On October 23, 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil, soccer legend Pelé was born as Edson Arantes Do Nascimento. His parents were João Ramos do Nascimento who was Pelé's father and was also a professional soccer player and Celeste Arantes who was his mother. Maria Lúcia Nascimento and Zeca Nascimento are Pelé's sisters. Pele and his family lived in the city of Bauru. Pele grew up in poverty so it wasn’t such a pleasant childhood. Also Pele’s friends were the ones that first called him Pele. Pele was first spotted at the age of 11 by former Brazilian international Waldemar de Brito who was also an amazing brazilian soccer player. Waldemar De Brito finally convinced Pelé's family …show more content…
He was supposed to retire in 1974 but then had financial problems and was lured back to the field to play for two years for the Cosmos. After retiring he became an ambassador for UNICEF. UNICEF is a program for kids in need of help and is also a fund to help them get shelter and food. So instead of just living life at home Pele decided to go to UNICEF to try and help people to live a better life.What influenced him was the racism and people who had hope in him to show that colored people are as good as whites. His dad also influenced him since he was also a professional soccer player. Pele influenced a lot of people to do what people told you can't do, which was either because of your religion, skin color, or ability to do so. Pele had many years of practice to become the amazing player he was, and Pele showed that no matter what, with a lot of practice you will become amazing at what you do. Pele did what a lot of people said he couldn't do because of his skin color, but showed that your physical appearance doesn't matter. One of Pele's quotes is "Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing". Right now Pele is still living at the age of 74 working at his coffee