The name is synonymous with the sport of soccer—even if you’ve never watched a game in your life.
The sport’s first true global icon, Pelé not only put Brazil firmly on the footballing map but also helped propel the game toward becoming the global obsession it is today.
Exploding onto the scene as a 17-year-old at the 1958 World Cup, Pelé dazzled the world—scoring a hat-trick in the semifinal and a brace in the final as Brazil lifted their first-ever World Cup trophy.
That triumph kickstarted an era of dominance for both Brazil and Pelé. He would go on to win two more World Cups in 1962 and 1970, the heartbeat of what many still hail as the greatest national team of all time. Millions around the world tuned in, mesmerized by his samba-infused skills—flair and imagination the sport had never seen before.
Pelé’s brilliance extended to his club career with Santos, where he scored nearly 650 goals and collected a cabinet full of trophies. Keen to showcase their prized asset, Santos toured the globe like football’s version of the Harlem Globetrotters, giving fans from every corner of the world a glimpse of their superstar.
With such unparalleled success and fame, you’d expect Pelé to have been showered with world football’s most prestigious individual honor: the Ballon d’Or.
But was he? Let’s take a closer look.
