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Pelé

Origin: Tres Corações, Brazil
(October 23, 1940)

Heroic Values: Achievement, Caring, Humility

Background

Pelé was named Edson Arantes do Nascimento - named after Thomas Edison. His childhood friends christened him Pelé, but no-one seems to remember why. Pelé preferred the more regal sounding Edson, but Pelé stuck with him.

At 15 he was already playing professional soccer for Santos Football Club and won a World Cup with Brazil at 17. He went on to play in four World Cups, winning three - a feat unmatched. He played for Santos for twenty years, remaining loyal despite many offers from big European clubs. After retiring from Santos he played for the New York Cosmos for two years to try to bring soccer to popularity in the United States. He was voted Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999 and Footballer of the Century by FIFA in 2000.

Pelé is known for his pure joy for the game and his humility. He liked to set up goals as much as score them. Since retiring he has become a goodwill ambassador for UNESCO and worked to eradicate corruption from sport. Pelé is the poster child for the power of the World's Game and inspires Brazilians to continue playing their brand of joyful soccer.

Sources

Wikipedia
The online encyclopedia

Time 100
Henry Kissinger's profile in Time

FIFA World Cup
A profile by FIFA