Why Pele is called the Black Diamond of Football?

As football is the most famous game in the world, the best football player may rationally be regarded as one of the most famous players of the world.

Pele has been one of the best football players in the world. He was born in Brazil on October 23, 1940. His original name is Edson Arantes do Nascimanto, but people call him Pele (pearl). He has earned the nickname of Black Diamond of Football as he is a Black.

Pele was born in a poor family. He had to drop out from school in the fourth class because of his poverty. Once, he stole peanuts from a goods train and after selling these he bought a leather football. Later he took up a job with a cobbler on a measly salary of ten rupees a month.

At the age of 11, Pele came in contact with the popular football instructor Waldimar Do Brito. Under the coaching of this instructor, Pele became a top football player at the age of 18.

In 1958, Pele became a member of the Brazilian football team that took part in the world football competitions. Brazil became the world champions in football because of his skillful play.

Later, Pele participated in the world football competitions of 1962, 1966 and 1977. Between 7 September 1956 to 2 October 1974, Pele played 1254 matches and scored 1216 goals in these matches, which is a world record. Pele has become a celebrity in his life time. Many prominent tall buildings and roads in Brazil have been named after him. His statues also have been erected in the country. He has retired from football now.

For Pele, his most precious possession is a letter written to him by a blind boy from Columbia. The boy wrote, “I have not been able to see any of the hundreds of thousands of the goals scored by you, but after I heard that you had scored 999 goals, I regularly prayed to God to enable you to score the 1000th goal.” After reading the letter of the blind boy, Pele wept like a child.

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