Pelé is a retired Brazilian footballer who has a net worth of $100 million. Widely-regarded as the best soccer player of all time, Pelé has transcended the barriers of various sports to become one of the most legendary figures of the 20th century. At his peak, he was the highest-paid athlete on the planet. Pelé currently holds a number of important records, having scored the most goals in the top division (541). Across all tournaments, he has scored 1297 goals.
In 1999, 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 award. That same year, Pelé was elected Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee and was included in the Time list of the 100 most important people of the 20th century. According to the IFFHS, Pelé is the most successful top division scorer of all times with 541 goals in 560 appearances. His total of 1279 goals in 1363 games, which included friendlies, is a Guinness World Record.
Pelé began playing for Santos at age 15 and the Brazil national team at 16. During his international career, he won three FIFA World Cups: 1958, 1962 and 1970, being the only player ever to do so. Pelé is the all-time leading goalscorer for Brazil with 77 goals in 92 games. At club level, he is Santos’ all-time top goalscorer, and led them to the 1962 and 1963 Copa Libertadores. Known for connecting the phrase “The Beautiful Game” with football, Pelé’s “electrifying play and penchant for spectacular goals” made him a star around the world, and his teams toured internationally in order to take full advantage of his popularity. Since retiring in 1977, Pelé has been a worldwide ambassador for football and has made many acting and commercial ventures. In 2010, he was named the Honorary President of the New York Cosmos.
Averaging almost a goal per game throughout his career, Pelé was adept at striking the ball with either foot in addition to anticipating his opponents’ movements on the field. While predominantly a striker, he could also drop deep and take on a playmaking role, providing assists with his vision and passing ability, and he would also use his dribbling skills to go past opponents. In Brazil, he is hailed as a national hero for his accomplishments in football and for his outspoken support of policies that improve the social conditions of the poor. Throughout his career and in his retirement, Pelé received several individual and team awards for his performance in the field, his record-breaking achievements, and legacy in the sport.
Ambassadorial Work: Pelé is known for his ambassadorial work since retiring from sports. In 1992, he was appointed as a UN ambassador for ecology and the environment. In 1994, he was made a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
Controversy: Most of Pelé’s controversies arose after he had stepped away from professional football. In 2001, the former footballer was accused of being part of a corruption scandal that stole $700,000 from UNICEF. In 1994, he was banned from attending the FIFA World Cup draw in Las Vegas, largely because of his feud with the then-President of FIFA, Joao Havelange.
In 2016, Pelé sued Samsung Electronics for $30 million, claiming damages for false endorsements and the violation of his right of publicity. The claim arose because of a 2015 Samsung ad that featured a man that looks almost exactly like Pelé and another scene featuring the player’s signature bicycle kick.
