Edson Arantes do Nascimento

Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players in history. A forward for the Brazilian national team, he is the only player ever to win three FIFA World Cup titles, achieving the feat in 1958, 1962, and 1970. In 1999, the International Olympic Committee named him Athlete of the Century, and he was a joint winner of the FIFA Player of the Century award. He served as Brazil's minister of sports from January 1995, resigning on April 30, 1998, and released his autobiography in 2006.