Why Soccer Matters: A Look at More Than Sixty Years of International Soccer

by Pelé

Pelé—legendary footballer and humanitarian—explores the sport’s recent history and shares his most inspiring experiences, heartwarming stories, and hard-won wisdom.

“I know in my heart that soccer was good to me, and great to the world....I saw, time and again, how the sport improved countless millions of lives, both on and off the field. For me, at least, that’s why soccer matters.”

The world’s most popular sport goes by many names—soccer, football, the beautiful game—but fans have always agreed on one The greatest player of all time was Pelé. Before Messi, before Ronaldo, before Beckham, Pelé had a stunning twenty-year career, where he was heralded as an international treasure. His accomplishments on the field proved to be pure an unprecedented three World Cup championships and the all-time scoring record, with 1,283 goals. Since retiring, he has traveled the world as soccer’s global ambassador, relentlessly promoting the positive ways soccer can transform young men and women, struggling communities, even entire nations.

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.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Soccer, Biography, Football, Memoir, Biography Memoir

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2014

About the author

Edison Arantes do Nascimento, KBE, best known by his nickname Pelé, was a Brazilian football player. He was given the title of Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee. Time magazine listed Pelé as one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century. While his birth certificate shows his first name as Edison (after Thomas Edison), he preferred to call himself Edson, but it was as Pelé that he had become a sporting legend.

In his native Brazil, Pelé was hailed as a national hero. He was known for his accomplishments and contributions to the game of football in addition to being officially declared football ambassador of the world by FIFA and a national treasure by the Brazilian government. He was also acknowledged for his vocal support of policies to improve the social conditions of the poor (when he scored his 1,000th goal he dedicated it to the poor children of Brazil). During his career, he became known as "The King of Football" (O Rei do Futebol), "The King Pelé" (O Rei Pelé) or simply "The King" (O Rei). He was also a member of the American National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Spotted by football star Waldemar de Brito, Pelé began playing for Santos at 15 and his national team at 16, and won his first World Cup at 17. Despite numerous offers from European clubs, the economic conditions and Brazilian football regulations at the time benefited Santos, thus enabling them to keep Pelé for almost two decades until 1974. Pelé played as an inside forward, striker, and what later became known as the playmaker position. Pelé's technique and natural athleticism have been universally praised and during his playing years he was renowned for his excellent dribbling and passing, his pace, powerful shot, exceptional heading ability, and prolific goalscoring.

He was the all-time leading scorer of the Brazil national football team and is the only footballer to be a part of three World Cup-winning teams. In 1962 he was on the Brazilian squad at the start of the World Cup but due to an injury suffered in the second match, he wasn't able to play the remainder of the tournament. In November 2007 FIFA announced that he would be awarded the 1962 medal retroactively, making him the only player in the world to have three World Cup winning medals.

Since his retirement in 1977, Pelé had been a worldwide ambassador for football and had undertaken various acting roles and commercial ventures.

Reviews

[Mahdi · Rating 4 out of 5]

هفت یا هشت ساله بودم که داخل پارک با خجالت شدید به پسری که تقریبا هم قد و هم سن خودم بود پیشنهاد دادم میای فوتبال بازی کنیم؟
و عجیب ترین جواب زندگیم تا اون لحظه رو شنیدم :
من فوتبال بلد نیستم.
داخل دنیای کوچک بچگی من بلد نبودن فوتبال عجیب ترین و نادر ترین اتفاق دنیا بود. یک پسر یک بچه فوتبال بلد نباشه؟
فوتبال اونقدری از همون سن کم برام مهم بود که باور نمیکردم یک آدم چیزی از فوتبال بازی کردن ندونه. از بازی های آسونی که لازمه فقط با حرکات پات یه توپ رو جلو ببری و شوت کنی.
اونقدری این مستطیل سبز برام ارزشمند بود که پسِ ذهنم همه رو فوتبالی میدونستم.
فوتبال تنها ورزشی هست که میتونه ملت ها رو متحد یا حتی دشمن کنه. میتونه باعث وقوع یه اتفاق سیاسی بزرگ یا شدید ترین شادی مردم فقیر و ثروتمند بشه.
فوتبال تنها ورزشی هست که سیاست از اون بیشترین استفاده رو میکنه تا خودش رو پاک نشون بده. پس لازم نیست بخوام‌ بگم فوتبال چرا و چقدر مهمه.
فوتبال به اندازه ای مهم هست که حکومت کمونیستی شوروری در تلاش بود ثابت کنه با وجود کمونیست و این نوع حکومت وحشتناک میتونه قهرمانی جام جهانی رو بگیره و باعث پیشرفت کشورش شده.
فوتبال ویترینی برای انجام هر حرکتی از جمله کارهای خیر و محبت‌ها تا نمادگرایی و اعتراضات و حرکات سیاسی و‌ دشمنی بزرگ‌ ملت هاست. فوتبال زمین سبز مستطیلی شکلی نیست که فقط یه توپ در جریان و ۲۲ نفر به دنبالش هستن. فوتبال یعنی کشته شدن بازیکن کلمبیایی بعد از گل به خودی در جام جهانی به ضرب گلوله. فوتبال یعنی درمان بیماری بزرگ کودکی به واسطه فروش بازوبند کاپیتانی رونالدو. فوتبال یعنی چرخش و دریبل‌های ماورایی زیدان و دفاع از غرورش با از دست دادن جام جهانی ۲۰۰۶.
فوتبال یعنی سقوط هواپیمای یونایتد و چاپه کوئنسه.
فوتبال یک ورزش ساده نیست همینطور که داخل جام جهانی اخیر قطر بهمون ثابت شد
بزرگترین پدیده دنیاست برای هر استفاده‌ای از سیاست تا دلخوشی یک ملت.

کتاب چرا فوتبال مهم است به بررسی سه قهرمانی ادسون ارانتس دوناسینمتو یا همون پله‌ی معروف خودمون در جام جهانی پرداخته. به جام جهانی ۱۹۵۰ در برزیل و شکست طلایی پوشها در خاک خودشون. و به اواخر عمر فوتبالی پله در آمریکا به عنوان یک چهره تبلیغاتی.
کتاب از جام جهانی ۱۹۵۰ تا قبل از ۲۰۱۴ رو به طور خلاصه و به شکل یک داستان فوتبالی روایت میکنه. پس لازم نیست اطلاعات فوتبالی زیادی داشته باشید و میتونید به عنوان یک داستان ورزشی هم این کتاب رو بخونید.
داستان روانی داشت و بسیار لذت بردم. برای کسایی مثل ما که نتونستن بازی‌های بزرگ پله رو در سالیان دور ببینن حتما این کتاب مفید هستش. ای کاش پله این کتاب رو بعد از جام جهانی ۲۰۱۴ می‌نوشت و درباره شکست تحقیرآمیز برزیل مقابل ژرمن و سون آپ معروف هم صحبت می‌کرد.
در کل از کتاب لذت بردم و مثل همیشه بهم ثابت شد درباره مهم بودن فوتبال درست فکر می‌کنم.

[Max]

We all know Pele the god of soccer that amazed the world every 4 years at the world cup starting in Sweden 1958 all the way to Mexico 1970. The all time goal scoring record holder, 3 time world champion, and national treasure to Brazil. Athlete of the year and one of Time Magazines’ 20th century top 100 famous people. But what about Edson Arantes do Nascimento the poor boy from Bauru whose whole life revolved around soccer. In the book Why Soccer Matters we read about the affect of soccer on not only Pele’s life but the whole nation of Brazil and even globally.
I really enjoyed Why Soccer Matters for many different reasons. I loved the unique way of how the chapters were divided by the 5 world cups that played a part in Pele’s life, even if he didn’t play in them. We also look into his childhood being brought up in a poor neighborhood by his former soccer star dad. We read about his transformation from being the poor boy, to 3 time world cup champion, all the way to UNESCO, FIFA, and Special Olympics Leader and Ambassador.
Not only was this book a biography about him or soccer but it also showed me a whole new angle of soccer and how people can use it from good things like charity to corrupt and bad things like politics.
Overall the book Why Soccer Matters really peaked my interest about soccer. The story of how the corrupt and socially unbalanced Brazil being brought together by Soccer’s world cup really touched my heart and showed me how big of an impact something like soccer can have and how it can change the downward slope of a country and make things better.
In conclusion I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone soccer fan or not.

[Zach Sergi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Separating the man from the legend. The early years are full of cool insights into Edson’s world before the World Cup victories and Pelé stardom. As a USA boy & soccer indulger, I enjoyed learning about the early attempts of bringing soccer fandom to America and the colliding politics in Brazil.

Side note: Garrincha sounded like an absolute menace to defend against.

[Ayanava Ganguly · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the perspective of Pele throughout his career, and helped by Brian Winter so he could articulately put down his story into words, Pele has managed to captivate people around the world with his skills on a soccer field, his contributions off the field, and now his story of his life. The writing itself is quite simple, not being as complex or convoluted as some of the other books I have read, and this aids in the fact that it keeps the reader engaged even if they do not know much about soccer itself. The book starts with Pele as a young child, and how his father taught him everything he knew. From the words written on the page, Pele's love for the game even from such a young age is apparent, and it just grows as he progresses through the ranks, until he gets his chance to play in the 1958 World Cup for his country Brazil. The book continues in the format of having each part being based on a specific World Cup that Pele considered extremely important to his life and his identity; it starts with the 1950 World Cup, which is then followed by the 1958, 1970, 1994, and finally the 2014 World Cups. This format was actually quite appealing to me, who, as an avid soccer fan, enjoyed learning more about the man many consider to be the greatest of all time. As a book, it was a very easy read, and I would recommend this book to any soccer fan, any sports fan, and anyone, so they can see that anything is possible when you put your mind towards it.

[Ciaran Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pele, Why Football Matters was a really interesting book. It’s a biography about the childhood and career of the God Of Football, Pele. Being a descendant of slaves, He was born into extreme poverty in Três Corações, Brazil. translated as “Three Hearts” in English. According to Pelé, leading up to the 1950 World Cup, football unified people to calling themselves Brazillian. In the games leading up to the final, Brazil had beaten Sweden and Spain 7-1 and 6-1 respectively, but losing to Uruguay in the final. After the loss the whole country was “humbled” and put into a depression. The Brazillian goalkeeper Moacir Barbosa, became known as the man who made Brazil cry. The previous two games before the final had convinced the whole country that they were going to win. After the game, a 9-year-old Pele was determined to win the World Cup for his country, a feat he would accomplish by beating Sweden at just 17 and scoring twice to win 5-2.

In English class in 2024, we will be looking at how literature acts as both a mirror, reflecting on ourselves, our lives, and our attitudes, and as a window, providing a view of the world, other people, other places, and other conflicts. This book for me was mostly a window (mirror or window). Let me explain:
Football ( Soccer ) has been a big part of my life since I was born. My dad, started to play when he was only 4 years old, and he became a fan of professional teams as a teenager. Some of his favorite players include Didier Drogba and Ruud Gullit. He is also a fan of Chelsea and Bayern Munich. He would share his love of the beautiful game with me as soon as possible when I was little. The love for the beautiful game has stuck with me since. Reading this book has been a window for me because I now realize how football can be an escape from poverty for some people. For Pelé, this is the case. A quote that demonstrates this is on the first page where Pele says “ I’d practice using a grapefruit, or a couple of old dishrags wadded together, or even bits of trash.” This quote helps give the reader an understanding of his family's poverty. With Pelé’s 3 world cups, many goals, many trophies, and hundreds of millions of dollars in his net worth, Pelé’s story is one of the greatest examples of someone who went from rag to riches—inspiring some millions to billions of people.

Reflecting on this book, my biggest takeaway would be, that no matter what difficult situation you are put in from birth, all it takes is a lot of hard work and determination to achieve your goals.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read about one of sports most iconic figures. I really enjoyed reading about Pele's soccer exploits, but the strength of the book was actually the details about his upbringing, his love of his teammates, and his poignant observations about life and society. Non-soccer fans might enjoy the book, but the middle chapters are very heavily focused on his soccer career. In the end I really enjoyed Pele's voice and his honest, simple but beautiful outlook on life.

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this book with my soccer-obsessed kid. It was fascinating to read about the development of soccer across the world and the impact it had on the people and politics of Brazil.

[Conor Pickle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more of an autobiography and historical account of Brazil during the mid-20th century than an examination of the sport and its significance, as the title suggests.
These areas of focus turned out to be pleasant surprises, as I wasn’t overly-familiar with either, outside of understanding that Pele was essentially the Gretzky/Jordan of his sport; an athlete without equal.
It’s a tad corny at times, and not astoundingly well-written, but I can’t hold that against a career footballer.
It’s clear he was an extraordinary talent and ambassador.
People opposed or indifferent to soccer might even enjoy this record.

“I was trying to make the profession worthy of the game itself”

[Greg Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astounding book for all to enjoy whom practice anything really. "Its A Beautiful game" Pele Why Soccer Matters is inspirational read for all whom have drive and ambition with attention and self discipline of doing it elegantly. I've played soccer during the 70's as kid when was not popular but when thing you do learn is team sport which easily transcends to everyday life especially if your a team player . Must read for any soccer or sport fan or any enthusiast and advocator whom shares a humanitarian global vision for change in the world. "Everything is practice" Pele , or by family known as Edson Arantes Nascimento.

[Kevin]

An outstanding light autobiography of one of the world's greatest ever soccer players. Having grown up as part of the United State's "Pele generation," this was a delightful read and built off all those children's and young adult biographies I read as a soccer-mad youngster.
I'm not sure it ever answered the question "why soccer matters" beyond why it mattered to Pele, or maybe Brazil.
This is an excellent book if you don't know soccer and are looking for a good entry point. If you are well-read in soccer, this is just a quick, fun read that won't enlighten you a ton, but you'll still be happy you read.

[Patricio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impresionante la vida de "O Rei", libro muy sencillo y ameno de leer
¿Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart habría sido "Mozart" sin la injerencia de su padre Leopold Mozart? ¿Edson Arantes do Nascimento habría sido "Pelé" sin la injerencia de su padre João Ramos do Nascimento (Dondinho)? Definitivamente los genios son una mezcla de talento trabajo y oportunidad.

[Райна Максимова · Rating 5 out of 5]

Съжалявам, че не съм живяла с футболът на любовта от 50-те и 60-те, но във времената, когато тази любов е изместена от парите и рекламата, историята на Пеле е още по-нужна. Тя не е просто история на едно момче, тръгнало босо към големите успехи, а историята на цяла една нация, дори на човечеството.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick, breezy read and it's quite pleasurable (at least to someone who knows little about Pele's life and career). It barely addresses the title phrase, but it's not really meant to. It's a quick autobiography, and it's not one that's particularly forthcoming. It's a very positive book (in particular, his domestic issues are almost ignored, except that his first wife wished he was home more) and anyone wanting to go deep would be better off looking elsewhere.

That said, it's quite nice at being what it is.

[GolfTarde31 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning more about the different world cups Pelé went through during his career and life. There were some fun insights and anecdotes to go through! The passages on more technical/practical aspects of the game of soccer/football were some of my favorite ones.

However, I was sometimes not a fan of the writing style. It sounded a bit oral rather than written, and I did not get into some of the stories.

[Bart Krumpos · Rating 4 out of 5]

audiobook
I wish it was narrated by pelé and there was strange pacing and tangents. otherwise a uplifting story of one of the beautiful games greats

[Barb Middleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a good read! Pele looks back on highlights of his career and pivotal points in his life that are insightful. He begins as a child and the athleticism of his father to winning the World Cup as a kid then playing professionally, para olympics, and politics in Brazil. He goes from a young kid riding the wave of fame to learning what it means to be a team player. Poignant and funny.

[La-Shanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I know in my heart that soccer was good to me, and great to the world....I saw, time and again, how the sport improved countless millions of lives, both on and off the field. For me, at least, that's why soccer matters." Edson Arantes do Nascimento-known simply as Pelé. The world's most popular sport goes by two names soccer and international futbol. Futbol fans accredits the greatest player of all time - Pelé, a Black Brazilian which skills are untouched by those who followed. Pelé had a stunning twenty-year career, where he was heralded as a global treasure.

[Jonatan Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because it connects my passion for Soccer with something I have to do. I was actually reading this book so much over thanksgiving break. In the book Pele talks about why soccer matters and his life. He goes through every world cup he has played in detail telling the stories and travels of the Brazilian National Team. (including Mexico 1970) Pele says that his favorite world cup was Mexico 1970 because of the supporters,food,and his beautiful surroundings. He talks about what it means to play soccer what you have to put in to get out and how soccer has transformed him into the person he is today. Pele also talks about how he does everything. What I really loved was that he told the inspirational stories of soccer helped him through some tough times like when he played in the streets of Bauru Brazil. So to add it all up this book was amazing and this my new favorite book.

[Tom Niziolek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very entertaining and easy to read book. Pele passion and love for the game of futbol clearly shows with lighthearted and serious moments intersecting nicely. Timely because of the World Cup in Brazil now, but you can see why Pele has bridged generations and is a welcome ambassador for sport.

[Kevin Hernandez]

what aligators drink ,,, GATOR RADE :))))))

[Emanuel Ramos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readable, but...not totally that interesting. Title is misleading; he really doesn't touch on the importance of soccer until the end. Everything else is his life story. It's a quick read.

[Maxwell M. W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned lots!

[Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

The autobiography pele why soccer matters written by pele is a incredible book about his life growing up and to where he is now. The theme of pele is that behind all greatness is perseverance.

In the autobiography why soccer matters, Pele puts his ambitious goals for the future of soccer into detail. The story takes place in a poor town in maradona. Pele takes his life into more detail and explains his life in soccer and the journey to becoming a great and also talks about his life outside of soccer and the story of him being an impoverished boy whos dream is to be an excellent soccer player but not just for him but also for his dad. He talks about his interesting life and his relationships with his parents, friends, and soccer and the way it changed his life.


Analysis My reading experience for the book was amazing. I could not put the book down. It was so interesting to see how his life had become so great from being a poor boy who was struggling to get enough food to survive to becoming one of if not the greatest soccer player of all time. I loved to see his connection with his dad. In the book pele talks about how his dad was an incredible soccer player and was going professional but a career ending injury destroyed his dreams. But, this was one of the big components on peles journey because his dad pushed pele past his limits because he wanted to see his son live the dream that he couldn't. After years of hard work and dedication pele makes it and gets to live his dads dream. Meeting incredible soccer players, having millions of fans watching him, travelling around the world, Partying, and making his dad proud. Overall, Pele, Why Soccer Matters is one of if not my favorite book i have ever read.


The first type of reader that would enjoy this book is well obviously, if you love soccer you will love this book. Pele talks about what it takes to get to the big leagues and he explains his connection with soccer so if you play soccer you could relate and understand what he talks about well. Also, if you like to hear about people's life stories this book would be a great choice for you. Pele explains how he grows up from being a poor boy who struggles to survive to becoming the best soccer player of his time.

[Jackson Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Why Soccer Matters is about the life of Pelé and how he came to be the greatest soccer player of all time. Pelé was born in a small town in Brazil called Bauru. Pelé’s dad played soccer but due to and unfortunate injury, his career ended early. Pelé’s mom always discouraged him from playing soccer because she said there was no money in it and she didn’t want him to get hurt like his father did. Pelé could not contain his love for the sport and soon he became one of the greatest youth talents in Brazil. He was recruited by Santos, the best club in the world at the time, and then found his way onto the national team. He then played in the 1958, 1962, and 1970 world cups, helping the team win them all. Although, Pelé says it was not all great. Brazil was a very poor nation and the political scheme was shady. There was lots of corruption and inflation. Some of the politicians would look to the Brazilian national team because they seemed like the only way the nation could be united. After Pelé retired from the national team he went to NY and played for the Cosmos to help spread soccer to the USA. He also helped make many reforms to Brazil that helped the poor children.
I think anyone that enjoys soccer would like this book because that is the main focus of the book. Also, anyone who has heard of the legacy of Pelé but doesn’t know much about him would like it. The book shows his life from a child, to a player, to an adult. Even to someone who doesn’t like soccer, the book would still be interesting because it shows the incredible life of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, or more commonly known by his nickname, Pelé. The whole story is very entertaining and I think that everyone would benefit from reading this book because it shows global effects of Pelé, as well as soccer as a whole.
The book Why Soccer Matters is one of the best books I have read in a long time. The book had a happy feeling more often than not, and it was about something that I like. The story was very entertaining and I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. While reading the parts where Pelé is in the game, you sometimes feel like you are in the game. One of the other reasons I liked the book a lot was because it shows the story of some poor Brazilian boy, who found love in the game and made a career out of it. Also, I have always heard things about Pelé, but he played long before I was born. This book was a really good way of learning about his life. Overall, I would recommend everyone to read this book.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

For people who love the beautiful game we call football, or soccer, Why Soccer Matters is a joyful celebration of the beautiful game. It takes a look through the eyes of the late Pelé; he writes with genuine enthusiasm, and he covers thrilling victories and heartbreaking losses, and he talks about how it's magical when you step onto the pitch. When you read the book, it feels like he is sitting down with you, and he wants nothing more than to share his love for football. Pelé also focused on positivity in this book and avoided controversy. Still, his perspective brings undeniable value, especially since he is one of football's most iconic figures. This book is one of the best tributes to football's power, both emotionally and culturally, even though it avoids tough topics.

The book doesn't aim to be analytical or critical; instead, it focuses on the emotional and cultural impact of football. The book also thrives on nostalgia. Pelé's joy is contagious, and his reflections remind people who read the book about how football continues to captivate the world, even after so many generations. It's an energetic and uplifting book to read, and it delivers exactly what fans would hope for, especially from Pelé, who is one of the sport's most beloved figures.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pele describes his life as a World Cup soccer player during the 50s, 60s and 70s and his involvement in soccer following his retirement. He describes the injuries he sustained and the obstacles he overcame to become the most recognizable figure in soccer.

This is a good book for all grade levels because it is inspiring and provides insight into the history of the World Cup Soccer championships and the life of the most famous soccer player, Pele. While some of the name-dropping is a bit overdone and most students would not even know the celebrities being referenced, they should know that Pele was an iconic figure who used his personality and celebrity to promote the game of soccer around the world, especially in the United States where it enjoys a slight bit of popularity. Soccer fans would definitely gravitate toward this book. Students interested in world politics and events in the last half of the 20th century will also find interest in Pele’s remarks and observations.

The chapter breaks are no more than three pages. The writing is clear and the topics Pele discusses are not dull. Autobiography, Sports history

[Brian Manrique · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Pele: Why Soccer Matters is about the soccer legend, Pele. It talks about his upbringing and what made him the best. It provides a perspective that most people never knew about the greatest to ever play the game. It allows the reader to get an insight of the life of one of the greats showing his life as a child, struggles, and achievements.

I love this book a lot and for me there are loads of highlights that I would like to share. However, the moments I liked the most was when Pele scored a header in the world cup final to add on to their already successful game. The way they described this moment you could almost feel how important and career defining it was. It showed plenty of emotion and it’s a huge reason why I love the game.

Another moment that I love was when Brazil lost the world cup final against Uruguay in 1950. Quotes like, “Our catastrophe, our Hiroshima, was the defeat by Uruguay in 1950,” definitely dictated the tone and the remorse of losing that 1950 final. They accurately describe the feeling that the entirety of Brazil shared.

For me, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has a passion for soccer. Being able to know how the greats lived like and what made them the best is definitely a great thing to read about. I loved this book and I’m sure anyone else who enjoys soccer would too.

[Brian Pate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pelé basically is the world's ambassador for soccer. This is not an autobiography per se (his 2006 Pelé: The Autobiography is apparently quite dull). This book, on the other hand, is a fast and fun read, well-told by Pelé and well-written by Brian Winter.

It is the story of changing the world through soccer. He begins with Brazil's World Cup victories in 1958, 1962, and 1970, and then recounts his years playing for the New York Cosmos which was part of his attempt to ignite soccer interest in the USA. Although the NASL ended up closing up shop, Pelé believes it inspired a generation of soccer players that ultimately led to the USA hosting the World Cup in 1994. Pelé's later years were devoted to the social benefits that come through soccer, working for education, health, and opportunities for children across Brazil. He believes "soccer has helped make the world a better place" (283).

[One very odd feature of this book is that the captions of the photos are translated...into Spanish!]

[Mason]

I'm writing this review on the book Why Soccer Matters by Pele. When I first started reading this book it started out very slow and got really boring quickly but the more I kept reading at the more interesting it began to get begun to go into the real roots of soccer and how Pele was brought up in just about nothing in a little town in Brazil. for for people who like a fast-paced book like an action pack book this book is not for you this book is really slow and takes long to develop when it gets to the developing point I do think it is pretty interesting but for me as a reader I did not enjoy this book that much because of how slow it was just felt like there was nothing going on until it hit the one main point and then after that it went Bland again. But if you are a reader who bikes a book that slow calm and really talks about one thing for a while and slowly builds it up then I recommend this book for you but for me as a reader I particularly did not like this book and would not recommend it for anybody who likes a fast Facebook with a lot of action because this book was very slow.

[Dominik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pelé, he is the most famous soccer player in the world. Pelé had an interesting life in Brazil where he grew up. When he was a kid all he did was play soccer in the streets with kids on his street. He moved on in life to become the best soccer player. He goes many places around the world to play soccer.Pelé wins many trophies on his journey. Pelé is also a very nice person and a very humble person all throughout his life.
I thought that the book was very interesting to read because it is a lot different in Brazil than in the United States. Pelé grew up poor but that did not stop him from doing what he dreamed of. Pelé, he did things I thought was different and interesting like he had school but he never paid attention and always got in trouble. He also had an interesting life when he was older he traveled and met many people. He found a wife and had children. Pelé did as much as he could for the country Brazil after he was done playing soccer. The book overall was a very good book if you like soccer I would suggest you to read it.