Pele – not Abedi Pele, the revered Ghanaian football star – but Pele, the Brazilian legend, icon and world’s greatest football player of all time and ages, has decided to auction his entire awards and memorabilia. The entire collection, which includes over 2000 items, will be auctioned from June 7-9 in London, attracting bids from around the world.
By October 2016, Pele will be 76 years old, so it is only natural that several people expressed amazement and curiosity on the motive behind this move.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, popularly called Pele, was born on 23 October 1940 and started his football career at the young age of 15 when he signed for Santos FC, Brazil. Prior to this time, he played for several local amateur teams. Because he came from a poor background, he became a shoemaker’s apprentice and could not afford to buy a proper ball for practice. Hence, he developed his love for football by kicking a rolled-up sock stuffed with rags around the streets of Bauru, in the state of Sao Paulo.