Pele One Year On

Arguably the greatest football player of all time, the great Pelé was a superstar who achieved many great feats. One year on from his death, how is he remembered?

By Sportypoll Staff I June 4, 2025

Football is, without a doubt, the most popular sport in the world. It is the ‘global game’, and one of the only sports played practically worldwide. Go almost anywhere in the world, and you should find at least one football pitch – or something resembling one.

Part of what drives the success of football is the stars who have taken to the pitch and played the game with such distinction. In that regard, few – if any – can compare to the great Pelé. One year on from his death, how is he remembered?

When we think of football, we think of the World Cup – arguably the greatest celebration of global sports outside the Olympic Games. When we think of the World Cup, we think of Brazil, the great yellow and green shirt, the ‘jogo bonito’ of previous eras, and the many legends who wear the shirt.

From modern icons like Ronaldo Nazario and Neymar Jr. to legends of the past, such as Jairzinho, Brazil has been blessed with an unrivalled football heritage.

However, of all the ‘samba stars’ past and present, Pelé is number one.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born on the 23rd of October 1940, and he lit up the world during times of incredible global change.

Pelé achieved incredible feats from his arrival as a 16-year-old for the Seleção to him becoming the all-time top scorer for the Brazilian national team. The legendary footballer died on the 29th of December 2022, shortly after the 2022 FIFA World Cup ended.

As one year has passed of his death, let us look at some of the feats that make Pelé a man for every generation of football fans.

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PELÉ – RECORDS THAT STAND THE TEST OF TIME

The Top Scorer Of All-Time?

While many ‘memes’ exist about how many goals Pelé scored in his career, the Guinness World Book of Records has him noted as a player with 1,279 goals in 1,363 games. That is, and is likely to remain, a world record for goals in a career.

He was also the all-time top scorer for the Brazilian national team for over fifty years. He scored a ludicrous 77 goals in 92 games, which was only broken in 2023 by his countryman Neymar Jr.

With 643 goals in 659 games, Pelé is also undoubtedly the best player to ever play for Santos in his native Brazil. He led the club to back-to-back Copa Libertadores titles and back-to-back Intercontinental Cup wins.

Above all else, Pelé was a goal scorer in the most elite sense. In fact, including friendlies, he played some 1,116 games in the colours of Santos, scoring a remarkable 1,091 goals!

A Trailblazer

While today it is common for footballers to make their way to the United States of America to play, Pelé joined the New York Cosmos in 1975 when it was a rarity for this to happen.

Though the US soccer leagues of the time saw a Pelé at the end of his career, he still scored an impressive 37 goals in 64 games. His time in America opened the doors for what is now the popular Major League Soccer sports league and for other legends of the game to go and play in the USA.

Without Pelé opening the doors to make America a place to play soccer, one can argue we may never have seen Lionel Messi reside in Miami.

A Three-Times World Cup Champion

Of course, Pelé is also the winner of three FIFA World Cup titles – winning in 1958, 1962, and 1970. His role in the 1962 and 1970 wins are legendary, helping cement Brazil as the nation to watch in football. No player in the game’s history has been as impactful at a World Cup tournament as the great Pelé.

His influence on the Brazil team and his standout stature as a player who combined athleticism with skill helped to bring about a new generation of players who saw Pele’s dedication to conditioning and self-improvement as the goal.

The trio of World Cup wins inspired multiple generations to reach for the stars and to never accept second best. There is a reason why Pelé is still regarded as the number one despite the many legends of wearing the yellow and green shirt with blue shorts.

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Awards And Records By The Dozen

In his career, Pelé made breaking and setting records the done thing. In his career, he achieved many staggering feats, of which there are too many to list. Just some of his most recognisable feats, though, include:

The youngest player to play and score in a World Cup Final (1958, aged 17)
The youngest player to score a hat-trick in the FIFA World Cup (1958, aged 17)
3-times FIFA World Cup winner (1958, 1962, 1970)
6- times Campeonato Brasileiro champion, 2-times Copa Libertadores winner, 2-times Intercontinental Cup winner (Santos)
11-times Campeonato Paulista top-scorer award, 3-times Campeonato Brasileiro top-scorer
1970 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball winner
The IFHHS World Player of the Century Award

Again, this is a tiny selection of the awards and acclaim Pelé won in his career. He achieved far more than can be listed in one article; there is a reason, after all, that he was awarded the FIFA Player of the Century award in December of 2000!

Stardom Off The Pitch

Away from his stunning records on the pitch, though, Pelé was one of the first footballers to move into stardom. His role in films such as Escape to Victory helped to show that athletes could be part of the silver screen.

His charitable and philanthropic work also showed that athletes now had a role in improving society. They could hold the world to higher standards with their fame and fortune. The Pelé Foundation, formed in 1993, has been one of the most important assistants in developing social projects across Brazil since its inception. His work with FIFA and with UNICEF, too, has long been celebrated, as he helped to bring the gift of sports to underprivileged nations and people.

Pelé is, without a doubt, one of the true greats of football and all sports. As the above celebrates just a smattering of his incredible achievements, Pelé changed the world of sport forever. In a century, legends will have come and gone – but how many will say they rivalled the great Pelé?