Pelé was born on 23 October 1940 in Três Corações. A Brazilian footballer, Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, began his career at Santos at the age of fifteen and was a member of the Brazil squad that won the World Cup in 1958 at seventeen. He won it again in 1962 and in 1970, the only player to win three World Cups. A forward noted for skill, vision and scoring, he is credited with well over a thousand goals in his career. He played for the New York Cosmos in the 1970s, which helped to popularise the sport in the United States, and later served as Brazil's minister of sport. He is regarded as one of the greatest players in history.
Before and after
- 27 September 1940Tripartite Pact
- 9 October 1940Birth of John Lennon
- from 19 October 1940 to 24 October 1940Official visit by Heinrich Himmler to Spain
- 21 October 1940Publication of For Whom the Bell Tolls
- 23 October 1940Birth of Pelé
- from 28 October 1940 to 1 June 1941World War II in the Balkans
- from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941Greco-Italian War
- 13 November 1940Release of Fantasia
- 18 November 1940Birth of Qaboos bin Said Al Said
More in Society, economy & sport
- 1915Armenian Genocide
- from 1919 to 1946Founding of League of Nations
- 1920Origins of National Football League
- from 13 July 1930 to 30 July 1930The first FIFA World Cup is played in Uruguay
- 11 December 1931Founding of Commonwealth of Nations
- 22 July 1944Founding of International Monetary Fund
The era
This moment belongs to the Modern era (1914 CE to 1945 CE), world wars and a changing world. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.