Football · Brazil · 1940–2022
Pelé Life & Career Timeline
Three World Cups and a lifetime that made football a global language.
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PPeléFootball · Brazil
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About this timeline
About Pelé
Edson Arantes do Nascimento rose from Brazilian football prodigy to the only man to win three FIFA World Cups, then helped carry the sport to new audiences around the world.
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Pelé biography
Pelé timeline: key events
Explore 18 documented Moments in chronological order. Read the dates, locations and source references below. Where available, additional context explains why a milestone matters.
Born in Três Corações
Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born into a football family and grew up in Bauru, where his talent emerged early.
Connected: Football
Source: www.fifa.comSenior debut for Santos
Still fifteen, Pelé began the club career that would make Santos an international attraction.
Connected: Football
Source: www.santosfc.com.brBrazil debut
Pelé scored against Argentina on his senior international debut at sixteen.
Connected: Football
Source: www.fifa.comYoungest World Cup winner
At seventeen he scored twice in the final as Brazil won its first World Cup.
Connected: Football
Source: www.fifa.comSouth American Championship top scorer
Pelé scored eight goals for Brazil and finished as the tournament’s leading scorer.
Connected: Football
Source: www.cbf.com.brSecond World Cup title
Injury limited Pelé after the group stage, but Brazil retained the trophy and he became a two-time champion at twenty-one.
Connected: Football
Source: www.fifa.comSantos conquers the world
Pelé scored a hat-trick against Benfica as Santos won the Intercontinental Cup.
Connected: Football
Source: www.santosfc.com.brAt the height of the Santos era
Tours and landmark matches turned Santos and its number ten into global ambassadors for Brazilian football.
Connected: Football
Source: www.santosfc.com.brA painful World Cup exit
Repeated fouls and injury marked Brazil’s early elimination, after which Pelé briefly said he would not play another World Cup.
Connected: Football
Source: www.fifa.comThe historic third World Cup
Pelé scored in the final and helped create Carlos Alberto’s famous goal as Brazil won 4–1.
Connected: Football
Source: www.fifa.comFarewell to Santos
After more than a thousand goals in Santos colours, Pelé brought his competitive Brazilian club career to a close.
Connected: Football
Source: www.santosfc.com.brSigns for New York Cosmos
His arrival gave the North American Soccer League unprecedented attention and helped popularise football in the United States.
Connected: Football
Source: www.fifa.comWins the Soccer Bowl
The Cosmos defeated Seattle to give Pelé a league championship in his final season.
Connected: Football
Source: www.fifa.comThe farewell match
Pelé played one half for the Cosmos and one for Santos in an emotional final appearance.
Connected: Football
Source: www.fifa.comBecomes a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
Pelé used his worldwide recognition to advocate education, peace and sport.
Connected: Football
Source: www.unesco.orgReceives an honorary Ballon d’Or
FIFA and France Football presented Pelé with the Prix d’Honneur in recognition of his career.
Connected: Football
Source: inside.fifa.comMuseu Pelé opens
A museum dedicated to Pelé opened during the World Cup, preserving objects and stories from his life.
Connected: Football
Source: www.santos.sp.gov.brThe football world says goodbye
Pelé died aged eighty-two; tributes across continents reflected the reach of his life and game.
Connected: Football
Source: www.fifa.comExplore related timelines
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This educational timeline is not endorsed by or affiliated with Pelé or their representatives. Event text is original editorial copy based on the linked sources.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Licence shown on source file
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About the Pelé timeline
Who is Pelé?
Edson Arantes do Nascimento rose from Brazilian football prodigy to the only man to win three FIFA World Cups, then helped carry the sport to new audiences around the world.
How many moments are included?
This public timeline currently contains 18 sourced moments spanning 1940–2022.
Who maintains this timeline?
This public timeline is created and maintained by Memmie Editorial Team. Schools, clubs and cultural organisations can apply to become timeline partners.
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