The journey started in 1955 and molded a teenager into a legendary football player. However, nobody ever imagined witnessing the journey end like this. Fans can’t cope with the trauma after losing The King, Pele. He needs no introduction, as his contribution to the professional football world changed everything. He shaped the Brazilian national football team and paved the path for other players to North America. However, many still wonder about Pele net worth and how much he left for his kids. Keep reading to know more.
Early Life
Born on October 23, 1940, in Tres Coracoes, to Celeste Arantes and Fluminense footballer Dondinho, Pele’s real name was Edson. But he received the nickname Pele during his school days. Unfortunately, he grew up in poverty and used to work in tea shops to earn extra money. In fact, he didn’t have money to buy a football. So he played with a sock stuffed with newspaper, and his father played a crucial figure in shaping his skills. He played in several amateur teams in his youth and finally played for the state youth championships. Soon indoor football (futsal) games became popular in the region, and Pele credited futsal for shaping his thinking abilities.
Pele Career
From Santos Club To World Cup
Pele impressed Santos’s coach when he was just 15 and continued to earn credit for his marvelous football skills. The local media highly promoted him, and in late 1956 he made his debut as a senior team player. At age 16, he became the top scorer in the football league. Ten months later, the Brazil national team called Pele and tried to sign the contract. But Angelo Moratti was forced to tear it at Santos’ chairman’s request. But after his 1958 World Cup, the government of Brazil’s President declared Pele “an official player” of the Brazil national team and called him an “official national treasure.”
In his first World Cup, Pele scored a hat-trick and became the youngest player in World Cup history to achieve such a thing. He also became the youngest player to play World Cup at 17. In 1959, Pele played in the South American Championship. Although Brazil came second, Pele became the top scorer with eight goals and also made goals against Chile. In the 1962 World Cup, Pele became the best-rated player in the world. But in the 1966 World Cup, Pele met with brutal injuries by Portuguese and Bulgarian defenders. But he took revenge by defeating Bulgaria.
Pele Joined New York Cosmos
After the 1974 season, Pele announced his retirement from Brazilian club football. But he occasionally appeared in official competitive matches for Santos. However, he took semi-retirement when he joined the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League. In a press conference, the Cosmos stated that although the US had many superstars, nothing at Pele’s level. Everyone wanted to take a picture with him and shake his hand. He also opened the door to other football players to play in North America, hinting at Pele net worth as huge as his name.
Personal Life
Pele Had Several Romantic Partners
Pele had several affairs; to your surprise, he married three times. In 1966, he married Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi, and they had two daughters and one son. However, the couple divorced in 1982. From 1981 to 1986, he romantically stayed with Xuxa, a TV presenter. She was just 17 when she started dating him. But Pele married Assiria Lemos Seixas, a psychologist and gospel singer. She gave birth to twins through fertility treatments. But later divorced in 2008.
Pele also had two more children from his affair with a housemaid. His illegitimate daughter Sandra Machado fought for years for her rights. But Pele refused DNA tests until the court ordered that proved she was his daughter. But unfortunately, she died in 2006 of cancer. Did she take the step for Pele’s money? What is Pele net worth? But it isn’t the end of Pele’s affairs. At 73, Pele announced that he was planning to marry Marcia Aoki, 41, a Japanese-Brazilian importer. They had been dating since 2010 and married in July 2016.
Multiple Controversies
In 1970 the Brazilian military dictatorship investigated Pele for suspected leftist sympathies. The investigation started when he handed in a manifesto calling for the political prisoners’ release. But later, he didn’t involve in political struggles in the country. Six years later, he participated in the interrupted Lagos WCT tournament. He and his team were restricted from leaving the country. But when the airport was opened, he quickly left the country disguised as a pilot.
In January 1995, Pele joined as minister of sports. But many reports suggest that during his tenure, multiple corruption-related cases surfaced. He later resigned from his post in 1998. It might affect Pele net worth. Despite this, he made public appearances. But he was often criticized for his conservative views. He later published an open letter in June 2022 to the President of Russia to stop the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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Pele’s Death Left The World In Deep Remorse
In December 2022, Pele was hospitalized at the Albert Einstein Hospital. As per the news, his tumor was advanced, and he needed greater care related to cardiac and renal dysfunctions. Sadly, he died on December 29, 2022, at 82, due to multiple organ failure. It took the media by storm, and soon everyone gave their tribute to Pele. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and other major sports figures and leaders paid their tribute. As per the source, his funeral will take place on January 2 or 3, 2023, at Santos’ stadium. Then he will be buried at Memorial Necropole Ecumenica.
Pele Net Worth
Pele had a net worth of around $100 million at his death. Besides his football career, Pele was also a part of UNESCO and was a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. He joined as sports minister and worked to reduce corruption in Brazilian football, later known as Pele law. Pele also received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. He did many endorsements and ambassador work.
The King has died now, creating a wave of sorrow worldwide. However, he will be remembered as no one can ever take his place. Stay tuned. TechRadar247 will keep you updated.