# Chapters: Pelé, the wiki

> A part of his life, told in order: where he was, what happened and why it mattered.

- [Childhood in Três Corações and Bauru](https://pele.wiki/footballer/chapters/childhood-in-tres-coracoes-and-bauru): Edson Arantes do Nascimento grew up poor in Bauru, learning football from his father with a ball made of rags.
- [Santos: discovery and debut (1956–1957)](https://pele.wiki/footballer/chapters/santos-discovery-and-debut): At 15 Pelé joined Santos, scored on his debut, and within a year was the top scorer in São Paulo and playing for Brazil.
- [Sweden 1958](https://pele.wiki/footballer/chapters/sweden-1958): A 17-year-old Pelé scored six goals, including two in the final, as Brazil won the World Cup for the first time.
- [The peak years at Santos (1959–1965)](https://pele.wiki/footballer/chapters/the-peak-years-at-santos): With Pelé at his peak, Santos became club champions of South America and of the world, twice each.
- [Chile 1962: the injury](https://pele.wiki/footballer/chapters/chile-1962-the-injury): Pelé went to Chile as the world's best player but was injured in the second match; Brazil won the World Cup without him.
- [England 1966](https://pele.wiki/footballer/chapters/england-1966): Fouled out of two of Brazil's three matches, Pelé saw the holders go out in the first round and vowed never to play another World Cup.
- [The 1,000th goal (1969)](https://pele.wiki/footballer/chapters/the-1000th-goal-1969): On 19 November 1969 Pelé scored his 1,000th goal by the count of the time, a penalty at the Maracanã that stopped the country.
- [Mexico 1970](https://pele.wiki/footballer/chapters/mexico-1970): In his fourth and last World Cup, Pelé led one of the finest teams ever assembled to Brazil's third title.
- [Leaving Brazil and Santos (1971–1974)](https://pele.wiki/footballer/chapters/leaving-brazil-and-santos): Pelé said goodbye to the national team in 1971 and to Santos in 1974, and turned down a return for the 1974 World Cup.
- [New York Cosmos (1975–1977)](https://pele.wiki/footballer/chapters/new-york-cosmos-years): Pelé came out of retirement to play for the New York Cosmos, drew huge crowds, and finished with the 1977 NASL title.
- [After football](https://pele.wiki/footballer/chapters/after-football): After retiring, Pelé acted, wrote, represented the UN and UNESCO, and served as Brazil's first Minister of Sport.
- [Illness, death and legacy](https://pele.wiki/footballer/chapters/illness-death-and-legacy): Pelé died of colon cancer in December 2022 at 82; more than 230,000 people filed past his coffin in Santos.