Pele turned 80! Rare photos and facts about the Brazilian football legend
Last week on October 23, Brazil football legend Pele celebrated his 80th birthday today. Today, we take a look at his journey in football and personal life through some archived, rare photos accompanied by some funny captions on Instagram. (Pictures Courtesy/ Pele Instagram)

1/27

2/27
Pele is a football legend not only in Brazil, but all over the world. He is considerend one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
ADVERTISEMENT

3/27
Pele with his third wife Marcia Aoki on their wedding day. The couple were dating since 2010 and were married in 2016. Pele has been married a total of three times.

4/27
Pele first met Marica Aoki in the 1980s and then again in 2008. Aoki is of Japanese-Brazilian origin and is an importer in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
ADVERTISEMENT

5/27
Pele's full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento. He was named after Thomas Edson.

6/27
Pele is the son of Dondinho - a former Fluminense footballer. Pele also has two younger siblings.
Pele: When kick-off approached, only football was in my head, no matter what the distractions.
ADVERTISEMENT

7/27
Pele's emotional tribute to his mother: On International Women's Day, I want to say thank you to my mother, Dona Celeste. She did everything to allow me to devote myself to my dreams. I want to know - who are you going to pay tribute to today?

8/27
Pele is a national hero in Brazil for all he has achieved in football. Pele has been an inspiration, not only for footballers, but also people around the globe.
ADVERTISEMENT

9/27
Pele played for the Brazilian football club Santos for 19 years. He had 638 appearances and scored a whopping 619 goals. He then played for New York Cosmos in 56 appearances and scored 31 goals.

10/27
A football historian told me last week that on this day in 1972, I scored my 1100th goal - against Napoli. I loved playing in Italy but their defenders were never exactly gentle
ADVERTISEMENT

11/27
Pele played for the Brazil national team in 92 matches scoring 77 goals.

12/27
Pele is the current all-time leading goal scorer of Brazil with 77 goals.
ADVERTISEMENT

13/27
Pele has a world record for the most number of hattricks with 92.

14/27
At age 17, Pele also has the record to be the Youngest FIFA World Cup winner.
ADVERTISEMENT

15/27
Pele with Diego Maradona: Happy birthday, my friend @maradona. You will probably be having a quiet night in with a good book but I hope you also find time to have a small celebration!

16/27
Pele with Gisele Bundchen: A happy birthday to someone almost as good-looking as me, my fellow Brazilian, @gisele!
ADVERTISEMENT

17/27
Pele with Sylvester Stallone: It's the birthday of my friend, @officialslystallone. We were in a football film together. Can anyone quote me a line from it? (And happy birthday, Sly!)

18/27
Pele with Michael Schumacher: Today I want to honour @MichaelSchumacher on his 49th birthday. Keep fighting, my friend. Never give up
ADVERTISEMENT

19/27
Pele has numerous FIFA World Cup records - Youngest goalscorer, Youngest to score a hattrick, Youngest to play in a final, Youngest goalscorer in a final

20/27
Pele has won the FIFA World Cup three times with Brazil - 1958, 1962 and 1970.
ADVERTISEMENT

21/27
He got the nickname 'Pele' during his days in school.

22/27
During his childhood, Pele lived in poverty and also worked as a servant in tea stalls.
ADVERTISEMENT

23/27
In 2000, Pele was named the FIFA Player of the Century.
Pele: Everyone needs to visualise what they want to achieve in order to make things happen. Never give up

24/27
Pele has also acted in a few Hollywood films such as Escape to Victory, Hotshot, Os Trapalhoes e o Rei do Futebol.
ADVERTISEMENT

25/27
Pele also had a biopic made on him in 2016. It was named Pele - Birth of a Legend.

26/27
In 1994, Pele was named the Goodwill Ambassador for UNESCO.
ADVERTISEMENT

27/27
In 1997, Pele was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace.

