EARLY YEARS:
Pelé was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on 23 October 1940 in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, the son of Fluminense footballer Dondinho ( born João Ramos do Nascimento ) and Celeste Arantes ( born November 1922 ). He was the senior of two siblings, with brother Zoca also playing for Santos, although not as successfully. He was named after the American author Thomas Edison. His parents decided to remove the "i" and call him "Edson", but there was a typing mistake on his birth certificate, leading many documents to show his name as "EdisoA" not "Edson", as he was called. He was formerly nicknamed "Dico" by his family.
He earned the nickname "Pelé" during his schools days, when, it is accused, he was given it because of his pronunciation of the name of his favorite player, limited Vasco da Gama goalkeeper Bilé, which he did not pronunce correctly, but the more he complained the more it stuck. In his biography released in 2006, Pelé said he had no idea what the name means, and even his old friends. Apart from the statement that he name is drived from that of "Bilé", the word has no meaning in Portuguese. Pelé grew up in poverty in Bauru in the state of São Paulo. He received extra money by working in tea shops as a servant.
His father taught him how to play, he could not afford a good football and usually played with either a sock filled with newspaper and tied with string. He played for many local teams in his youth, including Sete de Setembro, Canto de Rio, São Poulinho, and Ameriquinha. Pelé led Bauru Atlético Clube Juniors ( managed by Waldemar de Brito ) to two São Paulo state youth Championship. In his teenager stage, he played for a stay-at-home football team called Radium. Stay-at-home football had just become famous in Bauru when Pelé began playing it. He was part of the first Futsal ( stay-at-home ) competition in the region. Pelé and his team won the championship and many others.
According to Pelé, ( stay-at-home football ) presented hard challenges: he stated it was a lot faster than football on the grass, and that players were required to think quick because everyone is close to each other on the pitch. Pelé said Futsal helped him to think tactical on the spot. He also stated that Futsal allowed him to play whit adults when he was about 14 yeras old. In one of the competitions he participated in, he was first considered too young to play, but later went on to end up top scorer with 14 goals. "That gave me a big confidence", Pelé stated, " I knew then not to afraid of whatever might come".
CLUB CAREER: SANTOS
In 1956, de Brito took Pelé to Santos, an industrialized and port city located near São Paulo, telling the club's directors that the 15 years old is going to be one of the greatest football players in the world. He excited Santos coach Lula during his trial at the Estádio Vila Belmiro, and he signed a proficient contract with the club in June 1956. Pelé was highly promoted in the limited media as a future superstar. He made his senior team debut on 7 September 1956 at the age of 15 over Corinthians de Santos André and had an excited performance in a 7-1 win, netting the first goal in his prolific career during the match.
At the time the 1957 season started, Pelé was featured in the starting 11, at the age of 16, became the highest scorer in the league. 10 months after signing professionally, he was called up to the Brazilian national team. After the 1958 and the 1962 world cup. Famous clubs, such as Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United, tried to sign him but failed. In 1958, Inter Milan even tried to get him a daily contract, but Angelo Moratti was forced to tear the contract up at the request of Santos's moderator following a revolt by Santos's Brazilian fans. Valencia CF also arranged an agreement that would have brought Pelé to the club after the 1958 world cup, however after his display at the competition, Santos declined to let the player depart.
In 1961 the government of Brazil under president Jânio Quadros decleared Pelé an "official national treasure" to stop him from being transferred out of the country. Pelé captured his first major title with Santos in 1958 as the team won the Campeonato Paulista; he would finish the competition as the highest scorer, with 58 goals, record that is still unbreakable till today. A year later, he would help the team receive their first win in the Torneio Rio-São Paulo with a 3-0 win against Vasco da Gama. However, Santos was unable to retain the Paulista title. In 1960, Pelé bagged 33 goals to help his team regain the Campeonato Paulista trophy but lost out on the Rio-São Paulo competition after finishing in 8th position.
In the 1960 season, Pelé bagged 47 goals and helped Santos regain the Campeonato Paulista. The club went on to win the Taça Brazil that same year, defeating Bahia in the finals; Pelé finished as the highest scorer of the competition with 9 goals. The win allowed Santos to take part in the Copa Libertadores, the most distinguished club competition in the western hemisphere. Santos most successful Copa Libertadores season began in 1962; the team was put in group one together Cerro Porteño and Deportivo Municipal Bolivia, wining every match of their group but one ( a 1-1 away draw with Cerro ). Santos trashed Universidad Católica in the semi-finals andd met defending champions Peñarol in the finals. Pelé netted twice in the playoff match to secure the first title for a Brazilian club. Pelé finished as the second highest scorer of the competition with 4 goals.
That same year, Santos would successfully defend the Campeonato Paulista ( with 37 goals from Pelé ) and the Taça Brazil ( Pelé netting 4 goals in the final series over Botafogo ). Santos would also win the 1962 Intercontinental Cup over Benfica. Wearing his number 10 jesey, Pelé produced on of the best performances of his career, netting a hat-trick in Lisbon as Santos won 5-2. Pelé said that his most memorable goal was scorer at the Estádio Rua Javari on a Campeonato Paulista match over São Paulo rival Clube Atlético Juventus on 2 August 1959. As there is no video footage of this game, Pelé asked that a computer animation be made of this great goal. In March 1961, Pelé netted the Gol de Placa ( goal worthy of a decoration ), over Fluminense at the Maracanã. Pelé received the ball on the edge of his own penalty side, and ran the length of the field, evading opposition players with body feints, before striking the ball beyond the goalkeeper.
As the defending Champions, Santos qualified automatically to the semi-final stage of the 1963 Copa Libertadores. The balé branco ( white ballet ), the nickname given to Santos during the time, tried to retain the title after victories against Botafogo and Boca Juniors. Pelé help Santos to conquer a Botafogo team that featured Brazilian greats such as Garrincha and Jairzinho with a last-minute goal in the first leg of the semi-finals which made it 1-1. In the second leg, Pelé bagged a hat-trick in the Estádio do Maracanã as Santos won, 0-4, in the second leg. Santos began the final series by defeating, 3-2, in the first leg and winning Boca Juniors 1-2, in La Bombonera. It was an extraordinary feat in official competitions, with another goal from Pelé. Santos became the first Brazilian club to Lift the Copa Libertadores in Argentina soil. Pelé finished the competition with 5 goals.
Santos lost the Campeonato Paulista after finishing in third place but went on to win the Rio-São Paulo competition after 0-3 victory against Flamengo in the final, with Pelé netting 1 goal. Pelé would also help Santos retain the Intercontinental Cup and the Taça Brazil over AC Milan and Bahia separately. In the 1964 Copa Libertadores, Santos was defeated in both legs of the semi-finals by Independiente. The club won the Campeonato Paulista, with Pelé netting 34 goals. Santos also shared the Rio-São Paulo title with Botafogo and won the Taça Brazil for the fourth continuous year. In the 1965 Copa Libertadores, Santos reached the semi-finals and met Peñarol in a match of the 1962 final, after two matches, a playoff was needed to break the tie. Unlike 1962, Peñarol came out on highest and knock out Santos 2-1. Pelé would, however, finish as the highest scorer of the competition with 8 goals.
1966-1974: O milésimo and final years with Santos:
In 1966, Santos was not able to retain the Taça Brazil as Pelé's goals were not enough to stop a 9-4 defeat by Cruzeiro ( led by Tostão ) in the final series. The club did, however, captured bthe Campeonato Paulista in 1967, 1968, and 1969. On 19 November 1969, Pelé bagged his 1,000th goal in all competitions, in what was highly entertain moment in Brazil. The goal dubbed O Milésimo ( the thousandth ), occurred in a match over Vasco da Gama, when Pelé netted from a penalty kick, at the Maracanã stadium. In 1969, the two factions involved in the Nigerian civil war agreed to a 48- hour ceasefire so they could watch Pelé play a display game in Lagos. Santos finished playing to a 2-2 tie with Lagos side stationary stores fc and Pelé netted his team's goals. The civil war went on for one more year after this display game.
During his time at Santos, Pelé played alongside many talented players, including Zito, Pepe, and Coutinho; they all later helped in numerous one-two plays, goals and attacks. After Pelé's 19 season with Santos, he left Brazilian football. Pelé 643 goals for Santos were the most goals netted for a sing club until it was cleaned by Lionel Messi of Barcelona in December 2020. After the 1974 season ( his 19th with Santos ), Pelé retired from Brazilian Club Football although he continued to play from time to time for Santos in official competitive games.
NEW YORK COSMOS:
A year later, he came out of semi retirement to sign with the New York Cosmos of the north American soccer league ( NASL ) for the 1975 season. At a disorganized press conference at New York's 21 clubs, the Cosmos unveiled Pele. John O'Reilly, the club's media spokesman, said "we had superstar in the United State but nothing at the level of Pelé. Everyone wanted to come close to him, and get a photo with him. Though well past his prime at this point, Pelé was acknowledged with significantly increasing public awareness and interest of the sport in the US.
During his first public appearance in Boston, he was injured by a crowd of fans who had surrounded him. Pelé made his debut for the Cosmos on 15 June over the Dallas Tornado at Dowing Stadium, netting one goal in a 2-2 tie. Pelé opened the door for many other superstars to play in North America. Giorgio Chinaglia followed him to the Cosmos, then Franz Beckenbauer and his former Santos teammate Carlos Alberto. In the next few years other players came to the league, such as Johan Cruyff, Eusébio, Bobby Moore, George Best, and Gordon Banks.
In 1975, 7 days before the Lebanese civil war, Pelé played a friendly match for the Lebanese club Nejmeh over team of Lebanese premier league stars, netting 2 goals which where not included in his official tally. On the day of the match, almost 40,000 spectators were at the stadium to watch the match. Pelé led the Cosmos to the 1977 Soccer Bowl, in his third and final season with Cosmos attracted an NASL record of almost 62,000 fans to Giants Stadium for a 3-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies with Pelé netting a hat-trick. In the first leg of the quarter finals, they attracted a US record crowd of over 76,000 for what turned into an 8-3 embarrassment of the Fort Lauderdale players at Giants Stadium.
In the second leg of the semi-finals over the Rochester Lancers, the Cosmos won 4-1. pelé ended his official playing career on 28 August 1977, by leading the New York Cosmos to the second soccer Bowl title with a 2-1 victory against the Seattle Sounders at the Civic Stadium in Portland, Oregon. On 1 October 1977, Pelé closed out his career in a display match between the Cosmos and Santos. The match was played in front of a sold-out crowd at Giants Stadium and was showed in the US on ABC'S wide world odmf sports. Pelé's father and wife were both present, as well as Muhammad Ali and Bobby Moore. Telling the audience before the start of the match "love is more important than what we can take in life" Pelé played the first half with the Cosmos, the second with Santos. The Match finished with the Cosmos winning 2-1, with Pelé netting with a 30-yard free-kick for the Cosmos in what was the final goal of his career.
INTERNATIONAL CAREER:
Pelé first international match was a 2-1 lose over Argentina on 7 July 1957 at the Maracanã. In that game, he netted his first goal for Brazil at the age of 16 years and 9 months, and he still, remains the youngest goal scorer for his country.
1958 WORLD CUP:
Pelé arrived in Sweden sidelined by a knee injury but on his way back from from the treatment room, his teammates stood together and insisted that he will be featured in the selection. His first match was against the USSR in the third game of the first round of the 1958 FIFA World Cup, where he assist Vavá's on his second goal. He was at the time the youngest player ever to play in the World Cup. Over France in the semi-final, Brazil was winning 2-1 at halftime, and then Pelé bagged a hat-trick, becoming the youngest player in the world Cup to keep such record.
On 29 June 1958, Pelé became the youngest player to play in a World Cup final match at 17 years. He netted 2 goals in that final as Brazil defeat Sweden 5-2 in Stockholm, the capital. Pelé hit that post and then Vavá bagged 2 goals to give Brazil the lead. Pelé's first goal, where he flicked the ball over a defender before curving it into the back of the net, which was taken as one of the best goals in the history of the world Cup. Following Pelé's second goal, Swedish player Sigvard Parling would later say, "when Pelé scored he fifth goal in that final, I have to be honest and say I felt like complimenting".
When the game finished , Pelé passed out on the the field, and was revived by Garrincha. He then recoverd, and was compelled by the win to weep as he was being congratulated by his colleagues. He ended the competition with 6 goals in 4 games played, tied for second place, at back record breaker Just Fontaine, and was named best young player of the competition. His contribution was incredible, with Barney Ronay writing, "with nothing but talent to guide him, the boy from Minas Gerais became the first black sporting superstar, and a source of genuine uplift and motivation.
It was in 1958 World Cup that Pelé started wearing a shirt with the number 10. This event was the result of chaos: the people in charge off the Brazilian federation did not allocate the jesey numbers of players and it was up to FIFA to select shirt for Pelé, who was substitute on the occasion. The press announced Pelé the greatest revelation of the 1958 World Cup, and he was also retrospectively given the Silver Ball as the second best player of the competition.
1959 SOUTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP:
Pelé also played in the South American Championship. In the 1959 competition he was awarded best player of the competition and was the highest scorer with 8 goals, as Brazil's came second regardless being unbeaten in the competition. He netted in five of Brazil's 6 matches including 2 goals over Chile and hat-trick over Paraguay.
1962 WORLD CUP:
When the 1962 World Cup began, Pelé was regarded as the best player in the world. In the first game of the 1962 World Cup in Chile, Pelé assisted the first goal and then netted the second goal, after a fast run past 4 defenders, to go up 2-0. He got injured in the following match while attempting a long-range shot over Czechoslovakia. This would keep him out of the rest of the Competition, and forced coach Aymoré Moreira to make his only lineup change of the competition. The change was Amarildo, who performed great for the rest of the competition. However, it was Garrincha who would take the leading position and led Brazil to their second World Cup title, after defeating Czechoslovakia at the final in Santiago.
1966 WORLD CUP:
Pelé was the most popular footballer in the world during the 1966 world cup in England, and Brazil fielded some world champions like Garrincha, Gilmar and Djalma Santos with the inclusion of other talented players like Jairzinho, Tostão and Gérson, leading to much expectation for them. Brazil was knocked out in the first round, playing only 3 games. The world cup was marked, among other things, for merciless fouls on Pelé that left him injured by Bulgarian and Portuguese defenders. Pelé netted the first goal from a free kick over Bulgaria, becoming the first player to score in 3 successive FIFA World Cups, but because he was injured, a result of persistent fouling by the Bulgarians, he did not play the second match over Hungary.
His coach began that after the first he felt "every team will take care of him in the same way". Brazil lost that match and Pelé, although still recovering, was brought back for last serious game over Portugal at Goodison park in Liverpool by Brazilian coach Vicente Feola. Feola changed the whole defens, together the goalkeeper, while in midfield he turn back to the formation of the first game. During the match Portugal defender João Morais fouled Pelé, but was not sent off by referee George McCabe, a decision reflectively viewed as being among the worst refereeing errors in the world Cup history. Pelé had to stay on the field faltering for the rest of the match since changing of player were not allowed in football at that time.
1970 WORLD CUP:
Pelé was called to the national team in early 1969, he did not agree at first, but then accepted and played in 6 world cup qualifying games, netting 6 goals. The 1970 world cup in Mexico was expected to be his last. Brazil's squad for the competition feature vital changes to the 1966 squad. Players like Garrincha, Nilton Santos, Djalma Santos, Valdir Pereira, and Gilmar had already retired. However, Brazil's 1970 world cup squad, which included players like Pelé, Carlos Alberto Torres, Jairzinho, Rivelino, Gérson, Clodoaldo, and Tostão, is often regarded as the greatest football team in history.
The forward 5 of Pelé, Rivelino, Gérson, Tostão, and Jairzinho together created an attacking motivation, with Pelé having a central role in Brazil's way to the final. All of Brazil's games in the competition ( except the final ) were played in Guadalajara, and in the first game over Czechoslovakia, Pelé gave Brazil a 2-1 lead, in this game Pelé tried to lob goalkeeper Ivo Viktor from the halfway line, only narrowly missing the Czechoslovakia goal. Brazil went on with a 4-1 victory. In the first of the game over England, Pelé could bhave score a goal with a header but it was sved by the England goalkeeper Gordon Banks.
Pelé remembered he was already shouting "goal" when he headed the ball. It was often referred to as the "save of the century". In the second half, he controled a cross from Tostão comfortably before curving the ball to Jairzinho who netted the only goal. Over Romania, Pelé netted 2 goals, which included a 20-yard curving free kick, with Brazil winning 3-2. In the quarter final over Peru, Brazil won 4-2, with Pelé helping Tostão for Brazil third goal. In the semi-final, Brazil battled Uruguay for the first time since the 1950 world cup final round game. Jairzinho help Brazil with a lead ahead 2-1, and Pelé assisted Rivelino for the 3-1.
During that game, Pelé made one of his popular plays. Tostão passed the ball for Pelé to take which Uruguay's goalkeeper Ladislao Mazurkiewicz took notice of and ran off his line to get the ball before Pelé. But Pelé got to the ball first and fooled Mazurkiewicz with a body feint by not touching the ball, causing it to move to the goalkeeper left, while Pelé went to the goalkeeper's right. Pelé ran quickly around the goalkeeper to get the ball and took a shot which turning towards the goal, but he turned in excess as he shot, and the ball drifted just wide of the post. Brazil played Italy in the final at the Azteca stadium in Mexico City.
Pelé netted the opening goal with a header after lefting himself over Italian defender Tarcisio Burgnich. Brazil's 100th world cup goal, Pelé's was overjoyed together with his teammates they celebrate the goal is considered one of the most recognizable moments in world cup history. Pelé then made assist for Brazil's third goal, netted by Jairzinho, and the fourth ended by Carlos Alberto. The last goal of the match is often considered the best team goal of all time because it included all but two of the team's outfield players. The play terminated after Pelé made a blind pass that went into Carlos Alberto's running.
ACHIEVEMENTS WITH SANTOS:
Copa Libertadores: 1962, 1963
Intercontinental Super Cup: 1968
Campeonato Paulista: 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1973
Torneio Rio-São Paulo: 1959, 1963, 1964
ACHIEVEMENTS WITH NEW YORK COSMOS:
North American soccer league, Soccer Bowl: 1977
North American soccer league, Atlantic Conference Championship: 1977
ACHIEVEMENTS WITH BRAZIL:
FIFA World Cup: 1958, 1962, 1970
Taça do Atlântico: 1960
Roca Cup: 1957, 1963
Taça Oswaldo Cruz: 1958, 1962, 1968
Copa Bernardo O'Higgins: 1959
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
Campeonato Paulista Top Scorer: 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1973
FIFA World Cup Best Young Player: 1958
FIFA World Cup Silver Ball: 1958
France Football's Ballon d'Or: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1979 - Lenouveau Palmarés (the new winners )
South American Championship Best Player: 1959
South American Championship Top Scorer: 1959
Gol de Placa:1961
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Top Scorer: 1961, 1963, 1964
Intercontinental Cup Top Scorer: 1962, 1963
Torneio Rio-São Paulo Top Scorer: 1963
Copa Libertadores Top Scorer: 1965
BBC Overseas Sports Personality Of The Year: 1970
Bola de Prata: 1979
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball (best player): 1970
South American Footballer Of The Year: 1973
Included In The North American soccer league (NASL) All-star Team: 1975, 1976, 1977
NASL Top Assist Provider: 1976
NASL Most Valuable Player: 1976
Number 10 Retired By The New York Cosmos As A Recognition To His Impact To The Club: 1977
Elected Citizen Of The World, By The United Nations: 1977
International Peace Award: 1978
Sports Champion Of The Century, By L'Equipe: 1981
FIFA Order Of Merit: 1984
Inducted Into The American National Soccer Hall Of Game: 1992
Elected Goodwill Ambassador, By UNESCO: 1993
Winner Of France Football's World Cup Top - 100 1930-1990: 1994
Marca Leyenda: 1997
World Team Of The 20th Century: 1998
Football Player Of The Century, Elected By France Football's Ballon d'Or Winners: 1999
TIME: One Of The 100 Most Important People Of The 20th Century: 1999
Greatest Player Of The 20th Century, By World Soccer: 1999
Athlete Of The Century, By Reuters News Agency: 1999
Athlete Of The Century, Elected By International Olympic Committee: 1999
World Player Of The Century, By The IFFHS: 2000
South American Player Of The Century, By The IFFHS: 2000
FIFA Player Of The Century: 2000
Laureus Lifetime Achivments Award: 2000
FIFA Centennial Award: 2004
FIFA 100 Greatest Living Footballers: 2004
BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Lifetime Achivments Award: 2005
Elected Best Brazlian Player Of The Century, By IFFHS: 2006
FIFA President Award: 2007
Greatest Football Player To Ever Played The Game, By Golden Foot: 2012
FIFA Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur: 2013
World Soccer Greatest XI Of All Time: 2013
Legends Of Football Award: 2013
South American's Best Player In History, By L'Equipe: 2015
Inspiration Award, By GQ: 2017
Globall Citizen Award: By The World Economic Forum: 2018
FWA Tribute Award: 2018
Ballon d'Or Dream Team: 2020
IFFHS All-Time Men's Dream Team: 2021
IFFHS South America Men's Team Of All Time: 2021
Player Of History Award: 2022
FIFA Best Special Award: 2022
RECORD:
Highest goals per game ratio for Brazil national football team:
Highest goals per game ratio of any South American top international scorer:
Highest goals per game ratio of any leading scorer in the Intercontinental Cup:
Most goals for Santos: 643 (in 659 competitive matches)
Most goals for Santos: 1091 (including friendlies)
Most appearances for Santos: 1116
Most goals within a single Brazlian top-flight League season
Most goals scored in a single Campeonato Paulista season: 58 (in 38 competitive matches, 1958)
Most goals scored in a single Campeonato Paulista match: 8 (1964)
Most goals scored in Campeonato Paulista history: 466
Most season as Campeonato Paulista Top Scorer: 11
Most consecutive seasons as Campeonato Paulista Top Scorer: 9 (1957-1965)
Most goals in a calendar year (including friendlies recognized by FIFA) 127 (1959)
RSSSF record for most top level goals scored in one season (including friendlies) 120 (1959)
RSSSF record for most seasons with over 100 top level goals scored (including friendlies): 3 (1959, 1961, 1965)
RSSSF record for most goals scored before the age of 30: 675
RSSSF record for most career goals (including friendlies): 1,256
world record for most career goals in world football (including friendlies): 1,283 (in 1,373 matches)
IFFHS record for most top Division League goals: 604
IFFHS record for most top-level goals: 659
Guinness world record for most hat-tricks in world football: 92
Most hat-tricks for Brazilian: 7
Most FIFA World Cup winners: 3 (1958, 1962, 1970)
Youngest winner of a FIFA World Cup: aged 17 years (1958)
Youngest goal scorer in a FIFA World Cup: aged 17 years (for Brazil against Wales, 1958)
Youngest player to score twice in a FIFA World Cup semi-final: aged 17 years (for Brazil against France, 1958)
Youngest Player to play in a FIFA World Cup final: aged 17 years
Youngest goal scorer in a FIFA World Cup final: aged 17 years (for Brazil against Sweden, 1958)
Youngest player to score twice in a FIFA World Cup final: aged 17 years (for Brazil against Sweden, 1958)
Youngest player to play for Brazil in a FIFA World Cup: aged 17 years
Youngest player to start a knockout game at a FIFA World Cup
Youngest player to reach five FIFA World Cup knockout stage goals
Youngest player to debut for Brazil national football team: aged 16 years (Brazil against Argentina, 1957)
Youngest Top Scorer in the Campeonato Paulista
The first player to score in three successive FIFA World Cup final
teenager to score in a FIFA World Cup final
One of only five players to have scored in four different FIFA World Cup competitions
One of only five players to have scored in two different FIFA World Cup finals
Scored in two FIFA World Cup finals for winning (shared with Vavá)
Most assists provided in FIFA World Cup history: 10 (1958-1970)
Most assists provided in a single FIFA World Cup competition: 6 (1970)
Most assists provided in FIFA World Cup final games: 3 (1 in 1958 and 2 in 1970)
Most assists provided in FIFA World Cup knockout phase: 6 (shared with Lionel Messi)
Most goals from open play in FIFA World Cup final games: 3 (2 in 1958 and 1in 1970) (shared with Zinedine Zidane, Vavá and Geoff Hurst)
Most FIFA World Cup goal involvement for Brazil
player to reach 25 international goals as a teenager
The only player to score in a FIFA World Cup turning 18 years
The only player to score a hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup before turning 18 years
The only player to have scored a hat-trick in the Intercontinental Cup.
Excellent!!
ReplyDelete