Being a soccer fan I loved this but I reckon non-soccer fans will like this book. Pele was the first ever million $ a year athlete. This book starts with Pele’s humble beginnings in Brazil. Pele is his nickname, taken from a goalie he admired. Pele always wanted to be a goalie and in the days before substituions were allowed (pre- 1970) he was the reserve goalie.

Very excellent book, and once you’ve read it you’ll know how brutal soccer was before the referees started clamping down on terrible tackles. A few times Pele thought his career was over. He was “butchered” in the 1966 World Cup.

I reckon most US readers will come away with a sense of how soccer is more than just a sport in the rest of the world. Pele relates how after Brazil lost to Uruguay in the World Cup final his father (a excellent soccer player) cried for weeks and never seemed to be the same again.

And how on the eve of the 70 World Cup final, Pele (a veteran at 27. Soccer really is a kid’s game) preached at length to the rest of the team about their responsibilites to everyone back in Brazil and how a loss wouble be unthinkable (sounded like they were landing at Normandy). Needless to say, Brazil won 4-1 over Italy, and the 70’s Brazil team is still acknowledged to be the best team ever. The Brazil vs England quarter final game from the same world cup is the game most viewed by coaches to teach players. That game was played at such a high level that they still analyze it to death. For you bookworms, reckon Shakespeare’s Hamlet. How would the 70 Brazil team rank against the Beckhams and Ronaldos of today? Hard to say, but personally I’d place my money on the Brazilians of 1970……
Rating: 5 / 5