Pelé

Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born on October 23, 1940, in Três Corações, Brazil. Growing up in poverty, he practiced with socks stuffed with rags or a grapefruit before joining Santos FC at age 15. At just 17 years old, Pelé dazzled the globe at the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden, scoring a sensational hat-trick in the semi-final and two goals in the final to hand Brazil its first World Cup triumph.

Pelé spent nearly two decades leading Santos FC to two Copa Libertadores and two Intercontinental Cups, before lifting his third World Cup trophy in 1970 with what is widely considered the greatest international football team ever assembled. His dazzling dribbling, aerial majesty, vision, and joyous flair redefined football as 'O Jogo Bonito' (The Beautiful Game). In 1969, a temporary ceasefire was called in the Nigerian Civil War simply so both sides could watch Pelé play in an exhibition match.

In the late 1970s, Pelé revolutionized American soccer with the New York Cosmos before dedicating his later life to UNESCO diplomacy and serving as Brazil's Minister of Sports. Named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee and FIFA Player of the Century, Pelé’s legacy remains the gold standard of global sporting greatness.