Young achievers
Pele
Edson Arantes do Nascimento -- or Pele, as the world knows him now -- was named after the inventor of the electric bulb, Thomas Alva Edison. But the son of Joao Ramos do Nascimento was destined to light up the football field.
From playing with stuffed socks and grapefruits to the mantle of greatest footballer the world had seen, the Brazilian's amazing journey is the stuff of legend.
Pele was spotted at age 11 by the famous Brazilian footballer Waldemar de Brito, who took him to Sau Paulo in 1956 and told the Santos football club members, 'This boy will be the greatest footballer in the world.'
Few believed Brito then. Everyone believed him a few years later.
Pele shot into overnight global fame in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, scoring two goals as Brazil crushed the hosts 5-2 in the finals at Stockholm. The 17-year-old also became the youngest player to play in a World Cup final and the youngest player to score in a World Cup final.
The world had woken up to the athleticism, skill, power and art of Pele. His magic grew throughout his career till he retired in 1977.
Two anecdotes perhaps best sum up the Pele effect.
In 1962, European football clubs offered astronomical sums to sign him up. The Brazilian government declared him a national treasure to stop Pele from leaving.
And five years later, the warring factions in the Nigerian civil war called a two-day ceasefire so Pele could play an exhibition match in the capital Lagos.