For all you Soccer fansPele Has there ever been a more successful football icon than Brazils Pele? In 1958, when he scored his first World Cup goal the result of a scuffed mishit that ended Waless World Cup dreams for the following seven decades could anyone have known the giant he was to become? With either foot, Pele could produce the sort of magic that inspired generations. Off the pitch, as one of the first truly global Black sports superstars, his outspoken support for improving the lives of the poor made him a national hero. Pele lifted the World Cup three times: 1958, 1962 and 1970. He remains Brazils leading goal scorer with 77 goals in 92 games. He was so famous, so beloved all around the world that in 1969, both sides in Nigerias brutal civil war agreed to a ceasefire so they could watch Pele play in an exhibition match in Lagos. A prolific goal scorer, he could play from any position on the field with vision and flair. He was never selfish, linking with other team players to produce generous assists. His charismatic leadership on and off the pitch led to a legacy lauded by figures as diverse as Nelson Mandela and Henry Kissinger. Theres Pel the man and then Pel the player, Frances Michel Platini said. And to play like Pel is to play like God.