Pelé: A Biography

by Lew Freedman

Overview

How did a young boy born into poverty become not only an international soccer star but a celebrity who visited and dined with kings and presidents? Where did the passion that fueled his success originate? This book examines the life of Pelé to find the answers.

Pelé is not simply an extraordinarily talented athlete who achieved incredible success on the soccer field; his performances inspired millions of soccer fans as well as individuals outside the sport around the world. During the peak of his career, Pelé was arguably the most famous person in the world—at a time when there was no Internet or social media to help build sweeping international awareness of a pop star.

This work is the most up-to-date examination of Pelé's life, covering his personal history from childhood, his star-studded career as a multi-time World Cup champion playing for Brazil, his experiences in the United States playing for the New York Cosmos, as well as Pelé's more recent, current, and future activities as ambassador for Brazil when it hosts the World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016. All readers—ranging from the completely uninitiated who do not even recognize Pelé's name, to die-hard soccer fans and players—will gain a full appreciation of the greatest soccer player of all time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440829802
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	01/16/2014
Series:	Greenwood Biographies
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Lew Freedman is a veteran jourbanalist who has authored 60 books—primarily about sports and Alaska—and won more than 250 jourbanalism awards.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword vii

Introduction ix

Timeline: Events in the Life of Pelé xiii

Chapter 1 Early Life 1

Chapter 2 Early Fame 15

Chapter 3 The Biggest Star in Brazil 33

Chapter 4 World Cup 1962 45

Chapter 5 Marriage, Problems, and Super Fame 55

Chapter 6 World Cup 1966 65

Chapter 7 More Than a Soccer Player 77

Chapter 8 1,000 Goals 89

Chapter 9 World Cup 1970 101

Chapter 10 Easing into Retirement 115

Chapter 11 Gentleman Businessman 129

Chapter 12 New York, New York 141

Chapter 13 Cosmos II, Retirement II 155

Chapter 14 The Rest of the Story 165

Appendices: Pelé Quick Facts, Professional History, Notable Goals, and Individual Worldwide Honors 175

Bibliography 179

Index 181