Pelé
Awards & Honours
17
Awards Won
9
Honours
8
Rankings
7
Covers
6
Records
Pelé's three World Cup victories stand alone in men's football history. He was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee and jointly awarded FIFA Player of the Century. His 1,279 career goals remain a Guinness World Record. He was the youngest player to appear in a World Cup final at 17 and the youngest to win it. Pelé was also the first footballer to be named an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. His legacy as the global ambassador for 'The Beautiful Game' transformed football into a worldwide phenomenon.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)
Awarded for services to football.
Grand Cross of the Order of Rio Branco
Highest Brazilian order for distinguished service.
Commander of the Order of Prince Henry
Awarded for contributions to sport and culture.
Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
Star at 7060 Hollywood Boulevard.
Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame
Inducted into the museum's Hall of Fame.
American Soccer Hall of Fame
Inducted for his contributions to soccer in the US.
Honorary Doctorate from University of Edinburgh
Honorary Doctor of Laws.
Honorary Doctorate from University of Massachusetts Boston
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
UNESCO Champion for Sport
Appointed as a champion to promote sport and education.
Rankings & Lists
World Player of the Century
FIFA Player of the Century
Athlete of the Century
100 Most Important People of the 20th Century
Greatest Players of the 20th Century
Top 100 Athletes of the 20th Century
100 Greatest Footballers of All Time
Top 100 Footballers of All Time
Magazine Covers
Time
June 20, 1969
Pelé: The King of Soccer
Sports Illustrated
June 22, 1970
Pelé: The World's Greatest Athlete
Rolling Stone
August 7, 1975
Pelé: The King of Soccer Comes to America
National Geographic
June 1975
Pelé: The King of Soccer
People
October 1, 1977
Pelé: The King Says Goodbye
Vogue (Brazil)
1970
Pelé in a tuxedo
GQ (Brazil)
2012
Pelé in a suit
Records & Feats
Most career goals in football (1,279)
Guinness World Record for most goals scored in a career, including friendlies.
Only male player to win three FIFA World Cups
Won in 1958, 1962, and 1970, a record unmatched by any other male player.
Youngest player to appear in a World Cup final
At 17 years and 249 days, he played in the 1958 final.
Youngest player to win a World Cup
He won his first World Cup at age 17.
Most goals for Brazil national team (77)
Held the record for over 50 years until surpassed by Neymar.
Most goals in a single match (8)
Scored eight goals for Santos against Botafogo in 1964.