History of Pelé in Timeline

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

1922: Birth of Celeste Arantes

In 1922, Celeste Arantes, Pelé's mother, was born.

October 1940: Pelé's Birth

In October 1940, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, was born in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil, the son of footballer Dondinho and Celeste Arantes.

1950: Brazil Faced Uruguay

In the semi-final of the 1970 World Cup, Brazil faced Uruguay for the first time since the 1950 World Cup final round match.

June 1956: Signing with Santos FC

In June 1956, Pelé signed a professional contract with Santos FC after impressing coach Lula during a trial.

September 1956: Senior Team Debut

On September 7, 1956, at the age of 15, Pelé made his senior team debut for Santos against Corinthians de Santo André, scoring his first goal in a 7–1 victory.

1956: Beginning of Ballon d'Or award in 1956

The Ballon d'Or award started in 1956.

July 1957: First International Match and Goal for Brazil

On July 7, 1957, Pelé played his first international match for Brazil against Argentina, which resulted in a 2–1 defeat. In this match, he scored his first goal for Brazil at the age of 16 years and eight months.

1957: Starting Place in First Team

In 1957, Pelé was given a starting place in the first team of Santos and, at the age of 16, became the top scorer in the league.

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: European Clubs' Interest

After the 1958 World Cup, wealthy European clubs tried to sign Pelé, but Santos declined to let him leave. Inter Milan even managed to get him a regular contract, but Angelo Moratti was forced to tear the contract up at the request of Santos's chairman.

1958: Pelé's Emergence coincided with the spread of television in 1958

David Goldblatt wrote that Pelé's emergence at the World Cup in 1958 coincided with "the explosive spread of television, which massively amplified his presence everywhere".

1958: Wore Number 10 Jersey

During the 1958 World Cup, Pelé began wearing the number 10 jersey, which was assigned to him by FIFA due to disorganization within the Brazilian Federation.

1958: Emergence at the 1958 World Cup

Following his emergence at the 1958 World Cup he was nicknamed O Rei ("The King").

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.

1958: Just Fontaine on Pelé in 1958

Just Fontaine, French striker and the leading scorer at the 1958 World Cup said "When I saw Pelé play, it made me feel I should hang up my boots."

August 1959: Most Memorable Goal

On August 2, 1959, Pelé scored what he considered his most memorable goal at the Estádio Rua Javari in a Campeonato Paulista match against Clube Atlético Juventus.

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.

March 1961: Gol de Placa

In March 1961, Pelé scored the gol de placa against Fluminense at the Maracanã, leading to a plaque being commissioned in dedication to "the most beautiful goal in the history of the Maracanã".

1961: National Treasure Declaration

In 1961, the government of Brazil declared Pelé an "official national treasure" to prevent him from being transferred out of the country.

1962: European Clubs' Interest

After the 1962 World Cup, wealthy European clubs tried to sign Pelé in vain.

1962: Played in the 1962 World Cup

In 1962, Pelé was considered the best player in the world. In the first match of the 1962 World Cup in Chile, against Mexico, Pelé assisted the first goal and then scored the second one. He got injured in the next game and had to sit out the rest of the tournament. In 2007, he retroactively received a winner's medal.

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.

1962: 1962 final

In 1962, Santos reached the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores, meeting Peñarol in a rematch of the 1962 final.

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: Birth of Sandra Machado in 1964

In 1964, Sandra Machado was born from an affair Pelé had with a housemaid, Anizia Machado.

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.

1965: Copa Libertadores Semi-Finals

In 1965, Santos reached the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores, meeting Peñarol in a rematch of the 1962 final. Peñarol eliminated Santos 2–1 after a playoff, although Pelé finished as the top scorer of the tournament with eight goals.

1966: Bobby Moore on Pelé in 1966

England's 1966 FIFA World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore commented: "Pelé was the most complete player I've ever seen, he had everything. Two good feet. Magic in the air. Quick. Powerful. Could beat people with skill. Could outrun people. Only five feet and eight inches tall, yet he seemed a giant of an athlete on the pitch. Perfect balance and impossible vision. He was the greatest because he could do anything and everything on a football pitch.

1966: Pelé married Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi in 1966

In 1966, Pelé married Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi.

1966: Played in 1966 World Cup

In 1966, Pelé played in the World Cup in England. Brazil was eliminated in the first round. Pelé was injured by brutal fouls during the matches.

1966: Losing the Taça Brasil

In 1966, Santos failed to retain the Taça Brasil as Pelé's goals were not enough to prevent a defeat by Cruzeiro in the final series.

1966: Changes to the 1966 squad

In 1966, major changes were made to Brazil's squad for the tournament, due to the retirement of players like Garrincha, Nilton Santos, Valdir Pereira, Djalma Santos, and Gilmar.

January 1967: Birth of Kely Cristina in January 1967

Pelé and Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi had their first daughter, Kely Cristina, born on January 13, 1967.

1967: Campeonato Paulista Win

In 1967, Santos won the Campeonato Paulista.

1968: Campeonato Paulista Win

In 1968, Santos won the Campeonato Paulista.

November 1969: 1,000th Goal

On November 19, 1969, Pelé scored his 1,000th goal in all competitions in a match against Vasco da Gama at the Maracanã Stadium from a penalty kick.

1969: Starred in telenovela "Os Estranhos"

In 1969, Pelé starred in a telenovela called "Os Estranhos", about first contact with aliens, created to drum up interest in the Apollo missions.

Loading Video...

1969: 48-hour Ceasefire during Nigerian Civil War (alleged)

In 1969, it was claimed that the two factions involved in the Nigerian Civil War agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire so they could watch Pelé play an exhibition game in Lagos. Santos played to a 2–2 draw with Lagos side Stationary Stores FC, and Pelé scored his team's goals. Whether or not a ceasefire actually occurred is still debated.

1969: Played World Cup Qualifying Matches

In early 1969, Pelé was called to the national team and played in six World Cup qualifying matches, scoring six goals.

August 1970: Birth of Edson in August 1970

On August 27, 1970, Pelé and Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi had one son, Edson ("Edinho").

1970: 1970 World Cup-winning captain

Brazil's 1970 World Cup-winning captain Carlos Alberto Torres said about Pelé: "His great secret was improvisation. Those things he did were in one moment. He had an extraordinary perception of the game."

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: Paddy Crerand about Pelé during the 1970 World Cup

During the 1970 World Cup, when Manchester United defender Paddy Crerand (who was part of the ITV panel) was asked, "How do you spell Pelé?", he replied, "Easy: G-O-D."

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: Played in the 1970 World Cup

In 1970, Pelé played in what was expected to be his last World Cup in Mexico, as part of a squad considered one of the greatest football teams in history.

1970: World Cup performance

In 1970, Pelé scored four goals and had seven assists in the World Cup appearances

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.

1970: The "Pelé Pact" in 1970

In the lead up to the 1970 World Cup, Adidas and Puma established the "Pelé Pact", where both German sportswear companies, owned by the rival Dassler brothers, agreed not to sign a deal with Pelé, feeling that a bidding war would become too expensive.

1970: Encountered extraordinary save by England Goalkeeper

In their 1970 World Cup match against England, Pelé encountered an extraordinary save by England goalkeeper Gordon Banks.

July 1971: Last International Match

On July 18, 1971, Pelé played his last international match against Yugoslavia in Rio de Janeiro. With Pelé on the field, the Brazilian team's record was 67 wins, 14 draws, and 11 losses.

December 1973: Played Farewell Game for Garrincha

On December 19, 1973, Pelé played for a Brazil XI side against the Rest of The World in a farewell game for Garrincha, scoring the equalizer in an eventual 2–1 win.

1973: Met Zubaida Tharwat in Kuwait

In 1973, Pelé met Egyptian movie star Zubaida Tharwat by chance in Kuwait where she was attending a cinematic event. They took photos together, and he admired her beauty. She recounted that Pelé presented her with a collar of roses upon her arrival at the hotel.

1973: Exhibition Game in Egypt

In 1973, Pelé traveled to Egypt and played with Santos against Al Ahly. This trip was days after his team's trip to Kuwait to play a match against Qadsia.

1974: Beckenbauer about Pelé in 1974

According to Franz Beckenbauer, West Germany's 1974 World Cup-winning captain: "Pelé is the greatest player of all time. He reigned supreme for 20 years. There's no one to compare with him."

1974: Retired from Brazilian Club Football

After his 19th season with Santos in 1974, Pelé retired from Brazilian club football, but continued to play occasionally in official matches.

June 1975: Debut for the Cosmos

In June 1975, Pelé debuted for the Cosmos against the Dallas Tornado at Downing Stadium, scoring one goal in a 2–2 draw. This move encouraged other stars to play in North America.

1975: Ebony Magazine Report on Ceasefire

In 1975, Ebony magazine published an early account of the alleged 48-hour ceasefire in Nigeria during Pelé's visit in 1969.

1975: Signed with New York Cosmos

In 1975, Pelé came out of semi-retirement to sign with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League (NASL). The Cosmos introduced Pelé at a press conference, increasing public awareness and interest of the sport in the US.

1975: Played Friendly Game in Lebanon

In 1975, one week before the Lebanese Civil War, Pelé played a friendly game for the Lebanese club Nejmeh against a team of Lebanese Premier League stars, scoring two goals which were not included in his official tally.

1976: Trapped during Nigerian coup attempt

In 1976, while on a Pepsi-sponsored trip in Lagos, Nigeria, Pelé was trapped in a hotel with Arthur Ashe and other tennis pros due to a military coup attempt. He eventually left the hotel to stay at Brazil's ambassador's residence and later left the country disguised as a pilot.

June 1977: Attracted Record NASL Fans

In June 1977, The Cosmos attracted an NASL record 62,394 fans to Giants Stadium for a 3–0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies, with a 37-year-old Pelé scoring a hat-trick.

August 1977: Finished Playing Career

On August 28, 1977, Pelé finished his official playing career, leading the New York Cosmos to their second Soccer Bowl title with a 2–1 win over the Seattle Sounders at the Civic Stadium in Portland, Oregon.

October 1977: Closed Out Career in Exhibition Match

On October 1, 1977, Pelé concluded his career in an exhibition game between the Cosmos and Santos at Giants Stadium. Pelé played the first half with the Cosmos and the second with Santos, scoring his final career goal for the Cosmos with a free-kick, the Cosmos winning 2-1.

1977: Pelé's retirement in 1977

After his retirement in 1977 Pelé played eight exhibition games and scored three goals.

1977: Right kidney removed in 1977

In 1977, Brazilian media reported that Pelé had his right kidney removed.

1977: Composed musical pieces for "Pelé" film

In 1977, Pelé composed musical pieces, including Sérgio Mendes' soundtrack for the film "Pelé" directed by François Reichenbach.

Loading Video...

1977: Retirement

In 1977, Pelé retired from professional football and became a worldwide ambassador for the sport.

1978: Zico on Pelé in 1978

Brazilian attacking midfielder Zico, who represented Brazil at the 1978 FIFA World Cup, stated: "This debate about the player of the century is absurd. There's only one possible answer: Pelé. He's the greatest player of all time, and by some distance I might add".

1978: FIFA regulations changed

In 1978 FIFA regulations were changed to include the entire squad for a medal, before this only players who appeared in the final were eligible.

1981: Pelé and Xuxa dating since 1981

From 1981, Pelé was romantically linked with TV presenter Xuxa. She was 17 when they started dating.

1981: Starred in "Escape to Victory"

In 1981, Pelé starred in the film "Escape to Victory", about a World War II-era football match between Allied prisoners of war and a German team, alongside other footballers and actors Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone.

Loading Video...

1982: Zico on Pelé in 1982

Brazilian attacking midfielder Zico, who represented Brazil at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, stated: "This debate about the player of the century is absurd. There's only one possible answer: Pelé. He's the greatest player of all time, and by some distance I might add".

1982: Divorced from Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi in 1982

Pelé and Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi divorced in 1982.

July 1983: Played Friendly Match in Goiânia

On July 21, 1983, the 42-year-old Pelé played for another Brazil XI side against a South Brazil team in Goiânia in a friendly match organized by Zico to benefit the victims of a flood in Santa Catarina; he scored a free-kick in a 1–2 loss.

1986: Zico on Pelé in 1986

Brazilian attacking midfielder Zico, who represented Brazil at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, stated: "This debate about the player of the century is absurd. There's only one possible answer: Pelé. He's the greatest player of all time, and by some distance I might add".

1986: Pelé and Xuxa relationship ended in 1986

Pelé and Xuxa relationship ended in 1986.

1992: Appointed UN ambassador for ecology and the environment

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

1993: Accusation of corruption against Ricardo Teixeira

In 1993, Pelé publicly accused the Brazilian football administrator Ricardo Teixeira of corruption after Pelé's television company was rejected in a contest for the Brazilian domestic rights to the 1994 World Cup, leading to an eight-year feud.

April 1994: Pelé married Assíria Lemos Seixas in April 1994

In April 1994, Pelé married psychologist and gospel singer Assíria Lemos Seixas.

1994: Pelé banned from 1994 FIFA World Cup draw

As a consequence of his accusations against Ricardo Teixeira, Pelé was banned from the draw for the 1994 FIFA World Cup in Las Vegas by FIFA president João Havelange, Teixeira's father-in-law.

1994: Pelé appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador

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

1994: Romário on Pelé in 1994

Prolific Brazilian striker Romário, winner of the 1994 FIFA World Cup and player of the tournament, remarked: "It's only inevitable I look up to Pelé. He's like a God to us".

January 1995: Minister of Sports in January 1995

In January 1995, Pelé was appointed by Fernando Cardoso as minister of sports.

1995: Changing the rules in 1995

1995: Appointed as extraordinary minister for sport

In 1995, Pelé was appointed by Brazilian president Fernando Henrique Cardoso to the position of extraordinary minister for sport, during which he proposed the "Pelé law" to reduce corruption in Brazilian football.

1995: Awarded Brazil's gold medal

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

September 1996: Birth of Joshua and Celeste in September 1996

On September 28, 1996, Pelé and Assíria Lemos Seixas gave birth to twins Joshua and Celeste through fertility treatments.

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.

April 1998: Resigned from the post in April 1998

Pelé resigned from his post as minister of sports on 30 April 1998.

1998: Cardoso eliminated the post of sports minister

In 1998, Brazilian president Fernando Henrique Cardoso eliminated the post of sports minister, ending Pelé's tenure in that role.

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.

2001: Cameo role in "Mike Bassett: England Manager"

In 2001, Pelé had a cameo role in the football satire film "Mike Bassett: England Manager".

Loading Video...

2001: Accusations of involvement in UNICEF corruption scandal

In 2001, Pelé was accused of involvement in a corruption scandal that allegedly stole $700,000 from UNICEF. However, the accusations were denied by UNICEF, and nothing was proven.

2002: Scouted for Premier League club Fulham

In 2002, Pelé scouted for Premier League club Fulham.

2006: World Economic Forum Appearance

In 2006, Pelé appeared at the World Economic Forum in Davos, speaking on the role of sports in development.

2006: Declined participation in "Once in a Lifetime" documentary

In 2006, Pelé declined to participate in the ESPN documentary film "Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos" when the producers refused to pay his requested $100,000 fee.

Loading Video...

2006: Pelé helps inaugurate the FIFA World Cup

In 2006, Pelé helped inaugurate the FIFA World Cup alongside supermodel Claudia Schiffer.

2006: Autobiography Release

In 2006, Pelé's autobiography was released, in which he stated that he had no idea what his nickname meant, nor did his old friends, and the word has no meaning in Portuguese.

2006: Death of Sandra Machado in 2006

Sandra Machado, Pelé's daughter, died of cancer in 2006.

November 2007: Marks 150th anniversary of Sheffield F.C.

In November 2007, Pelé was in Sheffield, England, to mark the 150th anniversary of Sheffield F.C., the world's oldest football club. He was the guest of honour and opened an exhibition including the first public showing in 40 years of the original hand-written rules of football.

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.

2008: Divorced from Assíria Lemos Seixas in 2008

Pelé and Assíria Lemos Seixas divorced in 2008.

2008: Pelé and Marcia Aoki meet again in 2008

Pelé and Marcia Aoki met again in 2008 after their first meeting in the mid-1980s in New York.

July 2009: Spearheaded Rio 2016 presentation

In July 2009, Pelé spearheaded the Rio 2016 presentation to the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa General Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria.

August 2010: Honorary president of revived New York Cosmos

On 1 August 2010, Pelé was introduced as the honorary president of a revived New York Cosmos, aiming to field a team in Major League Soccer.

2010: Honorary President of New York Cosmos

In 2010, Pelé was named the honorary president of the New York Cosmos.

2010: Pelé and Marcia Aoki dating since 2010

Pelé had been dating Marcia Aoki, a Japanese-Brazilian importer of medical equipment, since 2010.

August 2011: Rumors of cameo role for Santos in FIFA Club World Cup

In August 2011, ESPN reported that Santos was considering bringing Pelé out of retirement for a cameo role in the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup, although this proved false.

August 2012: Attendance at 2012 Olympic hunger summit and closing ceremony

In August 2012, Pelé attended the 2012 Olympic hunger summit hosted by British prime minister David Cameron and appeared at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

November 2012: Hip operation in November 2012

In November 2012, Pelé underwent a successful hip operation.

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.

2013: Support the Brazil national team in 2013

During the 2013 protests in Brazil, Pelé asked for people to put aside the demonstrations and support the Brazil national team.

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.

May 2014: Edinho sentenced to jail in May 2014

In May 2014, Pelé's son, Edinho, was sentenced to 33 years in jail for laundering money from drug trafficking.

2014: Pelé museum opening in 2014

In 2014, the city of Santos inaugurated the Pelé museum – Museu Pelé – which displays a 2,400 piece collection of Pelé memorabilia. Approximately $22 million was invested in the construction of the museum, housed in a 19th-century mansion.

October 2015: Samsung Ad includes someone who resembles Pelé

In October 2015, Samsung ad included a partial face shot of a man who allegedly "very closely resembles" Pelé and also a superimposed high-definition television screen next to the image of the man featuring a "modified bicycle or scissors-kick", often used by Pelé.

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).

March 2016: Lawsuit against Samsung Electronics

In March 2016, Pelé filed a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics seeking US$30 million in damages for false endorsement and violation of his right of publicity. The case was later settled out-of-court.

July 2016: Pelé married Marcia Aoki in July 2016

Pelé married Marcia Aoki, a Japanese-Brazilian importer of medical equipment, in July 2016.

2016: Rio de Janeiro hosted the Summer Olympics

In 2016, Pelé assisted the Rio de Janeiro bid for the Summer Olympics.

2016: Auctioned collection for charity

In 2016, Pelé auctioned more than 1600 items from his collection and raised £3.6 million for charity.

December 2017: Appeared in a wheelchair in December 2017

In December 2017, Pelé appeared in a wheelchair at the 2018 World Cup draw in Moscow where he was pictured with President Vladimir Putin and Argentine footballer Diego Maradona.

2018: Founded the Pelé Foundation

In 2018, Pelé founded his charitable organization, the Pelé Foundation, to empower impoverished and disenfranchised children.

2018: Appeared in 2018 World Cup

In December 2017, Pelé appeared in a wheelchair at the 2018 World Cup draw in Moscow where he was pictured with President Vladimir Putin and Argentine footballer Diego Maradona.

2019: Surgery to remove kidney stones in 2019

In 2019, after a hospitalisation because of a urinary tract infection, Pelé underwent surgery to remove kidney stones.

2019: Pele's mother in vegetative state

Pelé's mother, Dona Celeste, was in a vegetative state since 2019, and was thus unaware of his death; she would later die in June 2024.

February 2020: Reported unable to walk independently in February 2020

In February 2020, Pelé's son Edinho reported that Pelé was unable to walk independently and reluctant to leave home, ascribing his condition to a lack of rehabilitation following his hip operation.

December 2020: Messi surpasses Pelé's record

In December 2020, Lionel Messi of Barcelona surpassed Pelé's record of 643 goals for a single club.

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.

2021: Diagnosis of colon cancer

In 2021, Pelé was diagnosed with colon cancer, underwent surgery, and was treated with chemotherapy.

June 2022: Public plea to Vladimir Putin in June 2022

On June 1, 2022, Pelé published an open letter to the President of Russia Vladimir Putin on his Instagram account, in which he made a public plea to stop the "evil" and "unjustified" Russian invasion of Ukraine.

November 2022: Pelé hospitalized with swelling and cardiac issues

In November 2022, Pelé was hospitalized with "general swelling" and cardiac issues, amid concerns that his chemotherapy treatment was not effective. His daughter stated that there was "no emergency".

December 2022: Health Update and Death

In December 2022, Pelé's tumour had advanced, requiring greater care for renal and cardiac dysfunctions. He died on December 29, 2022, at 82, due to multiple organ failure caused by colon cancer complications.

December 2022: Pelé's Death

In December 2022, Pelé, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, passed away.

December 2022: Pelé becomes unresponsive to chemotherapy, receives palliative care

In December 2022, it was reported that Pelé had become unresponsive to chemotherapy and was receiving palliative care.

2022: Puma paid Pelé $2.85 million in 2022

In 1970, Puma broke the "Pelé Pact" by signing Pelé, and in addition to paying him a percentage of Puma King boot sales, gave him $120,000 ($2.85 million in 2022) to tie his laces prior to Brazil's quarter-final against Peru to advertise their boots.

January 2023: Pelé's funeral in Santos

In January 2023, Pelé's funeral took place at Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, with his body displayed in an open coffin. Thousands of fans attended, and the procession was widely covered by Brazilian television.

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.

September 2023: Neymar surpassed Pelé's record

In September 2023, Neymar surpassed Pelé's record as the national team's top goalscorer, after holding the record for over fifty years.

June 2024: Death of Pele's mother

Pelé's mother, Dona Celeste, who had been in a vegetative state since 2019, died in June 2024.

2024: Death of Celeste Arantes

In 2024, Celeste Arantes, Pelé's mother, passed away.

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.