King In Life

At 3am on 23rd October 1940, a boy is born in the town of Três Corações, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The child’s parents, João Ramos do Nascimento (nicknamed “Dondinho”) and Dona Celeste Arantes do Nascimento, christen him Edson, after American Thomas Edison, inventor of the light bulb. However, the registrar makes two mistakes on the baby’s birth certificate. First, his date of birth is recorded as the twenty-first of October, and second, he includes the “I” in Edison. Despite the errors, he will be called Edson and will celebrate his birthday on the twenty-third.

Dondinho, a respected footballer, joins Atlético Mineiro, where he sustains a serious knee injury in his first and only professional appearance, in a match against São Cristovão of Rio de Janeiro. He is subsequently released by the club.

Edson’s family moves to Lorena in São Paulo state after Dondinho signs for the city’s amateur team, Hepacare.

Edson acquires the nickname “Pelé”. Various theories on how the name came about have circulated. One explanation is that the Brazilian was named after Vasco da Gama goalkeeper Bilé, following Edson’s early efforts in goal. In a later account, Pelé suggested that his schoolmates made the name up in class.

Pelé and family relocate to the town of Bauru.

Too poor to afford a ball, Pelé and friends begin playing football with a large sock stuffed with rags and newspapers.

At the age of six, Pelé kicks a real leather football for the first time.

Pelé starts work shining shoes at the local railway station. Simultaneously his aunt Maria gives him his first pair of shoes, which he is only allowed to wear to church on Sundays. However, he attempts to play football in them and ruins them.

Pelé enrols at Ernesto Monte Primary School in Bauru.

Pelé joins local team Cruzeirinho. He is the youngest player in the side.