Tell about Pele ?

Pele won three World Cups, two World Club Championships and nine Sao Paulo State Championships.

Pele was named after American inventor Thomas Edison, his real name being Edson Arantes do Nascimiento.

Pele was signed by Santos when he was 15. He scored four goals on his league debut in a match against FC Corinthians on September 7, 1956.

Waldemar de Brito, another great Brazilian forward, is credited with discovering Pele, taking him to Santos, and telling them then that he was going to be "the greatest football player in the world."

At 17, Pele became the youngest ever winner of a World Cup. He also scored twice in the final against home side Sweden.

Pele was appointed as Minister of Sport in Brazil in 1995, serving until 1998.

Pele was voted athlete of the century by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1999.

In 1997, Pele was given an honorary British Knighthood.

On November 19, 1969, Pele scored his 1000th career goal. Hundreds raced onto the pitch to mob the Brazilian star and it took over 30 minutes for the game to resume.

At Santos, November 19 is known as 'Pele Day' to celebrate the anniversary of his 1,000th goal.

Pele is fifth on the all-time World Cup goalscorers list with 12 - and the second highest-placed Brazilian behind Ronaldo.

When Pele retired, J.B. Pinheiro, the Brazilian ambassador to the United Nations, said: "Pele played football for 22 years, and in that time he did more to promote world friendship and fraternity than any other ambassador anywhere."

In 1967, a 48-hour ceasefire was declared in Nigeria so that Federal and Rebel troops could watch Pele play on a visit to the war-torn nation.

Pele said in 2006: "For 20 years they have asked me the same question, who is the greatest? Pele or Maradona? I reply that all you have to do is look at the facts - how many goals did he score with his right foot or with his head?"