

Nunca lejos del deporte que tanto amaba, Pelé murió el jueves, según el Associated Press, a la edad de 82 años.

Pelé, al que se le extirpó un tumor de colon en septiembre de 2021, gozaba en general de buena salud, a pesar de una operación de prótesis de cadera y de haber perdido un riñón durante su época de futbolista tras romperse una costilla.

Con sus agudos pases, sus atrevidas carreras y sus fulminantes disparos a puerta, que podía realizar con cualquier pie, Pelé transformó por completo el futbol durante una carrera de 21 años en la que marcó la cifra sin precedentes de 1.281 goles, aunque más de 500 de ellos llegaron en partidos “no oficiales” en las giras de barnstorming populares durante los primeros tiempos de Pelé como jugador. Como resultado, los 819 goles del portugués Cristiano Ronaldo al 24/12/22 /comprobación en el momento de su muerte se consideran el récord de todos los tiempos, por delante de los 757 de Pelé.

Pero los números por sí solos no podían definir la magia de Pelé, tan especial que los ejércitos africanos de ambos bandos de una sangrienta guerra civil en Nigeria acordaron una tregua de dos días para que los soldados pudieran verlo jugar. En una ocasión, el Sha de Irán esperó tres horas en un aeropuerto sólo para hablar con él, el Servicio Secreto le permitió rebotar un balón en la cabeza del Presidente Gerald Ford, y una encuesta realizada en los últimos días de su carrera como jugador demostró que Coca-Cola era la única marca más popular que Pelé en Europa.

“Pelé es el mejor jugador de la historia del fútbol”, dijo Ronaldo. “Y sólo habrá un Pelé”.

“Pelé”, dijo el astro holandés Johan Cruyff, una leyenda por derecho propio, “fue el único futbolista que superó los límites de la lógica”.

Cuando crecía en Brasil, Edson Arantes do Nascimento odiaba tanto el absurdo apodo con el que sus compañeros de primaria se burlaban de él que se peleaba con cualquiera que se atreviera a llamarle “Pelé”.

Sin embargo, antes de llegar a la edad adulta, el niño había convertido la burla en una palabra que llegó a definir la grandeza del futbol, embarcándose en una carrera que produciría más goles, más títulos de la Copa Mundial y más momentos impresionantes que ninguna otra.

“La gente decía ‘¡Pelé! ¡Pelé! Pelé!’ en todo el mundo”, se lamentaba el niño mucho después de haberse convertido en un hombre. “Pero nadie se acuerda de Edson. Edson es la persona que tiene sentimientos, que tiene familia, que trabaja duro. Pelé es el ídolo”.

No perdió mucho tiempo en construir ese legado, marcando en su debut con la selección brasileña para convertirse, con 16 años y 9 meses, en el jugador más joven de la historia en marcar un gol internacional. Dos años más tarde se convertiría en el hombre más joven en jugar -y marcar- en una Copa del Mundo. ambas verdades a 24/12/22

Pero fue la elegancia y la alegría con que jugaba lo que dio origen al estilo brasileño conocido como “jogo bonito”, que se basa en la velocidad, la improvisación y la creatividad más que en la fuerza bruta.

“Su gran secreto era la improvisación”, afirma Tostao, antiguo compañero suyo en la Copa Mundial. “Esas cosas las hacía en un momento. Tenía una percepción extraordinaria del juego. Pelé era el más grande. Era sencillamente impecable”.

Nació como Edson Arantes do Nascimento el 23 de octubre de 1940 -en su partida de nacimiento figura el 21 de octubre, una fecha que Pelé insistió en que era incorrecta- en el estado de Minas Gerais, al sur de Brasil, y su nombre se inspiró en el inventor Thomas Edison.

Su familia le llamaba Dico, pero los niños del barrio le llamaban Pelé, imitando su mala pronunciación del nombre de su jugador favorito, un portero brasileño conocido como Bile. Con el tiempo, el insulto se convertiría en el nombre más famoso del deporte.

Era el mayor de los tres hijos de Celeste Arantes y Joao Ramos do Nascimento, un futbolista de ligas menores cuya carrera se vio truncada por una lesión de rodilla. Sin embargo, dejaría una huella indeleble en el fútbol al enseñar el juego a su hijo, que sería declarado tesoro nacional por el Presidente de Brasil antes de cumplir los 21 años y elegido mejor jugador del siglo del fútbol internacional y Atleta del Siglo del Comité Olímpico Internacional más de 20 años después de su retirada.

La familia, que incluía a un tío y a la abuela, era pobre, vivía en una casa de dos habitaciones hecha de ladrillos recuperados y yeso lavado y con un tejado que tenía goteras. Los niños vestían ropa de segunda mano, a menudo iban sin zapatos y a veces no tenían más que una comida diaria de pan y una rodaja de plátano.

La situación de la familia sólo mejoró ligeramente cuando se trasladó a la ciudad de Bauru, un cruce de caminos a unos 180 kilómetros al oeste de São Paulo. Pero en cuarto curso, Pelé abandonó los estudios tras ser expulsado por jugar al fútbol durante la jornada escolar. Pronto empezó a trabajar reparando zapatos por 2 dólares al día para ayudar a su familia.

Y como no podía permitirse un balón de futbol, aprendió a jugar en la calle utilizando pomelos o telas rellenas de periódicos y atadas con un cordel.

“El balón de cuero era muy caro”, contó Pelé a The Times en una entrevista de 2014. “Cogíamos los calcetines viejos de mi padre, de mi madre, los llenábamos de papel y a jugar”.

Su primer recuerdo del lugar vital que ocupa el futbol en la cultura brasileña llegó en 1950, cuando la selección nacional, gran favorita para ganar la final de la Copa del Mundo en Río de Janeiro, fue derrotada por Uruguay. Al sonar el pitido final, un aficionado se suicidó y otros tres sufrieron infartos mortales.

El padre de Pelé, que había seguido el partido por radio, rompió a llorar.

“Fue la primera vez que vi llorar a mi padre”, recordaba Pelé años después. “Entonces hice una broma y le dije ‘no llores, no llores. Voy a ganar el Mundial por ti’. “

Ocho años más tarde, la broma se convirtió en profecía cuando un Pelé de 17 años marcó seis goles -dos de ellos en el último partido- para llevar a Brasil a la primera de sus cinco Copas Mundiales, todo un récord. Pelé también formó parte de los equipos campeones de 1962 y 1970, lo que le convierte en la única persona de la historia que ha ganado tres Copas del Mundo. Verdadero a 24/12/22

“Me lo dije antes del partido: Está hecho de piel y huesos como todos los demás”, dijo el defensa italiano Tarcisio Burgnich, que tuvo la poco envidiable tarea de marcar a Pelé en la final de 1970. “Pero me equivoqué”.

La fanfarronada a su padre no fue la única que el talento de Pelé hizo valer. Cuando sólo tenía 15 años, su entrenador en el equipo juvenil instó a los directivos del formidable club brasileño Santos a fichar a Pelé, insistiendo en que pronto sería “el mejor jugador del mundo”.

Los directivos hicieron caso y, durante los 18 años siguientes, Pelé llevó al equipo a ganar seis campeonatos nacionales y triunfos en seis torneos internacionales antes de retirarse a los 33 años. Pelé ganó casi un millón de dólares en su última temporada en Brasil en 1974 -más de 6,3 millones de dólares en 2022, cambio de valoración según https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm- y lo donó todo a organizaciones benéficas infantiles.

Pero una serie de malas inversiones le dejaron al borde de la ruina financiera un par de años más tarde, así que Pelé volvió al futbol, firmando un contrato de tres años y 4,5 millones de dólares con el Cosmos de Nueva York, de la modesta North American Soccer League. Marcó 31 goles y ganó otro título de liga, cautivando incluso a los aficionados estadounidenses más hastiados.

Un récord de 10 millones de telespectadores siguieron la retransmisión en directo de su debut con el Cosmos en 1975. Con Pelé, la asistencia media a la liga aumentó casi un 80%, lo que llevó al equipo del pequeño Downing Stadium de Randalls Island al Yankee Stadium, donde a menudo jugaba ante multitudes mayores que las del equipo de béisbol.

Al final de la última temporada de Pelé, en 1977, el equipo se había trasladado al Giants Stadium, donde congregó a 77.691 espectadores en un partido de los playoffs, en aquel momento la mayor asistencia a un partido de futbol en Estados Unidos.

Jugó su último partido oficial -y marcó su último gol- más tarde ese mismo año, jugando una mitad para el Cosmos y otra mitad para el Santos en el Giants Stadium en un día que fue tan agridulce que un periódico brasileño, señalando las condiciones de lluvia, dijo que “hasta el cielo estaba llorando”.

Tras la marcha de Pelé, las multitudes se evaporaron, cayendo a una media de menos de 13.000 espectadores cuando la NASL se disolvió en 1984. Pero el legado que dejó tras de sí fue reconocido por muchos como el factor que allanó el camino para que Estados Unidos organizara la Copa Mundial de 1994, que sigue siendo el torneo de fútbol más exitoso económicamente y con mayor asistencia de público de la historia. Cierto a partir del 22/11

Si bien la jubilación mantuvo a Pelé alejado de los terrenos de juego, salvo para ocasionales partidos benéficos y exhibiciones, no lo alejó del fútbol ni de la opinión pública. Su celebridad tampoco se limitó a un país, ni siquiera a un género.

Fue invitado personal de al menos tres papas, seis emperadores, ocho presidentes, 15 reyes y más de cuatro docenas de jefes de Estado. Fue embajador de las Naciones Unidas para la ecología y el medio ambiente, Embajador de Buena Voluntad de la UNESCO y, en su calidad de Ministro de Deportes de Brasil, propuso una ley para reducir la corrupción en el fútbol, proyecto que se conoció como “Ley Pelé”.

Escribió varias autobiografías, actuó en al menos una docena de películas y una serie de televisión, compuso la banda sonora de la película de 1977 “Pelé” y fue honrado con el título de caballero en Inglaterra, un sello de correos en Corea del Norte y en la canción “Ghetto Supastar” del rapero estadounidense Pras.

No parecía haber nada que no pudiera hacer ni ningún producto que no lanzara al mercado, al tiempo que ejercía de locutor y columnista deportivo. Incluso a sus 70 años, Pelé seguía con un programa promocional agotador, a menudo visitando tres o cuatro continentes a la semana. Se calcula que sus ingresos anuales rondan los 30 millones de dólares.

Cuando le preguntaban durante sus viajes si su fama era comparable a la de Jesucristo, Pelé respondía con su arrogancia y humor característicos, diciendo que “hay partes del mundo donde Jesucristo no es tan conocido”.

Pero también hubo controversias.

Pelé negó durante mucho tiempo las afirmaciones de una mujer que dijo ser su hija. Sandra Arantes do Nascimento acabó demandándole, y un tribunal brasileño respaldó su demanda, citando pruebas de ADN.

El caso provocó un escándalo nacional y ella escribió una autobiografía, “La hija que el rey no quiso”, antes de conseguir un escaño en el Ayuntamiento de Santos. Murió de cáncer de mama en 2006, a los 42 años.

Pelé, que se casó dos veces, tuvo otros cinco hijos, dos de su primer matrimonio, dos del segundo y otro de una relación extramatrimonial.

La reputación de Pelé también se vio sacudida por las acusaciones de que su empresa de gestión robó 700.000 dólares que aceptó de UNICEF para financiar un partido benéfico en 1995 que nunca se jugó. Pelé respondió cerrando Pelé Sports & Marketing y demandando a su socio Helio Viana, de quien dijo que había desviado hasta 10 millones de dólares durante dos décadas.

Se suponía que uno de los mejores momentos de Pelé sin jugar se produciría en 2014, cuando la Copa Mundial regresó a Brasil por primera vez desde la derrota de 1950, que había hecho llorar a su padre. Pero aquello también acabó en polémica.

Aunque su rostro estaba omnipresente en vallas publicitarias y anuncios de televisión, y un museo de 22 millones de dólares dedicado a su carrera abrió sus puertas en Santos durante el torneo de un mes de duración, Pelé el hombre fue prácticamente invisible durante la Copa del Mundo, su ausencia aparentemente derivada de un espectacular error de lectura del estado de ánimo nacional en Brasil.

Cuando millones de personas salieron a las calles para protestar por el coste de la organización de la Copa Mundial, Pelé publicó un incómodo clip en YouTube en el que instaba a la gente a olvidar la conmoción y apoyar a la selección nacional.

Al darse cuenta de su error, Pelé dio marcha atrás rápidamente y acusó a los funcionarios de robar, lo que enfureció a los organizadores del torneo. Días antes del comienzo del Mundial, su hijo Edson Cholbi do Nascimento, exguardameta y entrenador del Santos conocido como Edinho, fue declarado culpable de blanqueo de dinero procedente del narcotráfico y condenado a 33 años de cárcel.

Sin embargo, a pesar de todos sus problemas personales, quienes le vieron jugar insisten en que Pelé era intachable.

“Pelé es el mejor jugador de todos los tiempos”, afirmó el campeón del mundo alemán Franz Beckenbauer. “Todos los demás -Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Michel Plantini- están por debajo de él. No hay nadie comparable a Pelé”.

Pocos entendieron mejor la singularidad de Pelé que Edson Arantes do Nascimento, quien a menudo atribuía al buen momento y a los buenos genes la transformación de la carrera del hombre conocido simplemente como Pelé. Cuando se le preguntó si alguna vez habría otro jugador capaz de igualar su brillantez y dominio, Pelé negó con la cabeza y volvió a atribuir el mérito a sus padres.

“¿Mejor que yo? No”, dijo entre risas. “¿Sabes por qué? Porque mi madre y mi padre cerraron la máquina”.

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Kevin Baxter writes about soccer and hockey for the Los Angeles Times. He has covered seven World Cups, four Olympic Games, six World Series and a Super Bowl and has contributed to three Pulitzer Prize-winning series at The Times and Miami Herald. An essay he wrote in fifth grade was voted best in the class. He has a cool dog.

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10 Things You May Not Know About Pelé

From the origins of his name to how he played his final pro game for both teams, here are some facts about the Brazilian soccer star.

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Thus began Pelé's storied career, and by the time he played his final professional game in 1977, he’d netted over 1,280 career goals as part of Brazil’s Santos Football Club and the New York Cosmos. Although he was widely considered to be the greatest soccer player of all time, here are 10 things you might not know about Pelé:

He was named after Thomas Edison

As Pelé explained in a September 2014 tweet , his father João Ramos, a soccer player also known as Dondinho, and mother Dona Celeste named him Edson, after Thomas Edison . ”Electricity had just been introduced to my hometown in Brazil when I was born,” wrote the Três Corações native. First nicknamed “Dico” by his family, Pelé later explained that the moniker by which he’s currently known worldwide “really bugged” him at first.

“I was really proud that I was named after Thomas Edison and wanted to be called Edson,” he wrote in a 2006 Guardian piece . “I thought Pelé sounded horrible. It was a rubbish name. Edson sounded so much more serious and important.” Although the sports star added he “can never be 100 percent certain about the origin,” the most probable explanation is that the nickname was given to him by classmates because he mispronounced the name of one of his dad’s soccer teammates: Vasco de Sao Lourenco, a goalkeeper affectionately known as "Bilé."

“So when someone said, "Hey, Pelé," I would shout back and get angry. On one occasion I punched a classmate because of it and earned a two-day suspension,” he wrote. “Now I love the name — but back then it wound me up no end.”

He got creative when he couldn’t afford a soccer ball or shoes

Growing up in poverty, Pelé practiced his dribbling skills with a sock stuffed with rags when his family couldn’t afford to buy him an actual soccer ball. 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. Later, barefooted games played in vacant lots became known as “ pelada ,” believed to be named after Pelé.

His first contract was far from lucrative

At 15 years old, Pelé signed his first contract with Santos in 1956, earning just $10 a month. According to ESPN, he used his pay to buy his mother a gas stove, though their town didn’t haven’t the capability to pipe gas into homes. Years later, he signed a three-year $7 million contract with the New York Cosmos in 1975, making him the highest‐paid team athlete in the world at the time. The New York Times estimated that $2 million of the deal went to taxes for the native Brazilian, however. “He will pay his own taxes, just like every American,” Cosmos vice president and general manager Clive Toye explained in 1975, per the newspaper.

He’s a Brazilian national treasure — literally

After Pelé led Brazil’s national team to their first World Cup win in 1958, European clubs such as Real Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan and Manchester United began courting the rising star. In order to prevent him from being traded to foreign teams, Brazilian President Jânio Quadros eventually had Pelé declared a national treasure in 1961.

“Well, first of all it was an honor for me. But I pay income tax like anybody else,” he joked to Esquire in 2016. “I was invited — I had several proposals to play in Europe. For Real Madrid, for AC Milan, for Bayern Munich. But at that time, we didn't have too many Brazilian players outside the country. I was very happy at my team, Santos. I didn't have the desire to play outside the country.”

He held two Guinness World Records

By the end of his career, Pelé had won three FIFA World Cups with Brazil (in 1958, 1962 and 1970), earning him the most wins by any player. Of course, that’s but one of the many records he broke on the soccer field. The four goals Pelé scored in his 1956 professional debut only set the stage for the 1,283 total goals he’d go on to rack up over the years. There is some debate over Guinness’ total number, however, since multiple outlets reported that he scored more than 500 of those goals in “unofficial friendlies and tour games,” rather than in professional competition.

Henry Kissinger convinced him to play in the U.S.

After Pelé retired from the Brazilian national team and Santos in 1974, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger traveled to Sao Paulo to convince him to return to gameplay for the New York Cosmos. "He invited me to go to the cafe with him, and there he said, 'Listen. You know I'm from the United States, and I'm in politics there. Soccer is coming along there-they're playing it in the schools. Would you like to help us promote soccer in the United States?'” Pelé, who didn’t speak English at the time, recalled to Esquire in 2016. “And I said, 'My God.'"

Prior to him signing a reported $7 million, three-year contract with the New York Cosmos, Kissinger reportedly sent him a telegram that read: “Should you decide to sign a contract, I am sure your stay in the United States will substantially contribute to closer ties between Brazil and the United States in the field of sports.”

He once (temporarily) stopped a war

Kissinger noted in a 1999 Time article that both sides in Nigeria’s civil war called a 48-hour cease-fire in 1967 so Pelé could play an exhibition match in the capital of Lagos. Santos' website elaborates that the region's military governor Samuel Ogbemudia declared a holiday and opened up a bridge so that both sides could watch Pelé’s 2-1 victory over Nigeria.

“We were asked to play a friendly match on Benin City, in the middle of a Civil War, but Santos was so beloved that they agreed on a ceasefire on the matchday. It became known as the day that 'Santos stopped the war,'” Pelé tweeted in 2020. (In recent years, however, some have debated the extent of the reported ceasefire.)

He was friends with Nelson Mandela

Pelé left a family holiday to play in 2007’s “ 90 Minutes for Mandela ” charity match in honor of the South African president ’s 89th birthday. During a joint press conference, Pelé awarded Mandela an autographed jersey, which the latter called a “priceless gift” he’d treasure for the rest of his life.

“He was my hero, my friend, and also a companion to me in our fight for the people and for world peace,” Pelé tweeted following Mandela’s 2013 death, also calling the leader “one of the most influential people” in his life.

He played for both teams in his final pro game

In October 1977, Pelé competed in his final professional game in an exhibition match between the New York Cosmos and Santos F.C. in front of 77,000 spectators — including Muhammad Ali — at New Jersey’s Giants Stadium. He played the first half of the game for Santos, scoring one goal, and then switched jerseys and played for the Cosmos in the second half. The Cosmos eventually won the match with a final score of 2-1.

He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II

Despite not being of British descent, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed upon Pelé the honorary title of Knight Commander of the British Empire (KBE) in 1997 for his humanitarian work and activism. Beginning in 1994, Pelé served as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Champion for Sport and a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, creating such campaigns as Children in Need fundraising in 1996, and the Match of the Hearth, in 2000. “It will always stay in my memory,” he tweeted in 2020 of his honorary knighthood. “I thank all the British people for their affection.”

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Pele Biography

“I was born for soccer, just as Beethoven was born for music.” – Pele

Pele was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on 23 October 1940 in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil. He was named after the American inventor Thomas Edison (his parents removed the i). In his childhood, he gained a nickname ‘Pele’ – after he mispronounced the name of a goalkeeper ‘Bile’ – Initially Pele disliked it and complained, but the more he complained, the more it stuck. Pele has no meaning and was intended as an insult, though later it was found that the word Bilé is Hebrew for “miracle.”

Pele grew up in poverty in São Paulo. He was taught to play football by his father (who used to play football), but often he had to practise with a sock stuffed with newspapers because he could not afford to buy a football. As well as playing football, he worked as a waiter in local tea shops.

In his youth, Pele played in indoor leagues, and this helped increase his speed of reactions. He rose through the youth leagues and at the age of 15 was signed by Santos FC. He was soon marked out as a future star. By the age of 16, he was the top scorer in the Brazilian league and received a call up for the Brazilian national side. Interest was such that the Brazilian President declared Pele a national treasure to prevent him being bought by foreign clubs such as Manchester United.

Pele’s World Cups

1970 World Cup

Style of play

Pele was relatively short at  5″ 8′, but he more than compensated in terms of speed, power, agility and strength. He was superb with both feet, powerful in the air, great timing and accuracy and an extraordinary perception of the game. He could mesmerise defenders with his eyes and send them the wrong way. He had a scoring ratio of 0.94 goals per game and often rose to the big occasion, scoring at crucial moments in big games. Whilst very competitive, he was also considered to be a fair player with good sense of sportsmanship. A good example was his warm embrace of Bobby Moore, the England caption after England’s defeat in the 1970 World Cup. It is sometimes held up as an embodiment of sportsmanship. Without any doubt, he is universally regarded as the greatest player of the twentieth century – if not all time. He is one of the few sportsman like Muhammad Ali and Usain Bolt, who transcend their sport to become a global icon. French footballer Michel Platini said of Pele.

“There’s Pelé the man, and then Pelé the player. And to play like Pelé is to play like God.

In the domestic league, Pele made his debut for Santos aged just 16. He played for Santos in the Brazilian league from until the 1972-73 season.

Pele finished his career in the lucrative US league. In 1975, he signed for New York Cosmos and played three seasons. He led the New York Cosmos to the US title in 1977 – the year of his retirement.

Personal life

Pele was married three times and had several children, some out of wedlock. In 1970, he was investigated by the authoritarian Brazilian government for suspected sympathy to left-wing political prisoners. Pele was investigated for handing out leaflets calling for the release of political prisoners. After the investigation, he did not get involved in politics again.

After retiring has gone on to be a great ambassador for football and sport in general. In 1992, Pelé was appointed a UN ambassador for ecology and the environment. He was also appointed a UNESCO goodwill ambassador. He is not only one of the most gifted footballers of his generation, but, also a mild-mannered man who used his fame and prestige for a positive effect.

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan . “Biography of Pele”, Oxford, UK. www.biographyonline.net. Last updated 8 March 2020. Originally published 18 April 2010.

Some Highlights of Pele’s Career

• Athlete of the Century , by Reuters News Agency: 1999
• Athlete of the Century , elected by International Olympic Committee: 1999
• UNICEF Football Player of the Century : 1999
• TIME One of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century : 1999
• FIFA Player of the Century : 2000

Pele – autobiography at Amazon

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The Story Of How Edson Arantes do Nascimento Became Known As Pelé

A few tumors and a urinary infection have forced Pelé to visit the hospital a few times this year. Being 81 years old, the concerns about his health are the subject of press articles everywhere, and in reading them, the other day, a question came to mind: how and when did Edson Arantes do Nascimento start to be known as Pelé?

Why Pelé is called Pelé?

Yeah, as you read in the last paragraph, Pelé's name is not Pelé, but Edson Arantes do Nascimento. The fact is well known, but I wasn't aware the decision to name him Edson was to honor the sneaky patent hoarder and wrongly credited inventor of the light bulb, Thomas Edison. 

“I was named Edson, after Thomas Edison, because electricity had just been introduced to my hometown in Brazil when I was born," Pelé said on Twitter a few years ago. 

I was named Edson, after Thomas Edison, because electricity had just been introduced to my hometown in Brazil when I was born. — Pelé (@Pele) September 12, 2014

But why Pelé? Pelé himself told the story in an article titled “From Edson to Pele: my changing identity,” published by The Guardian in 2006.

In the text, he denies the stories about Pelé being the Gaelic word for football or the mangled Portuguese of a Turkish immigrant yelling “the foot, stupid!” at him after a handball.

No, according to the soccer legend, the nickname is linked to a teammate of his father when he played for Vasco de Sao Lourenco, a goalkeeper named Bilé. 

Embed from Getty Images

“When I was three or four, my father, Dondinho, would take me along to Vasco training sessions,” Pelé wrote. “Whenever I could, I used to nip into the goal and play around, and whenever I managed to stop a shot, I’d shout, ‘Good one, Bilé!’ or ‘Great save, Bilé!’”

Since he was a small kid, the pronunciation was a little off and sounded more like Pilé.

“When we moved to Bauru, this ‘Pilé’ became ‘Pele.’” the three-time World Cup champion said. “Either I changed it myself or — according to my uncle Jorge — it was because of my thick Minas Gerais accent.”

In the beginning, though, Edson wasn’t fond of the nickname. He even fought those who dared to call him Pelé.

“On one occasion, I punched a classmate because of it and earned a two-day suspension,” he confessed.

But the angrier he became, the more kids would call him Pelé until he eventually embraced it. And who knew what a legend he would become. 

Fun fact? Pelé wasn't the only nickname in his life. When he was a kid, his family usually called him Dico. And when he played for Santos, he was briefly known as Gasolina, after a Brazilian singer. Luckily, it didn't stick.

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Pelé remembered for transcending soccer around world

Reactions poured in from around the world to the death of Brazilian soccer legend Pele. He died of cancer in Brazil at age 82. (Dec 29) (AP video by Eugene Garcia)

FILE - Brazilian soccer great Pele, and English soccer star David Beckham pose for photos during a U.S. Soccer Foundation fundraising gala, in New York, March 19, 2008. Pelé, the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died in Sao Paulo on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022. He was 82. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File)

• Copy Link copied

FILE - Soccer player Pele embraces boxer Muhammad Ali during a ceremony honoring the Brazilian soccer star of the New York Cosmos at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J., Oct. 1, 1977. Pelé, the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died in Sao Paulo on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022. He was 82. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

FILE - Brazil’s soccer legend Pele greets the crowd ahead of a Spanish league soccer match, in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Jan. 16, 2005. Pelé, the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died in Sao Paulo on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022. He was 82. (AP Photo/Jasper Juinen, File)

FILE - Brazilian soccer legend Pele waves prior to the African Cup of Nations final soccer match between Ivory Coast and Zambia at Stade de L’Amitie in Libreville, Gabon, Feb. 12, 2012. Pelé, the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died in Sao Paulo on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022. He was 82. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)

FILE - Brazilian soccer star Pele relaxes after a workout in Santos, Brazil, June 3, 1975. Pelé, the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died in Sao Paulo on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022. He was 82. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - Argentine soccer star Diego Armando Maradona, left, rests in a hammock with Brazilian soccer star Pele, during a meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 13, 1995. Pelé, the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died in Sao Paulo on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022. He was 82. (AP Photo/G. Copolla, File)

FILE - Actor Anthony Quinn, left, his wife Iolanda and Brazilian soccer star Pele, right, make their way through a crowd to attend the showing of the film Pele, directed by Francois Reichenbach and in which Pele stars, at the Cannes film festival in Cannes, France, May 18, 1977. Pelé, the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died in Sao Paulo on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022. He was 82. (AP Photo/Jean Jacques Levy, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — Pelé was remembered for a life beyond the field, for transcending the sport of soccer and becoming perhaps the most well-known person on Earth.

“Before Pelé, ’10′ was just a number,” current Brazil forward Neymar wrote following the soccer great’s death Thursday at the age of 82 . “That line, beautiful, is incomplete. I would say that before Pelé soccer was just a sport. Pelé changed everything. He transformed soccer into art, entertainment. He gave voice to the poor, to the Black and above all he gave Brazil visibility. Soccer and Brazil elevated their standing thanks to the King! He is gone, but his magic will endure.”

Pelé scored 12 goals in 14 World Cup matches and is the only three-time world champion, winning titles in 1958, 1962 and 1970. His death was especially impactful for generations of Brazilian players who idolized him.

“Today Brazil waves goodbye to one of its most illustrious children,” wrote Romario, a 1994 World Cup champion who used Pelé's full name in his post. “Edson Arantes do Nascimento made the world bow to his talent and took Brazilian soccer to the altar of gods. Throughout his life, Pelé inspired generations of athletes and deserves every tribute.”

Ronaldo, who led Brazil to a fifth World Cup title in 2002, described Pelé as “Unique. Genius. Skilled. Creative. Perfect. Unmatched.”

“What a privilege to come after you, my friend,” Ronaldo wrote . “Your talent is a school through which every player should go. Your legacy transcends generations. And that is the way you will continue to live.”

Pelé was a revered sports figure to a level probably not comparable to any athlete other than Muhammad Ali. As comfortable mingling with heads of states and celebrities as he was evading defenders, Pelé made an impact in capitals across continents.

“As one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, he understood the power of sports to bring people together,” former U.S. President Barack Obama wrote .

President Joe Biden tweeted : “For a sport that brings the world together like no other, Pelé’s rise from humble beginnings to soccer legend is a story of what is possible.”

Pelé's greatest impact was in Brazil, a unifying figure celebrated during the 2014 World Cup.

“I saw Pelé play, live, at Pacaembu and Morumbi (stadiums),” former Brazil President and current President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wrote . “Play, no. I saw Pelé give a show. Because when he got the ball he always did something special, which often ended in a goal. ... Few Brazilians took the name of our country as far as he did. As different from Portuguese as one’s language was, foreigners from the four corners of the planet soon found a way to pronounce the magic word: ‘Pelé.’”

For a half-century, people who knew the name of only one soccer player knew Pelé.

“He made people dream and continued to do that with generations and generations of lovers of our sport,” France coach Didier Deschamps said in a statement. “Who, as a child, didn’t dream of being Pelé? ... Pelé was the alliance of beauty and efficiency. His talent and his list of achievements will stay engraved in our minds forever.”

French soccer star Kylian Mbappé tied Pelé for sixth in career World Cup goals with a hat trick in this month’s loss to Argentina in the final. Four years ago, Mbappé became only the second teenager — after Pelé — to score a goal in a World Cup final.

“The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten,” Mbappé wrote .

“Pelé not only filled football stadiums with exhilaration but he filled hearts and homes with hope and the knowledge that adversity was surmountable,” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement Friday. “His endurance and impact on the field of play inspired the resilience with which Pelé worked for peace and justice globally.”

When Pelé’s condition worsened last month during the World Cup in Qatar, get well messages were flashed on the sides of buildings in Doha. The English Football Association lit Wembley Stadium’s arch in Brazil’s colors on Wednesday night. FIFA, soccer’s governing body, changed its website’s homepage to photos of Pelé with a black background.

“Pelé did things that no other player would even dream of,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino wrote. “The sight of him punching the air in celebration is one of the most iconic in our sport, and is etched into our history. In fact, because televised football was still in his infancy at the time, we only saw small glimpses of what he was capable of.”

When Pelé played for the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League from 1975-77, he helped spark soccer’s rise in the United States, leading to the nation hosting the World Cup in 1994.

“Pele was truly a remarkable figure — on and off the field,” said FIFA Council member Sunil Gulati, a former U.S. Soccer Federation president. “The world has lost a once in a lifetime sportsman who leaves an extraordinary legacy.”

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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'Pelé changed everything': World honors the soccer legend

Pelé is remembered by athletes around the world for his excellence on and off the field as a three-time World Cup winner and unifying figure. The 'king of soccer' died Thursday in São Paulo.

• By Ronald Blum Associated Press

December 30, 2022 | New York

Pelé was remembered for a life beyond the field, for transcending the sport of soccer, and becoming perhaps the most well-known person on Earth.

“Before Pelé, ’10′ was just a number,” current Brazil forward Neymar wrote following the soccer great’s death Thursday at the age of 82. “That line, beautiful, is incomplete. I would say that before Pelé soccer was just a sport. Pelé changed everything. He transformed soccer into art, entertainment. He gave voice to the poor, to the Black and above all he gave Brazil visibility. Soccer and Brazil elevated their standing thanks to the King! He is gone, but his magic will endure.”

Pelé scored 12 goals in 14 World Cup matches and is the only three-time world champion, winning titles in 1958, 1962, and 1970. His death was especially impactful for generations of Brazilian players who idolized him.

“Today Brazil waves goodbye to one of its most illustrious children,” wrote Romario, a 1994 World Cup champion who used Pelé’s full name in his post. “Edson Arantes do Nascimento made the world bow to his talent and took Brazilian soccer to the altar of gods. Throughout his life, Pelé inspired generations of athletes and deserves every tribute.”

Ronaldo, who led Brazil to a fifth World Cup title in 2002, described Pelé as “Unique. Genius. Skilled. Creative. Perfect. Unmatched.”

“What a privilege to come after you, my friend,” Ronaldo wrote. “Your talent is a school through which every player should go. Your legacy transcends generations. And that is the way you will continue to live.”

Pelé was a revered sports figure to a level probably not comparable to any athlete other than Muhammad Ali. As comfortable mingling with heads of states and celebrities as he was evading defenders, Pelé made an impact in capitals across continents.

“As one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, he understood the power of sports to bring people together,” former U.S. President Barack Obama wrote.

President Joe Biden tweeted: “For a sport that brings the world together like no other, Pelé’s rise from humble beginnings to soccer legend is a story of what is possible.”

Pelé’s greatest impact was in Brazil, a unifying figure celebrated during the 2014 World Cup.

“I saw Pelé play, live, at Pacaembu and Morumbi (stadiums),” former Brazil President and current President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wrote. “Play, no. I saw Pelé give a show. Because when he got the ball he always did something special, which often ended in a goal. ... Few Brazilians took the name of our country as far as he did. As different from Portuguese as one’s language was, foreigners from the four corners of the planet soon found a way to pronounce the magic word: ‘Pelé.’”

For a half-century, people who knew the name of only one soccer player knew Pelé.

“He made people dream and continued to do that with generations and generations of lovers of our sport,” France coach Didier Deschamps said in a statement. “Who, as a child, didn’t dream of being Pelé? ... Pelé was the alliance of beauty and efficiency. His talent and his list of achievements will stay engraved in our minds forever.”

French soccer star Kylian Mbappé tied Pelé for sixth in career World Cup goals with a hat trick in this month’s loss to Argentina in the final. Four years ago, Mbappé became only the second teenager – after Pelé – to score a goal in a World Cup final.

“The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten,” Mbappé wrote.

“Pelé not only filled football stadiums with exhilaration but he filled hearts and homes with hope and the knowledge that adversity was surmountable,” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement Friday. “His endurance and impact on the field of play inspired the resilience with which Pelé worked for peace and justice globally.”

When Pelé’s condition worsened last month during the World Cup in Qatar, get well messages were flashed on the sides of buildings in Doha. The English Football Association lit Wembley Stadium’s arch in Brazil’s colors on Wednesday night. FIFA, soccer’s governing body, changed its website’s homepage to photos of Pelé with a black background.

“Pelé did things that no other player would even dream of,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino wrote. “The sight of him punching the air in celebration is one of the most iconic in our sport, and is etched into our history. In fact, because televised football was still in his infancy at the time, we only saw small glimpses of what he was capable of.”

When Pelé played for the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League from 1975-77, he helped spark soccer’s rise in the United States, leading to the nation hosting the World Cup in 1994.

“Pele was truly a remarkable figure – on and off the field,” said FIFA Council member Sunil Gulati, a former U.S. Soccer Federation president. “The world has lost a once in a lifetime sportsman who leaves an extraordinary legacy.”

This story was reported by The Associated Press.

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Remembering Pelé’s legacy and global impact on soccer

Laura Barrón-López Laura Barrón-López

Winston Wilde Winston Wilde

Harry Zahn Harry Zahn

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• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/remembering-peles-legacy-and-global-impact-on-soccer

Soccer fans around the world are mourning the loss of Brazilian soccer legend Pelé who passed away Thursday at the age of 82. He was the face of the global game for decades and helped shape soccer into the "beautiful game." JJ Devaney of the podcast “Caught Offside” joined Laura Barrón-López to look back at Pelé's legacy.

Read the Full Transcript

Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors.

Judy Woodruff:

Soccer fans around the world are in mourning tonight over the news that the Brazilian soccer legend Pelé died today. He was the face of the global game for decades and helped to shape soccer into what's known as the beautiful game.

Laura Barrón-López has this look back at his legacy.

Laura Barrón-López:

The paralleled athlete and only player to have ever won three World Cups died at a hospital in Sao Paulo with his family by his side.

His daughter recently shared this image on social media captioned: "Another night together," holding on to precious last moments with her father.

Pelé had been hospitalized since the end of November, receiving care for colon cancer that doctors say had advanced in the last week, as well as a respiratory infection that stemmed from COVID-19. In addition to the World Cups he won in 1958, 1962, and 1970, Pelé will be remembered as the most prolific scorer the game has ever known.

He boasts two Guinness world records, including for his nearly 1,300 career goals. And his 77 goals in just over 90 international matches is a record achievement for the Brazilian national team. Above all, Pelé will remain an indelible icon and perhaps the sport's greatest ambassador.

Outside the hospital and all across Brazil, legions of fans have gathered in the streets in solemn vigil in recent days to pay their respects. And, at the latest World Cup, many more spoke of what he meant to Brazil, to the game, and to the world.

Pelé represents what we are, where we came from. Pelé is our roots. It's what we are today. It's thanks to him.

Pelé was 82 years old.

Some further perspective now on Pelé and his impact.

J.J. Devaney is the co-host of the soccer podcast "Caught Offside."

J.J., thanks for joining the "NewsHour."

I wanted to ask you. Pelé is known as the king of soccer. But, for contemporary fans, they may not always know his impact on the sport. How can they see his legacy and potentially some of his signature moves on the field today?

J.J. Devaney, Co-Host, "Caught Offside": Well, it's funny you mention that.

I was watching a TikTok today that compared Pelé's signature moves and how he did a lot of what the modern players are doing right now way before they even did it. So, he was an iconic player. He was a player who brought this beautiful game to the masses, and particularly in the 1970 World Cup, which was the first World Cup with a big television scope across the globe.

And, I mean, you ask anybody who's a soccer fan, they will still know who Pelé is, even if they never saw him play, people like me.

In all, Pelé won three World Cups. No other player has done that.

And detractors say that he — the game was slower then. You have said that it was actually rougher then. So does that — all of that taken together elevate him to be one of the greatest in the world?

J.J. Devaney:

Yes, it's very difficult to compare eras, and it's almost not fair.

But I would say, in terms of skill and the ability and the attacking prowess that he had, he could have played in any era. And in the modern era, he would have had the benefits of tougher referees, a less brutal game. I don't think it's fair to compare eras, but if you look at his skill during those iconic matches, his goal against Sweden as a 17-year-old in his first World Cup in 1958 was absolutely stunning in the final, where he flicks it over a player, goes around and scores on the far side.

Those are timeless, timeless moves, and something that inspired generations afterwards.

He also off the field was seen as this global ambassador of the game, something that he did for decades.

Can you talk about his appeal and how he helped spread soccer in the U.S. and elsewhere?

Well, yes, he — I interviewed him in 2016. And he told me about how he had retired from the game and he spoke to Henry Kissinger in Brazil, who persuaded him to come to the NASL, the North American Soccer League, to the New York Cosmos.

And that had a profound effect. OK, it didn't have an effect on soccer becoming a major professional sport at that moment in the United States, but it inspired people who saw him throughout his time in the U.S. And, also, he became almost a global ambassador for the game.

Wherever there was a World Cup, wherever there was a big game, you saw Pelé promoting the game. He was a regular visitor to the White House as well under three or four different administrations. Pelé was there promoting charities, but also promoting the game of soccer.

He became synonymous with soccer. Whether you knew a little about the game, nothing about the game, or a lot about the game, Pelé was the face of the World Cup and of soccer, not just Brazilian soccer.

And one unique thing about his career is that Pelé didn't — he did not go on to play in European clubs for more money.

And he toured with the Brazilian team in exhibition matches. Why did he do this? Did it simply come down to the fact that he was deeply connected to Brazil?

That was part of it, but, also, the Brazilian government at the time, in the early '60s, seeing what an amazing player they had from the '58 World Cup, they decided that they would put almost a national treasure order on him, meaning he couldn't be taken abroad by other player — by other clubs, other richer clubs, maybe in the European game.

He toured with Santos for years, and played a lot of games and exhibition matches. So that kind of spread the profile — spread his profile. But when I spoke to him in 2016, he said there was a lot of interest from Juventus, from Real Madrid towards the end of his career, but he couldn't leave because the Brazilian government didn't want him to, but also because he didn't want to.

When you interviewed him in 2016, is there something that particularly stood out to you about his personality?

His warmth. He took my hand at the start of the interview, because he knew I was a little bit overawed by his presence.

But he had a deep, warm voice. He had a charisma. He was at that point a granddad-style figure, but he still had an aura and a strength and a presence around him. And as humble as he was, he also knew he was great. And that struck me.

Can you also tell us about his relationship with Brazilian players and, in particular, Neymar, someone who as — as you have said, it's difficult to compare eras, but how exactly did they bond when — as Neymar has been playing?

Well, if you just look at contemporary players, like the great players we talk about today, Kylian Mbappe, about their — the wonderful tributes that they paid, they recognize Pelé as the first global soccer star, the — a player who transcended all sports.

I think his relationship with Brazilian soccer players, if Pelé said something down the decades, it was listened to, and it carried great weight. He spoke to me about Neymar in 2016, and he said that there was maybe only two or three really great players in the world, whereas, when he played, he thought there were many, many more.

So he had a high regard for Neymar. If — I think Pelé liked to consider himself the best of the best, and that no Brazilian player, really, since he played came close.

Pelé's career was truly transcendent.

J.J. Devaney, thank you for your time.

Good to be with you, Laura.

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Laura Barrón-López is the White House Correspondent for the PBS News Hour, where she covers the Biden administration for the nightly news broadcast. She is also a CNN political analyst.

Winston Wilde is a coordinating producer at PBS News Weekend.

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Los Deportes Spanish Comprehensible Reading Activities | Pelé Biography

• Google Apps™

What educators are saying

Description.

This Pelé Comprehensible Reading Passage and Activities is perfect for your Spanish 1 or 2 students. The reading passage is filled with high frequency Spanish verbs to help emerging readers and includes vocabulary supports. Include the reading activities to your Los Deportes unit or add to your Hispanic Heritage Month activities. Can also be used for emergency sub plans !

Prep is quick and easy... Print out reading passage along with one or all of the reading activities or assign digitally through your school's LMS (Learning Management System).

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL GET:

... a PDF file with a link to a Shared Google Drive™ Folder that includes:

• ⭐️ Reading passage (short biography) of Pelé (Brazilian professional soccer player)
• ⭐️ Pre-Reading Activity: K-W-L Chart
• ⭐️ Post-Reading Activity: Bubble map to highlight Pelé's life and accomplishments
• ⭐️ Novice comprehension question worksheet with multiple choice and True/False questions (Spanish & English version)
• ⭐️ Advanced comprehension worksheet with open-ended questions (Spanish & English version)
• ⭐️ 2 PDF Print Options: Color and B&W
• ⭐️ Digital Version to assign electronically
• ⭐️ 4 editable Google Slides™ to edit text as necessary
• ⭐️ Answer keys

Note: background graphics and copyright logo are not editable. Only the text is editable.

Here's what other teachers are saying:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "When we returned from winter break, my students were sad to hear of Pelé's passing. We have a lot of soccer fans and we had completed a unit on the World Cup. I found this resource and although it was meant for beginners, I used it with my heritage speakers (4th-5th) and middle school heritage speakers. Both groups really enjoyed the reading and the bubble activity... So happy with this purchase! " (Rosario B.)

RELATED RESOURCES YOU MAY LIKE

→ Celia Cruz Reading Activities

→ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Reading Activities

→ Hispanic Heritage Pennant Project

→ Hispanic Heritage Tissue Box Project

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A Celebratory Take on Audre Lorde’s Brave, Hard, Unconventional Life

“Survival Is a Promise,” a new biography by Alexis Pauline Gumbs, is an unabashed homage to the poet known for her political commitment and community building.

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By Ayten Tartici

Ayten Tartici is a writer and critic. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Review of Books and The Yale Review, among other venues.

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SURVIVAL IS A PROMISE: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde , by Alexis Pauline Gumbs

Audre Lorde was in an auditorium at Stanford reading “ Power ,” a poem about Clifford Glover, a 10-year-old African American boy fatally shot by the police in 1973, when the walls began to shake. Lorde did not notice the earthquake, mistaking some audience members’ sudden flight to the exit as an unwillingness to listen. She raised her voice and kept reading. In her canonical poetry collection “The Black Unicorn” (1978), she swears an oath to stick it out: “May I never lose that terror that keeps me brave.”

Anecdotes of endurance like this one enliven “Survival Is a Promise,” a new biography by Alexis Pauline Gumbs of the self-identified “ Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet ,” who died in 1992 . For the past two decades, the gold standard of Lorde biographies has been Alexis De Veaux’s groundbreaking “Warrior Poet” (2004), the only comprehensive resource regarding Lorde’s life aside from her semi-fictionalized autobiography, “Zami: A New Spelling of My Name.” With “Survival Is a Promise” Gumbs, a scholar and poet herself, takes a different tack, delivering an unabashed celebration of Lorde, a legally blind girl with a stutter and Caribbean roots who became the first Black poet to deliver a solo reading sponsored by the Academy of American Poets.

Unconventional in structure as well as tone, “Survival Is a Promise” features brief chapters arranged by topic — Lorde’s fondness for bees; locks of her hair now preserved at Spelman College ; her photographs of St. Croix after Hurricane Hugo — along with Gumbs’s ecological, geological and cosmic reflections. Gumbs explains, for example, Lorde’s symbiotic relationship with her long-term partner Frances Clayton, who gave up a tenured position in psychology at Brown to live with Lorde and her children, through the orientation of sunflowers in relation to the sun.

There is no room for Lorde’s flaws in this book; she is a goddess, an avatar, an icon. As an entry point into Lorde’s poetry, though, Gumbs’s persuasive close readings create a virtuous circle, shining a light on how the life generated the poems, which now elucidate that life. Her goal is to steer us away from the one-liners — “My silences have not protected me. Your silence will not protect you” — that have too often been Lorde’s legacy and focus us instead on the poet’s forthright voice, on the political and emotional resonance of her work: “ As a diamond comes into a knot of flame/I am Black because I come from the earth’s inside .”

Lorde was born in 1934 in Harlem to immigrant parents from the island of Grenada. Her light-skinned mother, Linda, worked as a dishwasher until her employer discovered that she wasn’t Spanish and fired her. She later helped Lorde’s father, Byron, who ran a real estate office for Black families excluded from the housing market. In her journal, Lorde wrote, “I had one of those grotesque childhoods that turns a person into a poem.” Her parents expected total obedience from Audre and her two sisters — De Veaux says Audre’s mother beat her almost daily for her “insolence” — though her father also encouraged reading, bringing home pallets of books won for cheap at auctions.

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