The&nbsp;Brazilian&nbsp;legend of football celebrates his birthday today. On this day, we bring to you some of the most interesting facts and trivia about the one and only - Pele.
<img title="Pele" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2014/dec/pele23oct.jpg" alt="Pele" /> Pele. Pic/ AFP
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Pele&rsquo;s full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento.&nbsp;
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Originally nicknamed &lsquo;Dico&rsquo;, the Brazilian is also known by the nickname &lsquo;Perola Negra&rsquo; which means &lsquo;The Black Pearl&rsquo;.
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He has played for Brazil in 92 matches and has scored a remarkable 77 goals.
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He has won the FIFA World Cup title three times (1958, 1962 and 1970) and is the only player in the world to do so.
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He has officially scored 1,284 goals in his 1,363 matches throughout his career.
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Pele has also played as a goalkeeper in one game.
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Was named after Thomas A. Edison but was originally nicknamed "Dico" by his family.
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During his football career, Pele has won two Intercontinental Cups and Liberatadores Cups each (both in 1962 and 1963) with Brazilian club Santos FC, his first.
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Pele dedicated his 1,000th goal to all of the poor children in Brazil.
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He was awarded Brazil&rsquo;s Gold Medal for his remarkable services in football
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In 1992, Pele was appointed as a UN ambassador for ecology and the environment. He was later appointed a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Goodwill Ambassador.
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Although his birth certificate states his first name as Edison and date of birth as October 21, 1940, Pele publicly claims that he was born Oct 23, 1940.
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The Brazilian&nbsp;legend of football celebrates his birthday today. On this day, we bring to you some of the most interesting facts and trivia about the one and only - Pele

Birthday special: Did you know these facts about Pele?

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Birthday special: Did you know these facts about Pele?

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