Pelé's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Pelé.

Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, was a Brazilian professional footballer celebrated as one of the greatest of all time. As a forward, he achieved remarkable success and popularity, becoming a global icon in the 20th century. He holds a Guinness World Record for scoring 1,279 goals in 1,363 games. Pelé was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999 and included in Time's list of the 100 most important people of the 20th century. In 2000, he was voted World Player of the Century by IFFHS and was a joint winner of the FIFA Player of the Century award.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

June 1958: Played in the World Cup Final

On June 29, 1958, Pelé became the youngest player to play in a World Cup final match, at 17 years old, scoring two goals as Brazil beat Sweden 5–2. His first goal in the final was later selected as one of the best goals in the history of the World Cup.

1958: Participated in FIFA World Cup

In 1958, Pelé participated in the FIFA World Cup where he gave the assist to Vavá's second goal against the USSR. He scored his first World Cup goal against Wales, becoming the youngest ever World Cup goalscorer. He also scored a hat-trick against France in the semi-final, becoming the youngest player in World Cup history to do so.

1958: First FIFA World Cup Win

In 1958, Pelé won his first FIFA World Cup with the Brazil national team. He was also nicknamed O Rei (The King) following the 1958 tournament.

1958: Campeonato Paulista Win

In 1958, Pelé won his first major title with Santos, the Campeonato Paulista, finishing as the top scorer with 58 goals.

1959: Played in South American Championship

In 1959, Pelé played in the South American Championship, where he was named the best player of the tournament and became the top scorer with eight goals. Brazil finished second despite being unbeaten.

1960: Regaining Campeonato Paulista Trophy

In 1960, Pelé scored 33 goals to help Santos regain the Campeonato Paulista trophy and the club also won the Taça Brasil.

1962: Second FIFA World Cup Win

In 1962, Pelé won his second FIFA World Cup with Brazil, though he only played two matches during the 1962 edition.

1962: Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup Wins

In 1962, Santos had a successful Copa Libertadores season, defeating Peñarol in the finals with Pelé scoring twice. Santos would also win the 1962 Intercontinental Cup against Benfica, with Pelé scoring a hat-trick in Lisbon.

1963: Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup Wins

In 1963, Pelé led Santos to win the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup.

1963: Retaining Copa Libertadores Title

In 1963, Santos retained the Copa Libertadores title after victories over Botafogo and Boca Juniors, with Pelé scoring key goals. Santos also won the Rio-São Paulo tournament and retained the Intercontinental Cup and the Taça Brasil.

1964: Campeonato Paulista and Taça Brasil Wins

In 1964, Santos won the Campeonato Paulista, with Pelé netting 34 goals. Santos also shared the Rio-São Paulo title with Botafogo and won the Taça Brasil for the fourth consecutive year.

December 1965: Taça Brasil Win

In December 1965, Santos won the Taça Brasil, their fifth straight Brazilian league title, with Pelé scoring the last goal in the final series.

1967: Campeonato Paulista Win

In 1967, Santos won the Campeonato Paulista.

1968: Campeonato Paulista Win

In 1968, Santos won the Campeonato Paulista.

1970: Embracing Bobby Moore at the 1970 World Cup

During the 1970 World Cup, Pelé's embrace of Bobby Moore after the Brazil vs. England game exemplified sportsmanship, capturing the mutual respect between the two players, as noted by The New York Times. The image showed no gloating from Pelé or despair from Moore.

1970: Played in the Final at the Azteca Stadium

In 1970, Pelé played in the final against Italy at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. He scored the opening goal and assisted on two others, contributing to Brazil's 4–1 victory and earning the Golden Ball award.

1970: Third FIFA World Cup Win

In 1970, Pelé won his third FIFA World Cup with Brazil, becoming the only player to achieve this feat.

1992: Appointed UN ambassador for ecology and the environment

In 1992, Pelé was appointed a UN ambassador for ecology and the environment.

1994: Pelé appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador

In 1994, Pelé was appointed as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

1995: Awarded Brazil's gold medal

In 1995, Pelé was awarded Brazil's gold medal for outstanding services to the sport.

1997: Pelé receives honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II

In 1997, Pelé received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace.

1999: Athlete of the Century

In 1999, Pelé was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee.

1999: International Olympic Committee Athlete of the Century in 1999

In 1999, the International Olympic Committee elected Pelé the Athlete of the Century and Time magazine named him one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century.

December 2000: Shared FIFA Player of the Century award with Maradona

In December 2000, Pelé and Maradona shared the prize of FIFA Player of the Century by FIFA due to controversies with the original web poll results.

2000: IFFHS declares Pelé as 'World's Best and successful Top Division Goal Scorer of all time'

In 2000, IFFHS declared Pelé as the "World's Best and successful Top Division Goal Scorer of all time" with 541 goals in 560 games and honoured him with a trophy.

2000: World Player of the Century

In 2000, Pelé was voted World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) and was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the Century, alongside Diego Maradona.

2007: Pelé received winner's medal retroactively

In 2007, Pelé retroactively received his winner's medal for the 1962 World Cup, following a change in FIFA regulations that made the entire squad eligible.

2012: Awarded honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh

In 2012, Pelé was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh for his significant contributions to humanitarian and environmental causes, as well as his sporting achievements.

2012: Named the "greatest" by FIFA in 2012

In 2012, Pelé was named the "greatest" by FIFA solidifying his reputation as one of the most lauded players in football history and frequently ranked as the greatest and most important player ever.

January 2014: FIFA Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur in January 2014

In January 2014, Pelé was awarded the first ever FIFA Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur as an acknowledgment from the world governing body of the sport for his contribution to world football.

2015: Analysis of Ballon d'Or recipients in 2015

After changing the rules in 1995, France Football did an extensive analysis in 2015 of the players who would have won the award if it had been open for them beginning in 1956: the year the Ballon d'Or award started. Their study revealed that Pelé would have received the award a record seven times (Ballon d'or: Le nouveau palmarès).

2020: Named in the Ballon d'Or Dream Team in 2020

In 2020, Pelé was named in the Ballon d'Or Dream Team, a greatest all-time XI.

March 2023: Kigali Pelé Stadium Renamed

In March 2023, the Kigali Pelé Stadium in Rwanda was renamed in honor of Pelé by Rwandan president Paul Kagame and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

April 2023: The nickname pelé became synonymous with 'exceptional, incomparable, unique'

On 26 April 2023, the nickname pelé became synonymous with "exceptional, incomparable, unique" in Michaelis Portuguese-language dictionary after a campaign with 125,000 signatories.

2024: Named the "greatest" by FIFA in 2024

In 2024, Pelé was named the "greatest" by FIFA solidifying his reputation as one of the most lauded players in football history and frequently ranked as the greatest and most important player ever.