Edson Arantes do Nascimento born 23 October 1940, known as Pele, is a retired Brazilian professional footballer who played as a forward. He is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time. Pele is also credited with making the phrase "the beautiful game" synonymous with football. In 1999, he was voted World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics IFFHS. The same year, France Football asked their former Ballon d'Or winners to choose the Football Player of the Century; they selected Pele. In 1999, Pele was elected Athlete of the Century by the IOC, and Time named him in their list of 100 most influential people of the 20th century. In 2013 he received the FIFA Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur in recognition of his career and achievements as a global icon of football. According to the IFFHS, Pele is the most successful league goal scorer in the world, with 541 league goals. In total Pele scored 1281 goals in 1363 games, including unofficial friendlies and tour games, for which he was listed in the Guinness World Records for most career goals scored in football. During his playing days, Pele was for a period the best-paid athlete in the world. In his native Brazil, he is hailed as a national hero for his accomplishments in football and for his vocal support of policies to improve the social conditions of the poor. In 1961, Brazil President Janio Quadros had Pele declared a national treasure. During his career, he became known as "The Black Pearl" A Perola Negra, "The King of Football" -O Rei do Futebol, "The King Pele" -O Rei Pele or simply "The King" O Rei.....
- Edson Arantes do Nascimento