10 things you didn’t know about Brazilian legend, Pele

Brazil legend, Pele, has passed away aged 82 following a battle with cancer.

1. Pele is the all-time leading goal scorer for Santos, the Brazilian national team, and the New York Cosmos. He scored over 1,000 goals in his career, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest goal scorers of all time.
2. Pele was a member of three Brazilian World Cup winning teams (1958, 1962, and 1970). He is the only player to have won the World Cup three times, and is often credited with helping to lead Brazil to victory in each of these tournaments.
3. Pele was named the South American Footballer of the Year three times (1958, 1962, and 1970), and was also awarded the Ballon d’Or (the European Footballer of the Year award) in 1970.
4. Pele was inducted into the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame in 1998, and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1999.
5. Pele was named one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century by Time Magazine, and was also listed as one of the 125 Greatest Living People by People Magazine in 1999.
6. In 2003, Pele was awarded the International Peace Award by the United Nations for his work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
7. Pele was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2010.
8. Pele was the first professional athlete to be appointed as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, and has worked with the organization on various projects related to education, culture, and sport.
9. Pele was awarded the Order of Merit by the Brazilian government in 1971, and was also appointed as a Commander of the National Order of Sports Merit in 2002.
10. Pele has received numerous other awards and accolades throughout his career, including the Golden Foot, the FIFA Order of Merit, and the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year award.

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