Pelé Age, Death, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Pele

• Did Pele smoke?: No

• Pele did not consume alcohol.

• Dondinho and Dona Celeste Arantes had a son who was born into a family of soccer players, as his father also played the sport.

• features him holding a soccer ball.

• During his childhood, he had to work as a servant in a tea stall due to their extreme poverty.

• acquired the nickname “Dico”, however, his friends began referring to him as Pele due to his admiration for Vasco da Gama’s goalkeeper, Bile, whom he mistakenly pronounced as “Pele”.

• His father taught him the basics of soccer, and during his youth, he played for numerous amateur teams. Unable to afford a football, he improvised by stuffing newspapers into socks and playing with them instead.

• During his childhood, Pele played football and joined the Bauru Athletic Club juniors, where he successfully guided his team to secure three consecutive titles from 1954 to 1956.

• In an interview, he expressed how the indoor tournaments of his childhood had elevated his game to a whole new level. These tournaments instilled in him the ability to make rapid decisions due to the confined pitches and higher player density.

• In 1956, de Brito, a renowned football star, was greatly impressed by his talents and subsequently brought him to Santos. This marked the beginning of his professional football journey. By 1957, he had become a regular starter for the team.

• In 1957, he achieved the status of being the leading scorer in the league. His unwavering performances resulted in his inclusion in Brazil’s team, and he made his debut for Brazil in July 1957 when they faced off against Argentina.

• Pele achieved an unprecedented milestone in 1958 by netting 58 goals for Santos in the prestigious Campeonato Paulista, a record that remains unmatched till now. After a successful season in the league, Pele felt a sense of fulfillment and contentment with his remarkable performance.

• In the 1958 World Cup, he managed to score 6 goals across 4 matches, ultimately leading his team to victory and claiming the World Cup title.

• He had his campaign in the 1962 World Cup cut short due to an injury, causing him to miss the majority of the tournament.

• Anizia Machado, a housemaid, had an affair with him in 1964, resulting in the birth of Sandra Machado. Sandra spent years striving to be recognized by Pele as his daughter, but he consistently declined to provide DNA evidence. However, in 1993, the court acknowledged her as his biological daughter based on DNA evidence. Despite this legal recognition, Pele never acknowledged her as his daughter, even after her passing in 2006.

• Pelé and Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi exchanged vows and entered into matrimony on February 21, 1966, leading to the birth of their two daughters and a son.

• The 1966 World Cup was deemed a major disappointment due to Pele’s injury and Brazil’s early elimination in the first round. Pele suffered an injury during the tournament.

• He engaged in another extramarital relationship with journalist Lenita Kurtz in 1968, resulting in the birth of their daughter, Flávia.

• In 1969, at the Maracana Stadium, he achieved the remarkable feat of scoring his 1000th goal against Vasco da Gama, courtesy of a penalty kick.

• He participated in his final World Cup during the 1970 event, where Brazil emerged victorious and he received the prestigious title of ‘Player of the Tournament’.

• On July 18, 1971, in Rio de Janeiro, he bid farewell to his international career by playing against Yugoslavia.

• Pele played for Santos until his 19th season in 1974, which marked his final season before retiring.

• He joined New York Cosmos in 1976, ending his semi-retirement.

• On October 1, 1977, in his final game, which was an exhibition match between Cosmos and Santos, he showcased his versatility by playing for both teams. During the first half, he represented Cosmos, and in the second half, he switched sides to play for Santos. Notably, he managed to score a goal from a direct free kick during the first half, marking it as his last goal.

• Pele and his wife, Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi, divorced in 1982. Following the separation, Pele entered into a romantic relationship with TV presenter Xuxa, who was only 17 years old at the time.

• He assumed the role of a UN ambassador for ecology and the environment in 1992.

• He entered into matrimony with psychologist and gospel singer Assíria Lemos Seixas in April 1994, and they were blessed with twins. However, their marriage unfortunately came to an end in 2008 when they divorced.

• He became the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 1995.

• From 1995 to 1998, he served as Brazil’s Minister of Sport.

• At a ceremony held in Buckingham Palace in 1997, he was bestowed with an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II.

• In 1999, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) bestowed upon him the title of “Athlete of the Century” through a vote.

• Pele’s spouse is Marcia Aoki, a Japanese-Brazilian importer of medical equipment from Penápolis, São Paulo. They got married in July 2016.

• He holds the record for the highest number of goals ever scored in this game, with a remarkable total of 1281 goals achieved in 1363 games. Additionally, he achieved an impressive 92 hat-tricks and scored four goals on 31 occasions. On six separate occasions, he managed to score five goals in a single game, and once he even achieved the extraordinary feat of scoring eight goals in a single match.