Who am I?
As written by Freddie, age 6, from Water Orton Primary School.
I am Pelé I am very good at football. I was a footballer when I was a teenager and I died in 2020. When I was little, I didn’t have much money for a football so I had to make one myself. I am a very good person to support because of my football talents and I am an inspirational person for many footballers.
What am I known for?
I am known for scoring 1000 goals and playing in the FIFA World Cup. I even beat a world record for the amount of goals that I scored! I am a good person to support because I was a team player and always helped to support my friends.
Extra information from the Amazing People Team
Thanks Freddie! Here’s some extra information from us.
Pelé was born in 1940, and in his time, he was almost certainly the most famous, if not the highest-paid athlete in the world. He led Brazil to victory in three FIFA World Cups, the only person to date to do so, ensuring his place as a national treasure. So great was his popularity that when his Brazilian team, Santos, toured Nigeria in 1967, to showcase their skills, a ceasefire was agreed in the nation’s civil war to allow everyone to watch the incredible player. FIFA actually have recorded his overall goal total at more than 1200!
Not only was Pelé an icon on the pitch, but he also used his platform to support others. In 1978, he was awarded the International Peace Award, and in 1999, he was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee. Furthermore, he used his adaptability to become Minister for Sports in Brazil, using his status to try and eliminate corruption in the sport. His creativity wasn’t only confined to the pitch, as he also created several successful documentary films and composed music pieces, such as the soundtrack for the film ‘Pelé’.
How About You?
Read the quote above from Pelé. Discuss what success looks like for you. What are you prepared to work hard for?
Freddie’s hero is Pelé, and he wrote the above information for us. If you have someone you would like us to feature, why not write about it? You need to include the strengths that they showed in their life.
Other Amazing People (you can find them on the website)
Lily Parr, similar to Pelé, also scored many goals in her career. Explore her story on our site and be inspired by her battle to be able to play football.
Other Useful Resources (available on the website)
If you are interested in exploring more about any of the strengths mentioned, please check out our Character Strength Guides.
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Image courtesy of: John Mathew Smith from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons