Without doubt, Pelé, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is one of the greatest footballers of all time. The Brazilian combined mentality, technical skills and talent and made 1208 goals in 1363 competitions, which contributed to various national championships and three world titles with the national team of Brazil.
Both during his player career and afterwards, Pelé made several remarkable statements, both about football and his personal life.
The most remarkable quotes by Pelé:
Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.
A penalty is a cowardly way to score.
Everything is practice.
I don’t believe there is such a thing as a ‘born’ soccer player. Perhaps you are born with certain skills and talents, but quite frankly it seems impossible to me that one is actually born to be an ace soccer player
If you are first you are first. If you are second, you are nothing.
The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.
People argue between Pele or Maradona. Di Stéfano is the best, much more complete.
A lot of people, when a guy scores a lot of goals, think, ‘He’s a great player’, because a goal is very important, but a great player is a player who can do everything on the field. He can do assists, encourage his colleagues, give them confidence to go forward. It is someone who, when a team does not do well, becomes one of the leaders.
I always had a philosophy which I got from my father. He used to say, ‘Listen. God gave to you the gift to play football. This is your gift from God. If you take care of your health, if you are in good shape all the time, with your gift from God no one will stop you, but you must be prepared.’
Over the years I’ve learnt to live with two persons in my heart. One is Edson, who has fun with his friends and family; the other is the football player Pele. I didn’t want the name. ‘Pele’ sounds like baby-talk in Portuguese.
When you play against dirty players or very tough players, it’s easy to escape because you know what they’re going to do. But when the player is tough but intelligent, it’s much more difficult.
Lionel Messi is a wonderful player. Very skillful. Highly intelligent. He is not good in the air.
Edson is the person that supports Pele. Edson is the base. Pele just comes and adds the face.
I am constantly being asked about individuals. The only way to win is as a team. Football is not about one or two or three star players.
The bicycle kick is not easy to do.
If you don’t give education to people, it is easy to manipulate them.
I represent Brazil all over the world. Wherever I go I have to do my best, to not disappoint the Brazilian people. And that I’ve done.
If I pass away one day, I am happy because I tried to do my best. My sport allowed me to do so much because it’s the biggest sport in the world.
Pele doesn’t die. Pele will never die. Pele is going to go on for ever.
