Pele – Why Soccer Matters

Published April 1 2014 by Celebra – Penguin Publishers, Paperback edition April 7, 2015

Link to Amazon

Soccer. Football. The beautiful game. The world’s most popular sport goes by many names, but for decades, fans have agreed on one thing: the greatest player of all time was Pelé. In his book, Pelé – Why Soccer Matters, the legendary star and humanitarian shares a global vision for what soccer can accomplish.

Before Messi, before Ronaldo, before Beckham, there was Edson Arantes do Nascimento—known simply as Pelé.

A national treasure, he created pure magic with his accomplishments on the field: an unprecedented three World Cup championships and the all-time scoring record, with 1,283 goals in his twenty year career.

Excerpt from Why Soccer Matters – quoting Pelé:

“It’s ok, dad,” I told him. “One day, I promise, I’ll win the World Cup for you.” Not all sons are able to keep their promises to their dads, but Pele – the world’s most famous footballer from Brazil – won three FIFA World Cups. Considered the world player of the century, Pele has won the Ballon D’Or, been called by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century and is listed in the Guinness World Records for most career goals scored in football. Now Pele can add amazing author to his list of accomplishments.

Honestly, we are sent a lot of books to review @ SoccerToday News and Pele Why Soccer Matters created the biggest impact ever. From the moment it arrived, my husband grabbed the book and refused to put down until he finished – not to even share with me. From childhood recollections, moments of incredible wins on the field to reflections on political and social issues, Pelé opens his heart and his mind in his new book Why Soccer Matters.

It is a must read and a great gift for all Soccer Lovers world wide, especially as we celebrate the World Cup this year.

More from the publisher Penguin/Random House: 

A national treasure, Pelé created pure magic with his accomplishments on the field: an unprecedented three World Cup championships and the all-time scoring record, with 1,283 goals in his twenty year career.

Now, with the World Cup returning after more than sixty years to Brazil—the country often credited with perfecting the sport—soccer has a unique opportunity to encourage change on a global level. And as the tournament’s official ambassador, Pelé is ready to be the face of progress.

For the first time ever Pelé explores the recent history of the game and provides new insights into soccer’s role connecting and galvanizing players around the world. He has traveled the world as the global ambassador for soccer and in support of charitable organizations such as Unicef, promoting the positive influences soccer can have to transform young men and women, struggling communities, even entire nations. In groundbreaking detail and with unparalleled openness, he shares his most inspiring experiences, heartwarming stories and hard-won wisdom, and he puts the game in perspective.

This is Pelé’s legacy, his way of passing on everything he’s learned and inspiring a new generation. In Why Soccer Matters, Pelé details his ambitious goals for the future of the sport and, by extension, the world.