“The King of Soccer”

There were high expectations in the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on November 19, 1969. Hundreds of photographers and cameramen huddled behind the goal area where Pelé would attempt a free penalty kick.

As expected, he scored his famous one-thousandth goal in official soccer games. On January 13, 2014, Pelé was greeted with loud applause during the FIFA Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur. Why was he receiving this honor thirty-six years after having retired from professional sports in 1977? It was simply for what he accomplished —on the soccer field as the King of Soccer and off the field as the “global ambassador for soccer.” Edson Arantes do Nascimento, popularly known as Pelé, was born in Três Corações, Brazil. Growing up in poverty, he worked as a tea-shop server in Bauru, São Paulo State. Without money to buy a soccer ball, he often played with a sock stuffed with newspaper and tied together with string. Even as a young boy, his skills caught the attention of those who saw him play. In 1956, he joined Santos Futebol Clube and began his extremely successful professional career. Pelé is the only player to have won three soccer World Cups. He retired with 1,281 goals in 1,363 games. Sir Bobby Charlton once said, “I sometimes feel as though football was invented for this magical player.” Soccer player Tostão declared, “Pelé was the greatest—he was simply flawless. And off the field, he is always smiling and upbeat. You never see him bad-tempered. He loves being Pelé.” Indeed, he set the standard that later soccer players would measure themselves against.

What is the secret to a successful career? Different people may answer this question in different ways. But humanly speaking, a recipe for success includes at least four basic ingredients: skills, dedication, opportunities, and relationships.

An adequate blend of these four ingredients can make a huge difference.

Pelé and many others have done their best to play and promote soccer around the globe. You and I should demonstrate the same passion and determination for God’s cause. How would you rate your commitment to Him? Those who are striving for “an imperishable crown” should be no less committed than those who are seeking a perishable one (1 Corinthians 9:25)!