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00126_Field_Art-SP6.TXT.txt
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1996-08-21
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Pelé
Edson Arantes do Nascimento,
known as Pelé, is recognized as one
of the greatest soccer players in mod-
ern history. He was born on October
23, 1940 in Tres Coraçoes in Brazil.
As a 7-year old, he earned a living
polishing shoes in between soccer
matches with his street buddies. In
1954, the soccer prodigy joined AC
Bauru, then switched to FC Santos in
1956. In 1957 he signed his first
professional soccer contract and
made his star debut against Sweden
in the World Championship Finals of
1958. Only 17 years old, he scored 6
goals, leading his team to victory and
himself to soccer immortality.
Under Pelé's leadership, FC
Santos became one of the leading
clubs of the 1960's. In 1970 he was
elected world athlete of the year, and
with good reason: it was due to his
leadership and soccer virtuosity that
Brazil was the World Champion in
1958, 1962 and again in 1970. In
1975, Pelé joined the American soccer
club Cosmos in New York. Many had
high hopes that this would elevate
the popularity of soccer in the United
States, but to no avail. Today, soccer
remains the most popular world
sport in all but the U.S. In 1977, Pelé
retired from the sport, and pursued a
career in business and as an am-
bassador at large for world soccer.