On October 23, 1940, Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born in Três Coraçes, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Thomas Edison, an American inventor, inspired his naming (his parents removed the i). After mispronouncing the name of a goalie, “Bile,” as a little child, he was given the nickname “Pele.” Pele initially disliked it and complained, but the more he did so, the more it stuck. Pele was intended as an insult, but it was later learned that the word Bilé, which has no meaning, is Hebrew for “wonder.”
Pele was born and raised in So Paulo. His father, who played football, taught him the game, but because he could not afford to buy a football, he frequently had to practice with a sock filled with newspapers. He played football and waited tables at neighborhood tea houses.
Pele played in indoor leagues when he was younger, which sped up his reflexes. After progressing through the youth levels, he was signed by Santos FC at the age of 15. He was instantly identified as a potential star. He got called up for the Brazilian national team at the age of 16 after becoming the top scorer in the Brazilian league. Pele attracted so much interest that the Brazilian president designated him a national treasure to stop foreign clubs like Manchester United from purchasing him.
Did Pelé and Maradona play together? Did they face each other in a match?
Pele and Maradona never played together in a match. Pele and Maradona are both legendary football players from different eras.
