Pele hand signed Ball (Brazil Fifa World Cup Hero)

Athlete, professional soccer player. Born Edson Arantes de Nascimento on October 23, 1940, in Tres Coracoes, Brazil. Although he was poor, Pelé grew up to be an international sports superstar. Throughout his childhood, he played soccer whenever and wherever he could, sometimes using a stuffed sock for a ball. He joined his first soccer team at the age of 12.

Pelé started playing professional soccer while in his teens. In 1958, he helped Brazil win its first World Cup victory. His performance in the finals, including scoring two goals, made him an international sensation. He also played for the professional Brazilian team Santos from 1956 to 1974 and scored more than 1,000 goals during his time with the club. He retired from Santos in 1974, but was lured back to the game with an offer from a team in the United States the next year. He joined the New York Cosmos, a part of the North American Soccer League. As a member of the Cosmos, Pelé became a household name in the United States and fans flocked to see him play.