Today (December 29) marks the death anniversary of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, globally known as Pele, the legendary "King of Football." The world football icon passed away on this day in 2022 at the age of 82 in a hospital in Brazil.

Early Life and the Name ‘Pele’
Born on October 23, 1940, in Tres Coraçoes, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Pele was the eldest of two siblings. His father, Dondinho, was also a footballer who played for the Fluminense Football Club, and his mother was Celeste Arantes. He was named after the American inventor Thomas Edison, though his parents decided to remove the ‘i’ and call him "Edson."

In his family, his nickname was "Dico," but he acquired the name "Pele" during his school days. It is said that the name originated from his mispronunciation of his favorite player, Bilé, a goalkeeper for Vasco da Gama. Although Pele initially complained about the name, it stuck with him forever. In his autobiography, he mentioned that neither he nor his friends knew what the name meant at the time, though some suggest it is derived from the Hebrew word for "miracle."

From Poverty to the Pitch
Pele grew up in poverty in Bauru, Sao Paulo. To earn extra money, he worked as a servant in tea shops. His father taught him football, but they could not afford a real ball. Instead, Pele practiced with a makeshift ball made of newspapers and socks tied with string.

In his youth, he played for several amateur teams like Sete de Setembro, Canto do Rio, and Ameriquinha. He also led the Bauru Athletic Club juniors to two state youth championships. In his mid-teens, he played for an indoor football (futsal) team called Radium. Pele credited futsal for helping him think faster on the pitch and allowing him to compete against adults at the age of 14. In one tournament, he finished as the top scorer with 14 or 15 goals.

A Career of Records
Pele shot to global stardom at the age of just 17 after playing a pivotal role in Brazil’s 1958 World Cup victory in Sweden. Over a professional career spanning 21 years, he scored a world-record 1,281 goals in 1,363 matches. For the Brazilian national team, he netted 77 goals in 92 appearances.

The Only Three-Time World Cup Winner
Pele remains the only footballer in history to win the FIFA World Cup three times. Brazil lifted the trophy in 1958, 1962, and 1970 due to his extraordinary prowess on the field. In recognition of his unparalleled contribution to the sport, FIFA named him the "Player of the Century" in 2000.