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Pele: The Autobiography
Even people who don't know football know ±Ê±ð±ôé. The best of a generation of Brazilian players universally acknowledged as the most accomplished and attractive group of footballers ever to play the game, he won the World Cup three times and is Brazil's all-time record goalscorer. But how did this man -- a sportsman, a mere footballer, like many others -- become a global icon? Was it just by being the best at what he did, or do people respond to some other quality? The world's greatest footballer now gives us the full story of his incredible life and career. Told with his characteristic grace and modesty, but covering all aspects of his playing days and his subsequent careers as politician, international sporting ambassador and cultural icon, PELE: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY is an essential volume for all sports fans, and anyone who admires true rarity of spirit.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
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2,372 people want to read
About the author
±Ê±ð±ôé
34Ìýbooks64ÌýfollowersEdison Arantes do Nascimento, KBE, best known by his nickname ±Ê±ð±ôé, was a Brazilian football player. He was given the title of Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee. Time magazine listed ±Ê±ð±ôé as one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century. While his birth certificate shows his first name as Edison (after Thomas Edison), he preferred to call himself Edson, but it was as ±Ê±ð±ôé that he had become a sporting legend.
In his native Brazil, ±Ê±ð±ôé was hailed as a national hero. He was known for his accomplishments and contributions to the game of football in addition to being officially declared football ambassador of the world by FIFA and a national treasure by the Brazilian government. He was also acknowledged for his vocal support of policies to improve the social conditions of the poor (when he scored his 1,000th goal he dedicated it to the poor children of Brazil). During his career, he became known as "The King of Football" (O Rei do Futebol), "The King ±Ê±ð±ôé" (O Rei ±Ê±ð±ôé) or simply "The King" (O Rei). He was also a member of the American National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Spotted by football star Waldemar de Brito, ±Ê±ð±ôé began playing for Santos at 15 and his national team at 16, and won his first World Cup at 17. Despite numerous offers from European clubs, the economic conditions and Brazilian football regulations at the time benefited Santos, thus enabling them to keep ±Ê±ð±ôé for almost two decades until 1974. ±Ê±ð±ôé played as an inside forward, striker, and what later became known as the playmaker position. ±Ê±ð±ôé's technique and natural athleticism have been universally praised and during his playing years he was renowned for his excellent dribbling and passing, his pace, powerful shot, exceptional heading ability, and prolific goalscoring.
He was the all-time leading scorer of the Brazil national football team and is the only footballer to be a part of three World Cup-winning teams. In 1962 he was on the Brazilian squad at the start of the World Cup but due to an injury suffered in the second match, he wasn't able to play the remainder of the tournament. In November 2007 FIFA announced that he would be awarded the 1962 medal retroactively, making him the only player in the world to have three World Cup winning medals.
Since his retirement in 1977, ±Ê±ð±ôé had been a worldwide ambassador for football and had undertaken various acting roles and commercial ventures.
In his native Brazil, ±Ê±ð±ôé was hailed as a national hero. He was known for his accomplishments and contributions to the game of football in addition to being officially declared football ambassador of the world by FIFA and a national treasure by the Brazilian government. He was also acknowledged for his vocal support of policies to improve the social conditions of the poor (when he scored his 1,000th goal he dedicated it to the poor children of Brazil). During his career, he became known as "The King of Football" (O Rei do Futebol), "The King ±Ê±ð±ôé" (O Rei ±Ê±ð±ôé) or simply "The King" (O Rei). He was also a member of the American National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Spotted by football star Waldemar de Brito, ±Ê±ð±ôé began playing for Santos at 15 and his national team at 16, and won his first World Cup at 17. Despite numerous offers from European clubs, the economic conditions and Brazilian football regulations at the time benefited Santos, thus enabling them to keep ±Ê±ð±ôé for almost two decades until 1974. ±Ê±ð±ôé played as an inside forward, striker, and what later became known as the playmaker position. ±Ê±ð±ôé's technique and natural athleticism have been universally praised and during his playing years he was renowned for his excellent dribbling and passing, his pace, powerful shot, exceptional heading ability, and prolific goalscoring.
He was the all-time leading scorer of the Brazil national football team and is the only footballer to be a part of three World Cup-winning teams. In 1962 he was on the Brazilian squad at the start of the World Cup but due to an injury suffered in the second match, he wasn't able to play the remainder of the tournament. In November 2007 FIFA announced that he would be awarded the 1962 medal retroactively, making him the only player in the world to have three World Cup winning medals.
Since his retirement in 1977, ±Ê±ð±ôé had been a worldwide ambassador for football and had undertaken various acting roles and commercial ventures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
May 28, 2019
That's absolutely correct even if you don't know the rules of football but you know Pele. This man has transformed the soccer world. He was born in a poor family and he knew soccer is the only way to come out of this. He got the popularity and earned his nickname 'black pearl'. He helped Brazil to lift the world cup two times. Who can forget the final of 1958 vs Sweden, how he played?
The god has sent him on earth with a mission to play football.
The god has sent him on earth with a mission to play football.
May 11, 2022
Pele's life is what movies are made about. Pele was born in a poor family and the book starts with his childhood and how he worked hard and got to where the world started to know him and how he became a legend.
This book aside from his childhood mostly lists his achievements in the Football world and his success. Even though I enjoyed reading about the legend, I do wish that there were some personal moments that I got to read about. Overall, it is very inspiring and definitely a must-read.
4 stars
This book aside from his childhood mostly lists his achievements in the Football world and his success. Even though I enjoyed reading about the legend, I do wish that there were some personal moments that I got to read about. Overall, it is very inspiring and definitely a must-read.
4 stars
February 23, 2023
Feb 21, 730pm ~~ Review asap.
Feb 22, noon ~~ While following the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Marco and I talked about ±Ê±ð±ôé and how he was so different from players today. I became interested in learning more about his life and was able to order this 2006 book from my favorite online used bookseller. I added it to the pile for the Zapata Reading Club so we both could enjoy it. Marco had the honor of the next choice at the time and when the day came to pick a new book, naturally he picked this one!
I can speak for both of us when I say we thoroughly enjoyed spending time with ±Ê±ð±ôé. The book revealed him to be not only an incredible football player, but an incredible human being also. He did not try to portray himself as a saint; he shows he is a man just like others, but also he has a depth of character that seems rare these days, especially in the world of sport.
We laughed many times and loved the humble touches shared from ±Ê±ð±ôé's career, such as this story from the final chapter in which he spends a little time talking about some of the other footballers he had known and played against. Here he was talking about Bobby Moore from England. It is sweet to think of someone with as much talent as ±Ê±ð±ôé had being so excited to speak with another extremely talented player.
"I'll never forget that famous match we played against each other in Guadalajara during the 1970 World Cup. Once the whistle had blown, I remember waiting in line to shake hands with the England team. I tried to speak the tiny amount of English I knew. It all came out at once: 'I'm happy, you play good, yes, good luck...' We exchanged shirts as souvenirs."
I cried a few times too, not for sadness but at the incredible beauty that many moments in his life brought to ±Ê±ð±ôé and anyone privileged to witness them: the 1958 Brazil World Cup victory, the first retirement where he took the ball midfield and saluted the crowd. Marco is used to me trying to read through tears, whether happy ones or sad ones. And I know ±Ê±ð±ôé would have understood, since he described himself as "a very sentimental person. More than that, I am a cry-baby."
One of the most touching pictures in the book is the one of Pele with his head on a teammate's shoulder, crying with joy moments after the final game of the 1958 World Cup. He was seventeen then, and never lost that joy for the game of football or for life. Footballers today should look to him as an example not only of how to play the beautiful game but of how to live a beautiful life.
±Ê±ð±ôé died on December 20, 2022, two days after the end of the Qatar World Cup and nearly a month before we began to read his book. I think this was the best tribute Marco and I could have given to one of our heroes. Thank you ±Ê±ð±ôé. You will live forever in our hearts.
Feb 22, noon ~~ While following the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Marco and I talked about ±Ê±ð±ôé and how he was so different from players today. I became interested in learning more about his life and was able to order this 2006 book from my favorite online used bookseller. I added it to the pile for the Zapata Reading Club so we both could enjoy it. Marco had the honor of the next choice at the time and when the day came to pick a new book, naturally he picked this one!
I can speak for both of us when I say we thoroughly enjoyed spending time with ±Ê±ð±ôé. The book revealed him to be not only an incredible football player, but an incredible human being also. He did not try to portray himself as a saint; he shows he is a man just like others, but also he has a depth of character that seems rare these days, especially in the world of sport.
We laughed many times and loved the humble touches shared from ±Ê±ð±ôé's career, such as this story from the final chapter in which he spends a little time talking about some of the other footballers he had known and played against. Here he was talking about Bobby Moore from England. It is sweet to think of someone with as much talent as ±Ê±ð±ôé had being so excited to speak with another extremely talented player.
"I'll never forget that famous match we played against each other in Guadalajara during the 1970 World Cup. Once the whistle had blown, I remember waiting in line to shake hands with the England team. I tried to speak the tiny amount of English I knew. It all came out at once: 'I'm happy, you play good, yes, good luck...' We exchanged shirts as souvenirs."
I cried a few times too, not for sadness but at the incredible beauty that many moments in his life brought to ±Ê±ð±ôé and anyone privileged to witness them: the 1958 Brazil World Cup victory, the first retirement where he took the ball midfield and saluted the crowd. Marco is used to me trying to read through tears, whether happy ones or sad ones. And I know ±Ê±ð±ôé would have understood, since he described himself as "a very sentimental person. More than that, I am a cry-baby."
One of the most touching pictures in the book is the one of Pele with his head on a teammate's shoulder, crying with joy moments after the final game of the 1958 World Cup. He was seventeen then, and never lost that joy for the game of football or for life. Footballers today should look to him as an example not only of how to play the beautiful game but of how to live a beautiful life.
±Ê±ð±ôé died on December 20, 2022, two days after the end of the Qatar World Cup and nearly a month before we began to read his book. I think this was the best tribute Marco and I could have given to one of our heroes. Thank you ±Ê±ð±ôé. You will live forever in our hearts.
August 22, 2017
As far as I am concerned, ±Ê±ð±ôé has always been and will always be the greatest ever footballer.
Unfortunately, this autobiography adds nothing to the legend that is ±Ê±ð±ôé and tells us very little really that we didn't already know.
The book starts with at least some interest concerning ±Ê±ð±ôé's childhood and upbringing in deprivation and subsequent rise to fame, but beyond that - it amounts to little more than a catalogue of ±Ê±ð±ôé's footballing successes (of which there are clearly many).
To my mind ±Ê±ð±ôé is the greatest footballing genius that the game will ever see and judging by this autobiography, it is on the football field where his artistry and genius begins and ends.
Whilst this book doesn't in any way detract from ±Ê±ð±ôé's status as a footballing legend - neither does it add anything either.
Unfortunately, this autobiography adds nothing to the legend that is ±Ê±ð±ôé and tells us very little really that we didn't already know.
The book starts with at least some interest concerning ±Ê±ð±ôé's childhood and upbringing in deprivation and subsequent rise to fame, but beyond that - it amounts to little more than a catalogue of ±Ê±ð±ôé's footballing successes (of which there are clearly many).
To my mind ±Ê±ð±ôé is the greatest footballing genius that the game will ever see and judging by this autobiography, it is on the football field where his artistry and genius begins and ends.
Whilst this book doesn't in any way detract from ±Ê±ð±ôé's status as a footballing legend - neither does it add anything either.
June 18, 2020
Hell I forgot this read it back in 1977 when I was only 18 so don't remember much but do think he really needs to update this book to include all the movies including Escape from Victory one of his best movies .This only from his back street boy to football
January 15, 2011
This is the autobiography of ±Ê±ð±ôé, the life of a myth narrated by the myth himslef. A book full of epic achievements, which pulses of passion for football and in which the fans will find soccer in its most noble, exemplary, perfect form.
His name is the synonymous of football. I think whoever loves football will love his story.
The greatest player of all time, the athlete of the century, the greatest scorer (1380 goals) of all time, the three times World Cup champion was born in a hut. He learned to play soccer with a ball made of cloth, rigorously barefooted. (His family couldn’t even afford to buy a pair of shoes).
What happened, then goes beyond every boy's dream. Goal after goal, up to thousand and beyond, after having made goalkeepers cry and having made defenders mad, he became for everyone , unquestionably, "O Rei", the king. Huge crowds, cities in delirium: to watch him play, cease-fire was ordered in countries in war, referees who wanted to expel him were expelled by the crowd.
Highly recommended.
His name is the synonymous of football. I think whoever loves football will love his story.
The greatest player of all time, the athlete of the century, the greatest scorer (1380 goals) of all time, the three times World Cup champion was born in a hut. He learned to play soccer with a ball made of cloth, rigorously barefooted. (His family couldn’t even afford to buy a pair of shoes).
What happened, then goes beyond every boy's dream. Goal after goal, up to thousand and beyond, after having made goalkeepers cry and having made defenders mad, he became for everyone , unquestionably, "O Rei", the king. Huge crowds, cities in delirium: to watch him play, cease-fire was ordered in countries in war, referees who wanted to expel him were expelled by the crowd.
Highly recommended.
February 1, 2023
One of the Greatest footballer who never FORGOT where he came from!!
August 23, 2012
All of the footie books I've read feature English players. I barely know anything of the Brazilian game, except of course every four years at the World Cup tournaments. But...the world knows the name Pele, and this autobiography tells his life story from shanty shack all the way to 2006, when this book was published, in his sixty sixth year.
I mainly enjoyed this book for it's coverage of the legendary Brazilian World Cup exploits of 1958, '62, '66, and '70, when Pele and Brazil won the Jules Rimet trophy three times in twelve years.
I did get the impression that this book was written for the English market, and that was confirmed when I noticed that one of the writers was the English journalist Alex Bellos.
With the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016, I'm sure this sporting icon will still be around in the years to come, and fantastic to learn that it all began with a ball made from old socks!
I mainly enjoyed this book for it's coverage of the legendary Brazilian World Cup exploits of 1958, '62, '66, and '70, when Pele and Brazil won the Jules Rimet trophy three times in twelve years.
I did get the impression that this book was written for the English market, and that was confirmed when I noticed that one of the writers was the English journalist Alex Bellos.
With the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016, I'm sure this sporting icon will still be around in the years to come, and fantastic to learn that it all began with a ball made from old socks!
November 20, 2008
Pele by, Simon & Schuster Ltd
The best, the greatest and the unbelievable footballer player of all time, named Pele. The autobiography of Pele is an awesome book, I couldn’t stop reading for days, I like this book for a lot of reasons, and one of them is really important to me.
The first reason I like it, is because he was the first “Negro� from Brazil to visit the white house in Washington DC. At that time it was really hard to someone from American to visit the white house and especially from other country so that’s really especial from him and his carrier
The second reason I like this book is because he was a great soccer player the whole time, he won three-world soccer cup and has been nominator of best player three times in the row. God blasted a player like that.
Other reason the book make me like it and read it more, was the fact of Pele's childhood. At that period of time, at the unknown city that he was born. People had bad situations going wrong. Pele said that sometimes he didn’t eat for days.
Last reason was the fact that off all he been through, and faced at his life, he became the most poplar soccer at the world.
In conclusion, the book was great, Pele has been a trough lot different nice thing at his life, but he also had some bad conflicts happen to him, his childhood was the worst for him, so if you want to know better about this book, you should defiantly read the book.
The best, the greatest and the unbelievable footballer player of all time, named Pele. The autobiography of Pele is an awesome book, I couldn’t stop reading for days, I like this book for a lot of reasons, and one of them is really important to me.
The first reason I like it, is because he was the first “Negro� from Brazil to visit the white house in Washington DC. At that time it was really hard to someone from American to visit the white house and especially from other country so that’s really especial from him and his carrier
The second reason I like this book is because he was a great soccer player the whole time, he won three-world soccer cup and has been nominator of best player three times in the row. God blasted a player like that.
Other reason the book make me like it and read it more, was the fact of Pele's childhood. At that period of time, at the unknown city that he was born. People had bad situations going wrong. Pele said that sometimes he didn’t eat for days.
Last reason was the fact that off all he been through, and faced at his life, he became the most poplar soccer at the world.
In conclusion, the book was great, Pele has been a trough lot different nice thing at his life, but he also had some bad conflicts happen to him, his childhood was the worst for him, so if you want to know better about this book, you should defiantly read the book.
September 7, 2013
This is the best soccer book ever.He was the best soccer player in the world when he played.He was always the top scorer.He played with the best soccer teams there was.Hes on of my soccer idols I learned to do a lot of soccer tricks from watching him.
January 24, 2024
I loved the first half but he lost me in the second act ngl
July 1, 2019
Pele the legend of soccer. He was the reason why I started playing football. Never give up even though you lose. You will learn your mistakes. And then when you play again you might win. Pele played for Brazil. He played for 3 teams i could not remember the first one but the second one was Santos and the 3rd one was new York cosmos. New review coming in a few more days.
November 3, 2016
Pele is the best soccer player to ever live. He grew up in Bauru, a small town in Brazil. He was poor when he was growing up and he shined shoes for extra pennies. He played soccer with a ball made out of socks in the dirt streets. When he was 15, he made his first senior appearance for Santos, a club in Brazil. He was on fire and was scoring so many goals so a year later, he made his first appearance for Brazil's National team. He kept scoring tons and tons of goals. And in 1966 he got married. But soccer was still the focus. When he left Santos after over 600 goals and appearances, he went to the New York Cosmos. After a few seasons there, he retired. And was deemed the best soccer player ever. I would recommend this book for people who enjoy autobiographies and soccer.
June 12, 2024
Blessed with unrivalled flare and an innate eye-for-goal, Pele has cemented his place as one of the greatest footballers to ever grace the game. But what about the man behind the nickname?
Edson Arantes do Nascimento’s autobiography is a riveting read that takes you on the journey of a boy playing for a team appropriately named ‘The Shoeless Ones� due to none of the squad being able to afford footwear, to a dynamic forward tearing apart the world stage with his incredible array of skills.
I particularly enjoyed reading about Pele’s early years. Raised by a former footballer, it was only natural the Brazilian would gravitate to what he coined, ‘The Beautiful Game�.
Utterly obsessed with the sport, the youngster and his friends would break into peanut vans, steal some of the stock, and sell it outside the cinema to fund their kit purchases.
Taking his energetic style on the pitch into consideration, it comes as no surprise that Pele was a little hyperactive in his youth, causing mayhem at school and nearly losing his life after popping his head out of a train window and also during a freak swimming incident.
Somehow, the prospect survived and channeled his interest in the sport he held so close to his heart.
The author did a great job of expressing those feelings of wonder, recalling how he, as a child, had never seen the sea or a big city, before travelling from his hometown, referred to in English as ‘The Three Hearts�, after the Holy Trinity, to São Paulo.
Through hard work and determination, Pele signed on the dotted line for Santos. The rest, as they say, is history.
As a professional, the goals at club-level just kept coming and coming. And with his form reaching exceptional new heights, it was time for the phenom to represent his country.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Pele’s memories of his time playing in a Brazil shirt. In 1958, at just 17, he flew to Sweden for the World Cup. But while many of his teammates were afraid of the turbulence on the flight to Europe, the prospect who actually wanted to be a pilot, as a child, wasn’t.
The reason for this, is his relationship with God, whom he believes is always looking after him.
Pele went into great detail about his time in the Nordic nation, from his romantic relationship with one of the locals, to the performances he put together to guide his country to claiming the trophy.
At this point, the player became the global phenom he is today. Pele received a raucous reception upon his arrival home, with crowds gathering in huge numbers to celebrate his achievements.
This level of fandom was synonymous with the great’s career. Whether it be the huge celebrations when he scored his 1000th goal, or the time armed criminals tried to rob his car, only to stop when they realised whom it belonged to, Pele always received the respect of the fans.
After his career came to an end, the athlete signed for New York Cosmos. Pele documented the move in great detail, conceding he was initially concerned by the standard of the players, but eventually settled in and had a great time growing the game in the USA.
Following his retirement from football, the public figure remained in the limelight, utilising his platform to pursue charitable causes and make his venture onto the big screen. Furthermore, Pele bravely opened up about the breakdown of his first marriage, his mistakes as a father, and a drug incident that landed his son in prison.
In conclusion, this book is a must-read. It takes you on the thrilling adventure of a man known as Pele to the footballing public, but as Edson to his family, who watched him in his later years, playing the guitar on his farm as he sat by the lake and tended to his pigs.
Now that the icon is gone, it makes even more sense to go back and read the tale of a man who, without a shadow of a doubt, changed the game we all adore forever.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento’s autobiography is a riveting read that takes you on the journey of a boy playing for a team appropriately named ‘The Shoeless Ones� due to none of the squad being able to afford footwear, to a dynamic forward tearing apart the world stage with his incredible array of skills.
I particularly enjoyed reading about Pele’s early years. Raised by a former footballer, it was only natural the Brazilian would gravitate to what he coined, ‘The Beautiful Game�.
Utterly obsessed with the sport, the youngster and his friends would break into peanut vans, steal some of the stock, and sell it outside the cinema to fund their kit purchases.
Taking his energetic style on the pitch into consideration, it comes as no surprise that Pele was a little hyperactive in his youth, causing mayhem at school and nearly losing his life after popping his head out of a train window and also during a freak swimming incident.
Somehow, the prospect survived and channeled his interest in the sport he held so close to his heart.
The author did a great job of expressing those feelings of wonder, recalling how he, as a child, had never seen the sea or a big city, before travelling from his hometown, referred to in English as ‘The Three Hearts�, after the Holy Trinity, to São Paulo.
Through hard work and determination, Pele signed on the dotted line for Santos. The rest, as they say, is history.
As a professional, the goals at club-level just kept coming and coming. And with his form reaching exceptional new heights, it was time for the phenom to represent his country.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Pele’s memories of his time playing in a Brazil shirt. In 1958, at just 17, he flew to Sweden for the World Cup. But while many of his teammates were afraid of the turbulence on the flight to Europe, the prospect who actually wanted to be a pilot, as a child, wasn’t.
The reason for this, is his relationship with God, whom he believes is always looking after him.
Pele went into great detail about his time in the Nordic nation, from his romantic relationship with one of the locals, to the performances he put together to guide his country to claiming the trophy.
At this point, the player became the global phenom he is today. Pele received a raucous reception upon his arrival home, with crowds gathering in huge numbers to celebrate his achievements.
This level of fandom was synonymous with the great’s career. Whether it be the huge celebrations when he scored his 1000th goal, or the time armed criminals tried to rob his car, only to stop when they realised whom it belonged to, Pele always received the respect of the fans.
After his career came to an end, the athlete signed for New York Cosmos. Pele documented the move in great detail, conceding he was initially concerned by the standard of the players, but eventually settled in and had a great time growing the game in the USA.
Following his retirement from football, the public figure remained in the limelight, utilising his platform to pursue charitable causes and make his venture onto the big screen. Furthermore, Pele bravely opened up about the breakdown of his first marriage, his mistakes as a father, and a drug incident that landed his son in prison.
In conclusion, this book is a must-read. It takes you on the thrilling adventure of a man known as Pele to the footballing public, but as Edson to his family, who watched him in his later years, playing the guitar on his farm as he sat by the lake and tended to his pigs.
Now that the icon is gone, it makes even more sense to go back and read the tale of a man who, without a shadow of a doubt, changed the game we all adore forever.
July 11, 2019
This book made me think about the importance of pursuing your dreams and never giving up, no matter how hard it gets. Pele was born in Tres Coracoes, and grew up playing soccer on the streets, with a ball made from a top filled with socks as they were too poor to afford a proper football. At 15, he joined the Santos FC team, and went on to set numerous records at both club and international level. He is now the worlds greatest footballer, and this made me think about how incredible it is to be the best football player in the world, with a background of playing with a top stuffed with socks as he couldn't afford a proper ball- you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it.
January 11, 2023
I obviously know the Pele name as does probably everybody in the world but this was a good insight into some of the items you might not have known about the man.
The struggles of coming from nowhere to being a household name across the world show the magnitude of what he achieved. When you read about how many games he played during that time it would give modern day players nightmares.
I felt it was a good time to read this book and was a good tribute even if written in 2006!
Amazing player and just a shame I was not around to see him play first hand!
The struggles of coming from nowhere to being a household name across the world show the magnitude of what he achieved. When you read about how many games he played during that time it would give modern day players nightmares.
I felt it was a good time to read this book and was a good tribute even if written in 2006!
Amazing player and just a shame I was not around to see him play first hand!
August 18, 2024
This was a super cool window into late twentieth-century football globally. It was also fun to hear him narrate his greatest goals and games.
After talking about his legacy with several of my Brazilian friends, I am aware of the ways this biography fails to fully represent his failures as a father, especially in relation to the daughter he refused to recognize for most of his life. Additionally his relationship with Xuxa is concerning for several reasons.
But I do think the book accurately reflects the core elements that construct the deified myth of ±Ê±ð±ôé and that is ultimately what I was looking for.
After talking about his legacy with several of my Brazilian friends, I am aware of the ways this biography fails to fully represent his failures as a father, especially in relation to the daughter he refused to recognize for most of his life. Additionally his relationship with Xuxa is concerning for several reasons.
But I do think the book accurately reflects the core elements that construct the deified myth of ±Ê±ð±ôé and that is ultimately what I was looking for.
December 2, 2017
My rating on this book is not that high because I think It's a good book but quite boring at the same time. The book talks about his achievents in his football player career, about his record on scoring goals, and that he was one of the best brazilians players ever. That part it was the worse part for me, I think It's a little bit boring but then when they started talk about how did he become a good player, and also when he talks about his histories besides football, out of the soccer field, that it was what I liked the most but the other not at all so I rated just 3 stars.
November 10, 2024
I think I’m getting old because I’ve started marking pages of books that move me. In this including but not limited to:
Page 124: on the match against the Czechs
Page 146: on meeting John Lennon at language school in nyc
Page 167 + 246: on children education and his work with UNICEF
Page 251: on friendship and love and the the evolution from one to another
Page 124: on the match against the Czechs
Page 146: on meeting John Lennon at language school in nyc
Page 167 + 246: on children education and his work with UNICEF
Page 251: on friendship and love and the the evolution from one to another
November 8, 2017
It is a shame that the best in the world do not always write the best autobiographies. It could be that a great sport person or actor does not automtatically make for a great writer, but I think it is something else � reputation. The best have built up a legacy around themselves that means they have more to lose. A warts and all revelation about a middling Premiership player is not going to knock their rep, but it may do to a player of a higher standard. Pele for instance. Regarded as one of the best, if not the best, footballer of all time. Does he want to tarnish his past by raking up the muck?
The simple answer is no. ‘Pele: The Autobiography� is classic autobiography fair in that it does not reveal too much about the person writing it. This is not the book to learn about his affairs off the pitch, but those on it. If you are a fan of the man’s footballing career you are in for a treat. The book covers all his major national and international games. There is also an interesting start to the book as Pele grew up in relative poverty to become a rich man loved by the people of Brazil.
The most interesting sections of the book are about how Pele tried to deal with the adulation of his fans and how his finances differed as he became more famous. You would think that someone as lauded as Pele would be mega rich, but the book explores several flawed business plans. It is also interesting reading about his retirement and move to America. You get a real sense of how much Pele appreciated his fans and the opportunities he was given in life.
The reason that Pele’s retirement and financial problems are interesting are because they offer rare glimpses into what his private life is like. This book is a closed shop and that is the prerogative of the writer, but it does make it dryer than it needed to be. We hear tell of affairs and children in trouble with the law, but these are dealt with quickly and little detail. Pele paints himself as a pretty good man, but is not ready to explore why he had the affairs etc.
For football fans, what Pele did off the pitch is not really important and these readers are treated well in this autobiography. However, I prefer more of a balance between public and private life in my biogs and in the case of ‘Pele� too much is left unsaid. Maradona had a more colourful life for sure and his autobiography portrayed his. Even with the quieter time that Pele had, you get the feeling that he could have offered a little more, but perhaps worrying about his legacy made him take a step back.
The simple answer is no. ‘Pele: The Autobiography� is classic autobiography fair in that it does not reveal too much about the person writing it. This is not the book to learn about his affairs off the pitch, but those on it. If you are a fan of the man’s footballing career you are in for a treat. The book covers all his major national and international games. There is also an interesting start to the book as Pele grew up in relative poverty to become a rich man loved by the people of Brazil.
The most interesting sections of the book are about how Pele tried to deal with the adulation of his fans and how his finances differed as he became more famous. You would think that someone as lauded as Pele would be mega rich, but the book explores several flawed business plans. It is also interesting reading about his retirement and move to America. You get a real sense of how much Pele appreciated his fans and the opportunities he was given in life.
The reason that Pele’s retirement and financial problems are interesting are because they offer rare glimpses into what his private life is like. This book is a closed shop and that is the prerogative of the writer, but it does make it dryer than it needed to be. We hear tell of affairs and children in trouble with the law, but these are dealt with quickly and little detail. Pele paints himself as a pretty good man, but is not ready to explore why he had the affairs etc.
For football fans, what Pele did off the pitch is not really important and these readers are treated well in this autobiography. However, I prefer more of a balance between public and private life in my biogs and in the case of ‘Pele� too much is left unsaid. Maradona had a more colourful life for sure and his autobiography portrayed his. Even with the quieter time that Pele had, you get the feeling that he could have offered a little more, but perhaps worrying about his legacy made him take a step back.
July 20, 2019
If you are not a huge football fan, skip the book and watch the movie Pele: Birth of a Legend (2016) instead. Otherwise, be ready to read about countless games he played and goals he scored, which can be sometimes confusing.
For example, at the beginning Pele mentions that goals at friendly matches weren't counted towards his general career records, but then he goes on playing other friendlies and scoring goals that were adding up to his first 1,000. Why so? No explanation.
The parts of the book which I enjoyed most were about his childhood, barefoot plays on the streets of Bauru, being noticed and signed up with Santos, and the first World Championship. This is what the movie shows, too, and it's 1/3 of the book.
He also shares some valuable experience about managing his finances and being almost bankrupt a few times due to bad investment decisions and allowing a consultant to have full control over his assets. This is what professional athletes often face, being too busy earning money to learn how to manage it.
The chapter close to the end, which talks about brand endorsements and taking a stand against promoting certain products (alcohol and cigarettes) was quite interesting, as well as the one about his political career at FIFA, UNICEF, and the Ministry of Sports. But the details of numerous games between and after World Championships and three retirements he had were a bit too much, as for me.
What I particularly disliked is his self-portrayal as a caring family man and a man of faith, who cheated on his girlfriend (his future wife) before and during the marriage, which resulted in two extramarital kids. I had an impression that he opened up about it at the end of the book only because she published her own memoirs. Moreover, being away sometimes eight months a year had a toll on his fatherly role, which he didn't seem to acknowledge before his son was caught and sentenced for money laundering and drugs.
To sum it up, you may give this book a try, but don't hesitate to flip through some chapters that you find boring. Watch the movie first though.
For example, at the beginning Pele mentions that goals at friendly matches weren't counted towards his general career records, but then he goes on playing other friendlies and scoring goals that were adding up to his first 1,000. Why so? No explanation.
The parts of the book which I enjoyed most were about his childhood, barefoot plays on the streets of Bauru, being noticed and signed up with Santos, and the first World Championship. This is what the movie shows, too, and it's 1/3 of the book.
He also shares some valuable experience about managing his finances and being almost bankrupt a few times due to bad investment decisions and allowing a consultant to have full control over his assets. This is what professional athletes often face, being too busy earning money to learn how to manage it.
The chapter close to the end, which talks about brand endorsements and taking a stand against promoting certain products (alcohol and cigarettes) was quite interesting, as well as the one about his political career at FIFA, UNICEF, and the Ministry of Sports. But the details of numerous games between and after World Championships and three retirements he had were a bit too much, as for me.
What I particularly disliked is his self-portrayal as a caring family man and a man of faith, who cheated on his girlfriend (his future wife) before and during the marriage, which resulted in two extramarital kids. I had an impression that he opened up about it at the end of the book only because she published her own memoirs. Moreover, being away sometimes eight months a year had a toll on his fatherly role, which he didn't seem to acknowledge before his son was caught and sentenced for money laundering and drugs.
To sum it up, you may give this book a try, but don't hesitate to flip through some chapters that you find boring. Watch the movie first though.
September 15, 2014
Personally I have always loved Pele and regard him as an icon of the game I love. His autobiography did not disappoint covering his early life, football career, family life and life after football. Pele has a reputation as a not only a fantastic player but a thoroughly good man, this book reflects his modesty and openess, gives credit to those who have helped him but also deals with his mistakes. I admire his continued dedication to the game of football which really comes through in this book and is a fitting memoir for the arguably the greatest player the world has ever seen.
May 6, 2013
The greatest? Possibly. His story is modestly told, with a realisation of his importance in history. No player will achieve what he did in the World Game. His achievments can't be argued with because he did it against all that was put in front of him. He could easily have thrived in the modern game where tackling is non existent, but how many would survive the brutality of the defending from his era? Great story from a true sporting legend.
February 18, 2023
Louise bought me this for Christmas.
I had considered buying this book many times over the years but always held off as I wasn't a major fan of the person and had a suspicion he was overrated.
However, since his sad death and having read major tributes, including a fantastic issue of the UK's World Soccer magazine, I was left more intrigued to learn more.
I now wish I had done this earlier. This is a fantastically enjoyable autobiography, in which Pele really takes you inside how it felt to win the World Cup in Sweden in 1958 aged just 17. Unlike other similar books, this doesn't focus on the way the success was achieved at the expense of what it meant. Edson Arantes do Nascimento has an amazing ability to recall his emotions and really take you inside his head. What makes it more charming is that he was very humble and is open and honest about how much it meant to him (winning it for his dad after promising him as a 10 year old in 1950 following the Maracanazo).
There is an investing dichotomy of Pele being humble and never losing sight of his origins and family but also having a massive ego about his ability. But maybe this is just honest appraisal of someone who was undoubtedly the best in the history of the game at this point rather than being disingenuous and unnecessarily humble.
It was also great to get an insight into his endless commercial activity and endorsements and understand the underlying reasons, of a fear of being poor again and so many awful business dealings and ventures with untrustworthy individuals.
Other failings include his three marriages, being unfaithful, having an illegitimate daughter he refused to acknowledge for many years, and he doesn't really accept these are issues and instead gives himself an out of relationships being only about love. It was always interesting that all of his relationships seemed to be with white (or ethnically Japanese) women, and this led me to a side exploration of the cultural reasons this might be more than coincidence.
Where I don't think he should be criticised, and where he often has, is in his refusal to involve himself in politics, particularly the Brazilian dictatorship, and in race relations in terms of speaking on the subject of discrimination and racism. To me, it was clear Pele was not motivated nor overly interested in these things, did not adequately understand them and was not eloquent enough to communicate on the subjects in a useful way. He was a largely an uneducated boy from rural Brazil who seemed naive to the wide world in many ways.
Another controversy is Pele's club footballing achievements. The way he lists his 1000 odd goals and includes all sorts of friendlies and exhibitions has never sat well with me as no other player in history includes these stars. However, in reading this book, you come to realise just how many of these matches Pele actually had to play with Santos touring and how so many were more than friendlies in the way they were treated.
On a similar note, I have more appreciation for the fact that him not playing in Europe is not as significant as it appears. Santos, at their peak, were probably the best club side in the world and Brazilian club football, the best domestic competition. But it really would have been fascinating and status cementing if he had taken up the sizeable offers from the likes of Inter and Juventus.
I had considered buying this book many times over the years but always held off as I wasn't a major fan of the person and had a suspicion he was overrated.
However, since his sad death and having read major tributes, including a fantastic issue of the UK's World Soccer magazine, I was left more intrigued to learn more.
I now wish I had done this earlier. This is a fantastically enjoyable autobiography, in which Pele really takes you inside how it felt to win the World Cup in Sweden in 1958 aged just 17. Unlike other similar books, this doesn't focus on the way the success was achieved at the expense of what it meant. Edson Arantes do Nascimento has an amazing ability to recall his emotions and really take you inside his head. What makes it more charming is that he was very humble and is open and honest about how much it meant to him (winning it for his dad after promising him as a 10 year old in 1950 following the Maracanazo).
There is an investing dichotomy of Pele being humble and never losing sight of his origins and family but also having a massive ego about his ability. But maybe this is just honest appraisal of someone who was undoubtedly the best in the history of the game at this point rather than being disingenuous and unnecessarily humble.
It was also great to get an insight into his endless commercial activity and endorsements and understand the underlying reasons, of a fear of being poor again and so many awful business dealings and ventures with untrustworthy individuals.
Other failings include his three marriages, being unfaithful, having an illegitimate daughter he refused to acknowledge for many years, and he doesn't really accept these are issues and instead gives himself an out of relationships being only about love. It was always interesting that all of his relationships seemed to be with white (or ethnically Japanese) women, and this led me to a side exploration of the cultural reasons this might be more than coincidence.
Where I don't think he should be criticised, and where he often has, is in his refusal to involve himself in politics, particularly the Brazilian dictatorship, and in race relations in terms of speaking on the subject of discrimination and racism. To me, it was clear Pele was not motivated nor overly interested in these things, did not adequately understand them and was not eloquent enough to communicate on the subjects in a useful way. He was a largely an uneducated boy from rural Brazil who seemed naive to the wide world in many ways.
Another controversy is Pele's club footballing achievements. The way he lists his 1000 odd goals and includes all sorts of friendlies and exhibitions has never sat well with me as no other player in history includes these stars. However, in reading this book, you come to realise just how many of these matches Pele actually had to play with Santos touring and how so many were more than friendlies in the way they were treated.
On a similar note, I have more appreciation for the fact that him not playing in Europe is not as significant as it appears. Santos, at their peak, were probably the best club side in the world and Brazilian club football, the best domestic competition. But it really would have been fascinating and status cementing if he had taken up the sizeable offers from the likes of Inter and Juventus.
January 22, 2024
For me, the name Pele almost isn't associated with a man as much as the legend of him. He was at the height of his powers in the 60's, yet, he is still known by a generation of players that seem to forget so many important things. It was due to this name power that I decided to read this biography. I wasn't sure what to expect. Pele was, by no means, a writer. This meant that it was more than likely the words he wrote would be raw and very much uncovering. This feature made the book the best of its kind I have ever read.
The book of course starts with his childhood. I knew he was poor, but I didn't know the extent of it. For me, soccer is a pastime. For him, it was the difference between life and even death. The book goes through his years playing in the Santos Academy, showing how he dealt with the corruption of the club. As it trickles through the years, he makes more and more money. Yet, it never seems to affect his mentality. He remained hungry, both on the pitch and literally, for the majority of his career. This kind of mentality, underdog-ish and everpresent, allowed him to become the electric player he always was. This insight into his mentality, for me, was what made the story of Pele so incredible.
Honestly, this book is a semi-hard read for those not interested in soccer. A lot of the terminology and overall focus of the story is strictly soccer, and would probably require a rapid acquisition of background knowledge prior to reading. On the other hand, if you are familiar with soccer, or even play the game yourself, this biography has so many lessons and stories that are easily applicable in your daily life, and I would recommend this to you with the entirety of my being.
The book of course starts with his childhood. I knew he was poor, but I didn't know the extent of it. For me, soccer is a pastime. For him, it was the difference between life and even death. The book goes through his years playing in the Santos Academy, showing how he dealt with the corruption of the club. As it trickles through the years, he makes more and more money. Yet, it never seems to affect his mentality. He remained hungry, both on the pitch and literally, for the majority of his career. This kind of mentality, underdog-ish and everpresent, allowed him to become the electric player he always was. This insight into his mentality, for me, was what made the story of Pele so incredible.
Honestly, this book is a semi-hard read for those not interested in soccer. A lot of the terminology and overall focus of the story is strictly soccer, and would probably require a rapid acquisition of background knowledge prior to reading. On the other hand, if you are familiar with soccer, or even play the game yourself, this biography has so many lessons and stories that are easily applicable in your daily life, and I would recommend this to you with the entirety of my being.
April 17, 2023
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known worldwide as the greatest footballer that ever lived, Pele, passed away on 29 Dec 2022 at the age of 82. He won every competition there is to win at club and world level. He played professional football at the age of 16 and debuted for Brazil at 17. He would go on to play 1363 senior games and score 1279 goals in a career spanning almost two decades, winning three World Cups
Pele was born in Tres Coracoes and grew up in Bauru, dead poor. He received no formal football coaching and simply played football whenever he could. What little footballing advice he received was from his father, who was also a footballer whose career was cut short by injury. This makes his ascent even more astounding.
Three quarters of this book is about Pele's time as a kid and his rise as a footballer culminating in his final game with the New York Cosmos, winning the Soccer Bowl title.
The last quarter of the book is on his post football career, including becoming a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, the Sports Minister, a Commentator, a Movie Star and philanthropic work. There are also elements on his personal life.
As in most autobiographies, there are areas which one could question, including his infidelities, but he does come across in this book as human. And a lot of what he says is relatable. I found myself watching many world cup clips, especially from the 1970 World Cup. He was a great player.
A book for football fans. Readable.
Pele was born in Tres Coracoes and grew up in Bauru, dead poor. He received no formal football coaching and simply played football whenever he could. What little footballing advice he received was from his father, who was also a footballer whose career was cut short by injury. This makes his ascent even more astounding.
Three quarters of this book is about Pele's time as a kid and his rise as a footballer culminating in his final game with the New York Cosmos, winning the Soccer Bowl title.
The last quarter of the book is on his post football career, including becoming a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, the Sports Minister, a Commentator, a Movie Star and philanthropic work. There are also elements on his personal life.
As in most autobiographies, there are areas which one could question, including his infidelities, but he does come across in this book as human. And a lot of what he says is relatable. I found myself watching many world cup clips, especially from the 1970 World Cup. He was a great player.
A book for football fans. Readable.
August 6, 2022
Pele is known the world over� I know of Pele’s genius as a footballer, and I do not even follow the game. That is the cult status he has achieved� but what is intriguing is that he stands as an icon even today, decades after he played� no wonder then, that he is recognised as one of the earliest global superstars!
It is inspiring to read about his passion, especially how he developed his skills without even a real ball, using everything from sock bundles to mangoes� and later his initiative to get formal education despite having achieved professional success already.
It was equally interesting to read his life post-retirement - the role he played in popularising the sport in the US, his contributions as a brand ambassador across the world, his association with youth programs and his brief political stint as the Minister of Sport in Brazil�
He talks of his personal life - the ups and downs - and it’s a reminder that life is never static and we need to face adversities and keep believing�
In many aspects, he is indeed a role model - encouraging us to dream big, to work hard, to channelise our passion to perfect our skills� emphasising the need for all of us to continue to learn and grow at every stage� inspiring us to contribute back to the society�
The narrative is simple - and it is his many achievements that shine through�
It is inspiring to read about his passion, especially how he developed his skills without even a real ball, using everything from sock bundles to mangoes� and later his initiative to get formal education despite having achieved professional success already.
It was equally interesting to read his life post-retirement - the role he played in popularising the sport in the US, his contributions as a brand ambassador across the world, his association with youth programs and his brief political stint as the Minister of Sport in Brazil�
He talks of his personal life - the ups and downs - and it’s a reminder that life is never static and we need to face adversities and keep believing�
In many aspects, he is indeed a role model - encouraging us to dream big, to work hard, to channelise our passion to perfect our skills� emphasising the need for all of us to continue to learn and grow at every stage� inspiring us to contribute back to the society�
The narrative is simple - and it is his many achievements that shine through�
August 27, 2023
As someone new to football and grew up hearing of ±Ê±ð±ôé truthfully the book kind of threw me off.
For me it reads as a massive brag full of name dropping which eventually ends up feeling a bit less humble and not so much about the actual footballer but about everyone he knows. On top of everything else officially he did not score 1000 goals, not on record anyway only truthfully around the 600 mark so it’s not so accurate either.
Not to mention the severely dodgy elements of cheating and underaged women. Some parts about his son heading down a dark path doesn’t surprise me considering I can’t possibly see how you have the availability to care for all your children if they’re all in different places with different women and you travel all the time. Of course without good examples of behaviour and an unavailable father who practically mistreats his mother in the way he cheats on all of them despite claiming to be very into God and the bible, it’s almost hypocritical to read.
Finally, it was hard to finish in truth because it was such a pain to read i almost fell asleep 10 times throughout and I read regularly without issue, most are just unrecorded on my account.
But anyway I wouldn’t touch this book again with a ten foot pole, I’m convinced half the people commenting are just biased and haven’t read the book otherwise your view of him would be altered.
For me it reads as a massive brag full of name dropping which eventually ends up feeling a bit less humble and not so much about the actual footballer but about everyone he knows. On top of everything else officially he did not score 1000 goals, not on record anyway only truthfully around the 600 mark so it’s not so accurate either.
Not to mention the severely dodgy elements of cheating and underaged women. Some parts about his son heading down a dark path doesn’t surprise me considering I can’t possibly see how you have the availability to care for all your children if they’re all in different places with different women and you travel all the time. Of course without good examples of behaviour and an unavailable father who practically mistreats his mother in the way he cheats on all of them despite claiming to be very into God and the bible, it’s almost hypocritical to read.
Finally, it was hard to finish in truth because it was such a pain to read i almost fell asleep 10 times throughout and I read regularly without issue, most are just unrecorded on my account.
But anyway I wouldn’t touch this book again with a ten foot pole, I’m convinced half the people commenting are just biased and haven’t read the book otherwise your view of him would be altered.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2018
This autobiography was about the Brazilian soccer player by the name of Pele. He is regarded as the greatest soccer player in history. The autobiography talks about Peles life and how he became the best soccer player in the world.*Spoiler* It starts off in peles childhood, he grew up in a small town called Bauru, Sao Paulo. He grew up in a poor family and they didn't have enough money for shoes.The had to work at a young age,he was a shoe shiner. He played soccer with his friends but they did not enough money for a soccer ball so they made one with socks. When he turned 15 years old he joined the brazilian soccer club of santos, That is where he trained with some professionals. While on the santos team he scored many goals which interested the brazilian national soccer team who them picked him up and added him to the team.His first game for brazil was in sweden and it was for the world cup, and he was very nervous before it, Before the game he threw up. His teammates told him that its ok and that he will do great.They ended up winning that game and soon wining the world cup of 1958, then Pele went on and won 2 more in 1962 and 1970. He was also the youngest person to be in the world cup and to win a world cup.
January 15, 2023
Una autobiografÃa bien completa del mejor futbolista de todos los tiempos. Muchas historias respecto a su brillante carrera futbolÃstica y sus actuaciones legendarias en los mundiales, no por nada es el único futbolista que ostenta 3 copas del mundo, también el libro contiene hartas anécdotas e historias del ±Ê±ð±ôé ya retirado del fútbol.
Lo comencé a leer luego de la triste partida del crack brasileño y me hizo acercar un poco más a su historia futbolÃstica y valorarla más, ya que como muchos no vimos jugar a ±Ê±ð±ôé (salvo ahora con la tecnologÃa ver un par de partidos completos y compactos de sus mejores jugadas en YouTube), inevitablemente el tiempo hace que no se valore la trascendencia del que para muchos es el mejor futbolista de la historia.
El libro también contiene un par de páginas con varÃas fotos interesantes de la carrera y vida de O’Rei, pero lo que más rescato del libro es la interesante investigación numérica que nos permite ver los 1.283 goles en 1.367 partidos con el detalle de las fechas y el rival a quien les convirtió.
Lo comencé a leer luego de la triste partida del crack brasileño y me hizo acercar un poco más a su historia futbolÃstica y valorarla más, ya que como muchos no vimos jugar a ±Ê±ð±ôé (salvo ahora con la tecnologÃa ver un par de partidos completos y compactos de sus mejores jugadas en YouTube), inevitablemente el tiempo hace que no se valore la trascendencia del que para muchos es el mejor futbolista de la historia.
El libro también contiene un par de páginas con varÃas fotos interesantes de la carrera y vida de O’Rei, pero lo que más rescato del libro es la interesante investigación numérica que nos permite ver los 1.283 goles en 1.367 partidos con el detalle de las fechas y el rival a quien les convirtió.
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