Edson Arantes do Nascimento, ‘O Rei,’ was the GOAT for many fans and was voted, with Diego Maradona, player of the last century, by FIFA. In this article, we explore the 10 most incredible statistics that helped Pelé win such an amazing award.
From World Cup triumphs and an unparalleled goal-scoring record to his remarkable goals-per-game ratio and numerous hat-tricks, we’ll uncover the numbers behind the legend, showcasing why Pelé is rightfully hailed as one of the greatest footballers ever.
1. FIFA World Cup Titles: 3
Pelé may lose many records, but this one should be the last to fall: Pelé is the only football player to win three FIFA World Cups. He won in Sweden (1958), Chile (1962), and Mexico (1970).
2. Pele’s Astonishing Goal Record
Although Pelé’s three World Cup titles are incredibly difficult to achieve, the impressive milestone of over 1.000 goals elevated him to “King of Football.” However, the exact number of goals scored by Pelé is a matter of debate.
According to the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF), Pelé officially scored 778 goals in 851 games. These numbers Pelé behind Cristiano Ronaldo (891 goals) and Lionel Messi (831 goals).
Nevertheless, FIFA claims he scored over 1,200 goals, with over 1,000 for Santos. The Guinness World Records credits Pelé with 1,279 goals in 1,363 matches.
It is important to note that many of the Brazilian goals were scoredhe in friendly matches, which some argue should not carry the same weight as goals scored in competitive matches.
3. Pele’s Goals Per Game Rate: 0.93
Even if the exact number of goals Pelé scored is debatable, the number of goals he scored per game remains unmatched. His total is often cited as 1,283 goals in 1,366 matches (0.93 per game).
However, most sources now agree that Pelé played 812 official matches and scored 757 goals, but even so, maintaining an impressive average of 0.93 goals per game.
4. Youngest World Cup Goal Scorer and Brazilian Hero
Pelé is the youngest player to score a goal at the FIFA World Cup. He achieved this feat at 17 years and 239 days old when scoring against Wales in 1958.
With Brazil leading France 2-1 in the semi-final, Pelé cemented their victory with a second-half hat-trick. He continued his exceptional performance in the final, scoring two more goals against Sweden to secure Brazil’s 5-2 win.
5. Pelé Score in 4 FIFA Men’s World Cups
Pelé scored in four different FIFA World Cups, a feat only matched by four other players: Uwe Seeler, Miroslav Klose, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi. Here are the 12 goals he scored throughout his World Cup career:
1958 World Cup:
- 1 goal against Wales (quarter-final)
- 3 goals against France (semi-final)
- 2 goals against Sweden (final)
1962 World Cup:
- 1 goal against Mexico
1966 World Cup:
- 1 goal against Bulgaria
1970 World Cup:
- 1 goal against Czechoslovakia
- 1 goal against Romania
- 2 goals against Italy (final)
6. Brazilian Top Scorer During 50 Years
For over 50 years, Pelé was Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, with 77 international goals, which he scored in 92 appearances until Neymar broke the record in 2023.
Neymar is now Brazil’s outright record goalscorer in men’s football. He has scored 79 goals in 128 appearances (33 more games than “The King”).
To give us an idea of Pelé’s greatness, without taking away from Neymar’s merit, he averaged 0.83 goals per game, while Neymar averaged 0.61 goals per game.
7. Pelé is One of the Top Assist Providers in Football History
A soccer assist is a pass that leads directly to a goal. The metric was first recorded by FIFA in 1994, and it’s now become one of the most commonly used stats in the global game.
Pelé, renowned for his goal-scoring prowess, also showcased exceptional playmaking abilities throughout his career. According to the official records, Pelé played 812 full games, scoring 757 goals and racking 367 assists. This means 1,41 contribution goals per game. Madness!
While “The King of Football” assist record is undeniably impressive, the title “king of assists” belongs to Ferenc Puskás. This legendary Hungarian forward boasts an astonishing 404 assists in 719 career appearances.
8. Most Goals Scored in a Calendar Year: 127
Pelé’s remarkable feat of scoring 127 goals in a calendar year (1959) is a testament to his extraordinary talent and goal-scoring ability. This record, primarily achieved while playing for Santos FC, remains a significant milestone in football history.
Pelé divided his time between football and military service in 1959. A world champion and internationally recognized at 18, he did not escape military service in 1959. The King of Football divided his time between Santos and the 6th Motorized Coastal Artillery Group in Praia Grande.
9. The Second Player in History With the Most Goals in the Same Club: 643
Pelé is widely recognized as one of the players with the most goals scored for a single club. His record of 643 goals in 659 appearances with Santos FC between 1956 and 1974 stood for decades and is considered one of the greatest individual achievements in football history.
He was surpassed by Lionel Messi when the Argentinian player achieved 672 goals in 778 appearances with Barcelona FC between 17 seasons (2003-2021). Again, look at the goals per game “The King” made compared to Leo Messi: 0.97 vs. 0.86. Insane!
10. Most Hat-Tricks Scored by a Single Player in Football: 129
Pelé’s goal-scoring prowess was simply astonishing. The football legend holds another record: the most hat tricks in history. With an incredible 129 hat tricks throughout his career, his scoring feats extended far beyond hat tricks, including a single match where he netted eight goals, 31 games with four or more goals, six games with five goals, and 92 games with three goals.
