The late, great Pele is right up there whenever there is a discussion of the greatest players of all-time. The Brazilian icon played over the 50s, 60s and 70s, and earned a huge number of records to his name.
‘O Rei’ played club football almost exclusively for his boyhood club, Santos before moving to New York Cosmos in 1974. He played in the United States until 1977 before eventually hanging up his boots.
Records and titles held by Pele
Here is a list of records held by the iconic centre-forward:
- Three World Cups with Brazil (1958, 1962 and 1970).
- Six time Brasileiro Serie A champion with Santos (1961, 1962, 1964, 1964, 1964, 1965 and 1968).
- Two time Copa Libertadores winner with Santos (1962 and 1963).
- Two time Intercontinental Cup winner with Santos (1962 and 1963).
- One time Intercontinental Super Cup winner (1968).
- One time NASL Soccer Bowl winner with the New York Cosmos (1977).
- 10x Campeonato Paulista winner with Santos (1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1973).
- Four time Torneio Rio-Sao winner with Santos (1959, 1963, 1964 and 1966).
Pele was offered an honorary Ballon d’Or in 2014, in recognition for his incredible contribution to the sport. Here is a list of unique individual honours and records that he also holds:
- Only player to win three World Cups in history.
- Campeonato Paulista top scorer with Santos (1957, 1958, 199,1960, 1961,1962,1963, 1964,1965, 1969, 1973).
- FIFA World Cup Best Young Player with Brazil in 1958.
- FIFA World Cup All-Star team (1958 and 1970).
- Best player and top scorer of the Copa America 1959.
- Top scorer of the Intercontinental Cup in 1962 and 1963.
- Top scorer of the Copa Libertadores in 1965.
- South American Footballer of the Year in 1973.
- NASL Most Valuable Player in 1976.
- Member of the NASL All-Star team in 1975, 1976 and 1977.
- Since 1994 he has been a member of the FIFA World Cup All-Time Team.
- In 1997 he received the MARCA Leyenda.
- Member of the World Team of the 20th Century.
- Best player of the 20th century according to the IFFHS.
- Best South American player of the 20th century according to IFFHS.
- FIFA Player of the 20th Century.
- Copa America Historic Selection.
- International Football Hall of Fame.