If we dey talk about GOAT for football, di name wey go always show face na Pele. E no be just because im sabi ball, but because wetin im achieve for im career still shock people till today.
You fit argue say Messi or Ronaldo be GOAT, but na only Pele don carry 3 FIFA World Cup trophies go house. Make we yarn di full gist in Pidgin.
Who Be Pele?
Pele real name na Edson Arantes do Nascimento, and im born for Brazil on October 23, 1940. E grow up for poor area, but dat one no stop am from playing ball with him leg and pure talent. Dem say na sock wey dem pack rag inside e start with, no be even real ball.
Na im papa, Dondinho, first teach am how to play ball. From small, Pele don dey show say im get special grace. By the time im reach 15 years, Santos FC carry am join their senior team, and na from there e begin shake di world.
World Cup Glory Times 3!
Now, dis na wetin make Pele truly different from everybody:
1958 (Sweden) – Age 17
Pele enter di Brazil squad as small boy, and im surprise everybody. For di quarter-final, im score hat trick against France. For final, im tear net twice against Sweden. Just imagine 17-year-old boy, wey dem still dey call “small pikin” for house, lifting World Cup! Na there im become worldwide superstar.
1962 (Chile)
Pele start strong, but injury knock am out early. But because e still dey di squad and e help dem reach there, im still get hin second World Cup medal. That time, Brazil dey unstoppable with players like Garrincha.
1970 (Mexico)
This na di one wey cement Pele legacy. E lead Brazil to di World Cup again, and dat squad na one of di best ever. Dem beat Italy 4-1 for final, and Pele score one of di goals. That match even enter history as di first final wey dem show live for colour TV.
Pele become di only player for football history wey don win three World Cups. No Ronaldo, no Messi, no Mbappe fit touch that record… yet!
Im Career in Numbers
- 1,281 goals for club and country (official + friendly)
- Over 1,300 matches played
- Played for Santos and later New York Cosmos
- Won 6 Brazilian league titles, 2 Copa Libertadores
Dem dey even argue say if dem count all friendly goals, Pele score pass anybody ever.
Pele Don Go Rest, But Im Legacy Dey Live
Pele waka go meet Baba God for December 29, 2022, at di age of 82 after him battle with colon cancer. Di whole football world cry, from FIFA to fans across Africa, Europe, and even Asia. E no be just ball wey Pele give us — na joy, inspiration, and motivation.
Why Nigerians Love Pele
Back then, plenty Nigerians dey call their pikin “Pele” or use am for nickname. Na sign of respect. Even before Super Eagles begin shine, Nigerians dey watch Brazil and support them because of Pele. For street football, if pesin play pass everybody, dem go shout: “Omo, you be Pele o!”
Final Tori
For dis life, we go see many legends — Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, etc. But Pele na original football godfather. Na im first show di world say black man fit dominate global stage with legwork and brain.
So anytime we dey talk about ball, make we respect di OG.
Because before anybody be GOAT… Pele don already be king.