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Pele, the world soccer legend who promoted the sport internationally, died on Thursday at the age of 82. And now, people all over the world are looking forward to learning more about the life of the beloved athlete through his autobiography, which posthumously catapulted to the top of bestseller lists.
In Why Football Matters: A Look Back at More Than Sixty Years of International Soccer, published in 2015, Pele traces his rise to stardom on the field – from the poverty-stricken streets of São Paulo to winning the World Cup three times. It also touches on his work in the struggle for human rights, particularly helping poor children in Brazil, which earned him an appointment as UN Ambassador and an Honorary Medal from the British Kingdom.
Throughout his decorated career, which he began in earnest at the age of 15, Pele has broken a number of records. He notched 1,279 goals in 1,363 games in his career which is a Guinness World Record. He is the only player in the world to have won the World Cup three times; And during his playing days, he was considered the highest paid athlete in the world.
After winning the World Cup in 1958, Pelé was nicknamed the King (“O Rei”) and was widely considered the best player in the sport. The informal distinction stuck throughout his career, until he retired in 1977 and continued to serve as the sport’s global ambassador until his death.
To learn more about Pele’s inspiring life, on and off the field, order his bestselling bio below:
Why is football important?
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