Pele

Labeled by FIFA as “the greatest,” Pele is among the most successful and influential figures of all time. He was voted by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) as the World Player of the Century. Additionally, he was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee and was included in Time magazine’s 100 most important people of the 20th-century list.Pele learned the sport through the teachings of his father.

Since the status of their livelihood was hard at the time, he only got to play with a sock stuffed with a newspaper that would serve as a ball. In his youth, Pele played for several amateur teams. He led Bauru Athletic Club juniors into two Sao Paulo state youth championships. Pele also played futsal (indoor football) which he gave credit to for his fast reflexes. In 1956, he began his professional career in football, signing a contract with Santos FC. After he retired, he became a worldwide ambassador for football and made several commercials and acting ventures.