Thanks Freddie! Here’s some extra information from us.

Pelé was born in 1940, and in his time, he was almost certainly the most famous, if not the highest-paid athlete in the world. He led Brazil to victory in three FIFA World Cups, the only person to date to do so, ensuring his place as a national treasure. So great was his popularity that when his Brazilian team, Santos, toured Nigeria in 1967, to showcase their skills, a ceasefire was agreed in the nation’s civil war to allow everyone to watch the incredible player. FIFA actually have recorded his overall goal total at more than 1200!

Not only was Pelé an icon on the pitch, but he also used his platform to support others. In 1978, he was awarded the International Peace Award, and in 1999, he was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee. Furthermore, he used his adaptability to become Minister for Sports in Brazil, using his status to try and eliminate corruption in the sport. His creativity wasn’t only confined to the pitch, as he also created several successful documentary films and composed music pieces, such as the soundtrack for the film ‘Pelé’.