1940 October 23rd
Birth of Pelé in Três Corações
Pelé was born on 23 October and grew up in a footballing family before becoming one of the sport's most celebrated players.
Football player and manager history
Edson Arantes do Nascimento Pele
Explore 56 football history records associated with Edson Arantes do Nascimento Pele, arranged by year, month, day and event. Entries may concern different clubs or national teams during the person’s career.
Historical events
1956
First Senior Santos Goal
The teenager scored his first senior goal for Santos and displayed the anticipation that would define his prolific club career.
1956
Santos Senior Career Begins
Pelé joined Santos as a teenager and made his senior debut, beginning a long relationship with the coastal Brazilian club.
1957
Campeonato Paulista Breakthrough
Pelé developed into a prolific scorer in São Paulo state football during his first full season with Santos.
1957 July 7th
Brazil Senior Debut
Makes his senior Brazil debut against Argentina at sixteen.
1957 July 7th
First International Goal
Scores Brazil's goal during his first international appearance.
1958 June 15th
First World Cup Appearance Against Soviet Union
Pelé entered Brazil's starting side against the Soviet Union and provided youthful attacking movement in a 2-0 victory.
1958 June 19th
World Cup Quarter Final Winner Against Wales
Pelé improvised a close-range finish against Wales to send Brazil into the semi-finals of the World Cup.
1958 June 19th
Youngest World Cup Scorer
Scores against Wales to become the youngest goalscorer in World Cup history.
1958 June 24th
France Semi Final Goal Sequence
Pelé scored three times against France in the semi-final, turning a competitive contest into a decisive Brazilian victory.
1958 June 24th
World Cup Semi-Final Hat-Trick
Scores a hat-trick as Brazil defeat France 5-2 in the semi-final.
1958 June 29th
Two Goals Against Sweden
Becomes the youngest player to score in a World Cup final.
1958 June 29th
World Cup Final
Scores twice as Brazil defeat Sweden in the World Cup final.
1958 June 29th
World Cup Winner
Pelé scores two goals against Sweden in the 1958 final, completing an extraordinary tournament as a seventeen-year-old World Cup champion.
1959
Santos Paulista Championship Attack
Pelé's exceptional scoring consistency made Santos a major domestic force as its team toured and competed extensively.
1959
South American Championship Leading Scorer
Pelé finished as leading scorer at the South American Championship, although Brazil finished behind Argentina in the standings.
1960
Santos Paulista Title Campaign
Pelé inspired Santos in the Campeonato Paulista, part of the sustained run of state championships that established the team's dominance.
1961
Maracanã Solo Goal Against Fluminense
Pelé carried the ball through defenders before scoring a celebrated individual goal against Fluminense at the Maracanã.
1961
Santos National Championship Success
Pelé led the attack as Santos won the Taça Brasil, beginning an exceptional sequence of national championship triumphs.
1962
Benfica Intercontinental Cup Lisbon Hat Trick
Pelé scored three goals against Benfica in Lisbon as Santos captured the Intercontinental Cup with an emphatic away victory.
1962
Santos Libertadores Final Against Peñarol
Pelé scored twice in the deciding Copa Libertadores playoff as Santos overcame Peñarol to win its first continental title.
1962 May 30th
Opening World Cup Goal Against Mexico
Pelé scored against Mexico in Brazil's first match of the 1962 World Cup before injury curtailed the rest of his tournament.
1962 June 2nd
World Cup Muscle Injury Against Czechoslovakia
Pelé suffered a thigh injury while attempting a shot against Czechoslovakia and played no further part in Brazil's successful tournament.
1963
Copa Libertadores Final Against Boca Juniors
Pelé scored at La Bombonera as Santos beat Boca Juniors and successfully defended the Copa Libertadores title.
1963
Santos Retain Intercontinental Championship
Pelé was a key figure in the Santos side that defeated AC Milan after a deciding playoff to retain the Intercontinental Cup.
1964
Santos National and State Dominance
Pelé's striking helped Santos remain the benchmark of Brazilian club football through further domestic titles.
1965
Santos Fifth Consecutive Taça Brasil
Pelé contributed to Santos winning a fifth straight Taça Brasil national championship during an era of extraordinary club success.
1966 July 12th
World Cup Goal Against Bulgaria
Pelé scored from a free kick in Brazil's opening World Cup match against Bulgaria, a victory that proved insufficient for knockout qualification.
1966 July 19th
Portugal World Cup Injury and Exit
Portugal's physical marking left Pelé struggling with injuries as Brazil lost 3-1 and exited the tournament in the group stage.
1967
Santos Begin Another Paulista Crown
Pelé remained the central figure in a Santos attack that returned to the top of São Paulo's state championship.
1968
Santos Win National Robertão Competition
Pelé helped Santos win the Roberto Gomes Pedrosa tournament, a national championship contested by leading Brazilian clubs.
1969
Santos African Tour and Public Reception
Pelé's appearances on Santos tours drew enormous crowds and international attention far beyond Brazil's domestic competitions.
1969 November 19th
Thousandth Goal Penalty at Maracanã
Pelé scored a penalty against Vasco da Gama that he and contemporary recordkeepers counted as the thousandth goal of his career.
1970
International Caps
Leads Brazil's attack in the 1970 World Cup final and scores the opening goal against Italy during his third championship campaign.
1970 June 7th
Headed Chance Saved by Gordon Banks
Pelé directed a firm header toward goal against England, but Gordon Banks produced an exceptional save to preserve a temporary clean sheet.
1970 June 17th
Dummied Uruguay Goalkeeper Mazurkiewicz
Pelé ran around the Uruguay goalkeeper without touching Tostão's pass, but his shot went narrowly wide in the World Cup semi-final.
1970 June 21st
1970 Final Opening Goal
Heads Brazil into the lead against Italy in the World Cup final.
1970 June 21st
Third World Cup Winners Medal
Pelé became the first male player to be part of three World Cup-winning squads after Brazil defeated Italy 4-1 in the final.
1970 June 21st
World Cup Final Assist for Carlos Alberto
Pelé laid the ball into the path of Carlos Alberto, who drove in Brazil's fourth goal against Italy in one of the tournament's most famous moves.
1970 June 21st
World Cup Winner
Pelé rises to head Brazil in front against Italy in the 1970 final and later helps orchestrate the team's celebrated attacking football.
1971 July 18th
Final Brazil International Against Yugoslavia
Pelé made his final senior appearance for Brazil in a friendly against Yugoslavia before a large Maracanã crowd.
1972
Santos International Exhibition Tour
Pelé continued touring with Santos, bringing the team's attacking football to international audiences through high-profile friendlies.
1972 February
Friendly against Santos
Pele plays at Villa Park as Aston Villa defeats Santos in a prestigious friendly.
1973
Santos Paulista Title Shared
Pelé celebrated another São Paulo state championship with Santos after a controversial penalty shootout against Portuguesa.
1974
First Retirement From Santos
Pelé stepped away from regular competitive football with Santos after nearly two decades as the club's defining player.
1975
New York Cosmos Signing
Pelé joined the New York Cosmos, transforming international attention toward the North American Soccer League.
1975 June 15th
Cosmos Debut Against Dallas Tornado
Pelé made his Cosmos debut in a widely watched match against Dallas Tornado and scored to mark the beginning of his American career.
1976
Second Cosmos Season Raises NASL Profile
Pelé's presence helped the Cosmos draw bigger crowds and expand the visibility of association football across the United States.
1977 August 28th
Soccer Bowl Championship With Cosmos
Pelé helped the Cosmos defeat Seattle Sounders in Soccer Bowl 1977 to win the North American Soccer League title.
1977 October 1st
Cosmos and Santos Farewell Exhibition
Pelé played one half for the Cosmos and one for Santos in an emotional farewell match marking the end of his playing career.
1994
World Cup Ambassador Role
Pelé appeared as a prominent international ambassador while the United States hosted the World Cup, helping promote football to new audiences.
1995
Brazilian Sports Minister Appointment
Pelé took a government role as Brazil's sports minister and advocated changes in the regulation of professional football.
1998
Pelé Law Sports Governance Debate
Legislation popularly associated with Pelé altered aspects of players' contractual freedom and administration in Brazilian football.
2000
FIFA Century Player Honour
Pelé shared FIFA's Player of the Century recognition with Diego Maradona following competing awards and voting processes.
2014
World Cup Return to Brazil
Pelé attended promotional activities around the first World Cup hosted in Brazil since 1950, connecting the event to his playing legacy.
2022 December 29th
Death of Three Time World Champion
Pelé died aged eighty-two, prompting tributes around the world to a player renowned for three World Cup victories.