Rest in peace to the king of all kings, the boy wonder, the legend, Pelé.
Here is everything you need to know about just how great he was, and the common misconceptions surrounding him.
A thread, in his honour.🧵👑⚽️
Here is everything you need to know about just how great he was, and the common misconceptions surrounding him.
A thread, in his honour.🧵👑⚽️
The main thing surrounding the idea of Pelé to a lot of young fans is the idea that he was good, only because he played against weaker teams all his career.
Utter nonsense.
This thread will discuss how great he was and how he completely dominated everyone in world football.
Utter nonsense.
This thread will discuss how great he was and how he completely dominated everyone in world football.
Pelé played 795 full games worth of minutes across official games in his career, scoring 756 goals, and racking up 367 assists, a rate of 1.41 per 90.
Here’s how it compares to some other all-time great attackers.
Here’s how it compares to some other all-time great attackers.
Despite what many think, Pelé didn’t just play as a striker (No.9).
He moved roles across his career, but played mainly as a “Ponta de lança”, a second striker/number 10.
Similar to Lionel Messi in a way, he was simply way to good at football to play solely as a striker.
He moved roles across his career, but played mainly as a “Ponta de lança”, a second striker/number 10.
Similar to Lionel Messi in a way, he was simply way to good at football to play solely as a striker.
Here’s a lovely video of some of his best goals.
It is important to note that with footage from those times, the frame rate can make players appear a lot slower and more robotic than they actually were.
It is important to note that with footage from those times, the frame rate can make players appear a lot slower and more robotic than they actually were.
It’s also a myth that he was so prolific just because of the era.
The scoring rate of that era wasn’t too different to the elite European modern game, about 5% higher scoring than now.
Even when judging his attacking output as a % of team goals scored, he’s still above the lot.
The scoring rate of that era wasn’t too different to the elite European modern game, about 5% higher scoring than now.
Even when judging his attacking output as a % of team goals scored, he’s still above the lot.
One attempted criticism of Pelé is that he never played in Europe.
This would be similar to saying Lionel Messi never played in South America, it is completely irrelevant.
The Brazilian league was just as strong (probably stronger) than any European league at the time.
This would be similar to saying Lionel Messi never played in South America, it is completely irrelevant.
The Brazilian league was just as strong (probably stronger) than any European league at the time.
Brazil won 3/4 World Cups between 1958 and 1970, with every single player in those squads playing their club football in Brazil.
It is a simple fact that a lot of the best players in the world at the time played in Brazil.
It is a simple fact that a lot of the best players in the world at the time played in Brazil.
Now, although he never played for a European team, he did play many games against the best European teams, and my god did he completely dominate them.
Throughout his career, Santos with Pelé toured Europe as a more lucrative option, these were classed as ‘friendlies’.
Throughout his career, Santos with Pelé toured Europe as a more lucrative option, these were classed as ‘friendlies’.
They were ‘friendly’ by name only, as footage exists of these fierce matches, which drew massive crowds, often in excess of 100,00 people.
These games took place nearly every 3 days, an insane volume.
How did Pelé fair against European teams in these games?
Here you go.
These games took place nearly every 3 days, an insane volume.
How did Pelé fair against European teams in these games?
Here you go.
One reason Pelé didn’t move to a European club, was because he was legally declared a Brazilian national treasure, preventing him from transferring to a European club.
It makes 0 sense that a player with a World Cup record as elite as Pelé’s would have spent his club career playing against poor opposition, and then randomly be so good at World Cups.
His astonishing World Cup record:
14 games 🏟
12 goals (0 pens) ⚽️
8 opta assists 🎯
His astonishing World Cup record:
14 games 🏟
12 goals (0 pens) ⚽️
8 opta assists 🎯
Pelé tops nearly every single category, but he was extremely prominent as a youngster.
Messi, R9, Neymar, Mbappe etc, all phenomenal youngsters, not a touch on how consistently brilliant Pelé was.
He would be top of a graph like this for every age between 16-24.
Messi, R9, Neymar, Mbappe etc, all phenomenal youngsters, not a touch on how consistently brilliant Pelé was.
He would be top of a graph like this for every age between 16-24.
In his prime as a 21-22 year old in 1961-62, Pelé played 68 90s in official games.
He scored 108 goals (8 pens) and registered 58 assists, 2.44 G/A per 90 across two years in his prime.
In ‘friendly’ games vs European teams in this time frame, 176 goals in 124 games.
He scored 108 goals (8 pens) and registered 58 assists, 2.44 G/A per 90 across two years in his prime.
In ‘friendly’ games vs European teams in this time frame, 176 goals in 124 games.
Although this thread shows G/A stats in some cases, please know that solely using G/A is a very big disservice to how good he was.
A phenomenal all round attacker, dribbling, passing, finishing, one of footballs magic genius’s, an innovator.
A phenomenal all round attacker, dribbling, passing, finishing, one of footballs magic genius’s, an innovator.
Big game player (1)
When going into detail, you’ll find his performances and record in big games is phenomenal.
Even in the big anticipated European tour games vs Madrid and Benfica etc, he was usually the star of the show, often over-shadowing the likes of Eusebio, Puskas etc.
When going into detail, you’ll find his performances and record in big games is phenomenal.
Even in the big anticipated European tour games vs Madrid and Benfica etc, he was usually the star of the show, often over-shadowing the likes of Eusebio, Puskas etc.
Big game player (2).
If you took his numbers from ‘big games’ (Finals, Major international tournaments, KO stage club tournaments, games vs top 10 nations):
79 matches 🏟
75 goals ⚽️
51 assists 🎯
Genuinely mind-blowing, no stage or team could stop him.
If you took his numbers from ‘big games’ (Finals, Major international tournaments, KO stage club tournaments, games vs top 10 nations):
79 matches 🏟
75 goals ⚽️
51 assists 🎯
Genuinely mind-blowing, no stage or team could stop him.
A clip of him toying with the Franz Beckenbauer.
I repeat, not a player or team on the planet was a match for Pelé, if you want to disregard him because of the opponents he played, then you have to disregard that 20 year period of football entirely.
I repeat, not a player or team on the planet was a match for Pelé, if you want to disregard him because of the opponents he played, then you have to disregard that 20 year period of football entirely.
Another criticism people often state about him, is that he ‘only’ won the Copa Libertadores (UCL equivalent) on two occasions.
In reality, due to touring Europe, he only played in 3 editions, playing 15 games.
He registered 17 goals and 11 assists in those games, mind-blowing.
In reality, due to touring Europe, he only played in 3 editions, playing 15 games.
He registered 17 goals and 11 assists in those games, mind-blowing.
He never won the Copa America, again, touring games often stopped him from taking part.
He only played in one edition, 1959, aged 18.
6 games 🏟
8 goals ⚽️
2 assists 🎯
He was player of the tournament, obviously.
He only played in one edition, 1959, aged 18.
6 games 🏟
8 goals ⚽️
2 assists 🎯
He was player of the tournament, obviously.
Along with his phenomenal technical ability and tactical astuteness, Pelé was a sheer freak of nature physically.
A 1975 article from the New York Times found he could run 100m in 11 seconds, and had a heart rate 39% lower than the average athlete.
nytimes.com
A 1975 article from the New York Times found he could run 100m in 11 seconds, and had a heart rate 39% lower than the average athlete.
nytimes.com
How was Pelé viewed by people at the time? His fellow peers, fans etc?
Interestingly, France Football (Balon D’Or magazine), ran a player of the century vote, asking every Balon D’Or winner who they thought was the best player of the 20th century.
Pelé won, comfortably.
Interestingly, France Football (Balon D’Or magazine), ran a player of the century vote, asking every Balon D’Or winner who they thought was the best player of the 20th century.
Pelé won, comfortably.
France Football also published a re-evaluation of the Balon D’Or, stating who would have won if South American’s could have won the award before 1995.
They decided Pelé would have won the Balon D’Or on 7 occasions.
The same number Lionel Messi currently has, quite fitting.
They decided Pelé would have won the Balon D’Or on 7 occasions.
The same number Lionel Messi currently has, quite fitting.
Some of my favourite quotes on Pelè from previous players.
Starting with four of the greatest players to ever play the game.
Puskás, Cruyff, Platini and Beckenbauer giving their thoughts on Pelé.
Starting with four of the greatest players to ever play the game.
Puskás, Cruyff, Platini and Beckenbauer giving their thoughts on Pelé.
Bobby Charlton, Just Fontaine and Tarcisio Burgnich (defender who faced Pelé in the 1970 World Cup.
Before Pelé, 10 was just another number, he made it iconic.
He was the first global superstar in football, a man who transcended the sport like no other, a man who brought joy to millions.
I don’t wish to offend anybody with releasing this.
He was the first global superstar in football, a man who transcended the sport like no other, a man who brought joy to millions.
I don’t wish to offend anybody with releasing this.
Data helped by: @Trachta10 @pelesburner part of the people who do great historical research to get us accurate assist data for players like Pelé.
Partly inspired by @SelecaoTalk too, thanks.
Partly inspired by @SelecaoTalk too, thanks.
One thing this thread doesn’t capture is his cultural significance, he was huge.
It also doesn’t capture his magical ability with a ball, well not properly at least.
One of my favourite things I’ve seen on here, “We won’t work today, we are going to see Pelé”, Mexico City.
It also doesn’t capture his magical ability with a ball, well not properly at least.
One of my favourite things I’ve seen on here, “We won’t work today, we are going to see Pelé”, Mexico City.
@Sendo922 Thank you for the first video of Pelé, go and follow him.
And yes as some have pointed out, I was writing this thread over the last couple of days, and finished it this morning.
I am not trying to be opportunistic, I make no money or anything from this, I just wanted to pay respects in a way that combines what this page does.
I am not trying to be opportunistic, I make no money or anything from this, I just wanted to pay respects in a way that combines what this page does.
Another thing missed out was the sheer amount of fouls he received, in the ‘59 Copa America he was fouled 16 (yes, sixteen) times per match, Maradona ‘86 was fouled 7 times per match, Messi ‘22 3 times per match.
Him being constantly butchered in the ‘66 word cup led to the introduction of red cards in the ‘70 World Cup.
Please, if you haven’t already, maybe watch the Netflix documentary about him.
His statistics are so good they often sound fake, so people assume it was all easy, and nothing to be taken serious.
His statistics are so good they often sound fake, so people assume it was all easy, and nothing to be taken serious.
But when you really watch the footage, you watch what it means to people, you watch the crowds roar for him, you see what brilliance he had with a ball.
He was an icon, a global superstar, the first in football.
Watch some footage, read some articles.
Rest in peace, Pelé.
He was an icon, a global superstar, the first in football.
Watch some footage, read some articles.
Rest in peace, Pelé.
Loading suggestions...