Welcome to our tribute to the undisputed Master of the World's Game.
I truly consider myself fortunate to have met Edson Arantes do Nascimento.
No doubt you too are a fan of Pelé. Enjoy your visit learning more about
the legend and the man who is recognized as a global ambassador.
You can watch "The Great One", "O Rei", "The King" work his magic in the
the video clips above. Click the Selector button, next to the Play/Pause
button to see the available Pele videos.
Pele named NOC's top athlete
Friday December 17, 1999
In claiming the award, Pele beat out a list of Olympic greats
including Muhammad Ali and Carl Lewis. AP
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- The world's National Olympics
Committees have voted Brazilian soccer star Pele as No. 1 in
their top five Athletes of the Century even though he's the only
one of the five who didn't take part in the Olympics.
Behind Pele come Muhammad Ali, who won the Olympic
light-heavyweight boxing title in 1960 before becoming a
heavyweight megastar as a pro, Carl Lewis, who won nine athletics
gold medals in four Games between 1984-96, basketball star
Michael Jordan, who was among the United States "Dream Team" gold
medalists in '92, and Mark Spitz, who won seven swimming titles
at the '72 Games at Munich.
The NOCs also listed their top five leaders in sport with Baron
Pierre de Coubertin, architect of the modern Olympics and
International Olympic Committee president from 1896-1925, as No.
1 ahead of current IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch, who has
held the position since 1980.
Former FIFA president Joao Havelange was third ahead of Primo
Nebiolo, who was president of the International Amateur Athletic
Federation for 18 years until his death last month, and Avery
Brundage, IOC president from 1952-72.
