Never has an athlete received as much adulation as Pelé. At 17½ he was selected to play in the 1958 World Cup competition in Sweden, but an injury sidelined him during the games against Austria and Britain. When he took to the field again, he scored six goals one against Wales in the quarter-finals, three against France in the semifinals, and two against Sweden in the finals. In 270 minutes, Pelé astounded the world.

Four years later the World Cup was played in Chile. The Brazilian team was showing its years (average age: 31), but it still beat Mexico. Pelé suffered a groin injury during the match with Czechoslovakia. Although Brazil managed to win the trophy without him, Pelé's injuries were so severe that he couldn't play again for several months.

Pelé was back in action for the 1966 World Cup competition in Britain, which turned out to be a sad affair more like a free-for-all than a sporting contest. The Brazilian team, undermined by internal strife, barely reached 8th position in the finals. And Pelé limped out of the World Cup, knee bandaged, like a wounded warrior. Then in 1970, both the King of soccer and the sport itself made a comeback at the Mundial in Mexico. Pelé's revenge was complete—he was the absolute master of the play; he outdid himself, directing a dazzling ballet on the field. Brazil pulverized its opposition, and for the third time, grabbed the World Cup, becoming the permanent recipient of the Jules-Rimet trophy.

In 1975 Pelé came to the United States, joined the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League, and won a whole new nation of fans.

PELE Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, on Oct. 23, 1940, in Tres Coracoes, Santos, BRA

AWARDS AND RECORDS
Out of 14 appearances in World Cup competition, Pelé scored 11 goals, contributing to the following scores: Brazil-USSR 2-0 Brazil-Hungary 1-3 Brazil-Wales 1-0 Brazil-Portugal 1-3 Brazil-France 5-2 Brazil-Czechoslovakia 4-1 Brazil-Sweden 5-2 Brazil-England 1-0 Brazil-Mexico 2-0 Brazil-Rumania 3-2 Brazil-Czechoslovakia 3-1 Brazil-Uruguay 3-1 Brazil-Bulgaria 2-0 Brazil-Italy 4-1 Pelé in action during the finals of the 1970 World Cup with two Italians closing in: Burgnich (2) and Rosato

Photo: Pelé in action during the finals of the 1970 World Cup with two Italians closing in: Burgnich (2) and Rosato