Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pele) was born in the slums the tiny village of Três Corações, but ended up in the stars.
"I was born for soccer, just as Beethoven was born for music," Pele once said.
Arrogant? Maybe, but then the Brazilian ''Black Pearl'' had the medals to back up his claims.
The superstar that won three World Cups, scored an unrivalled 1,283 first-class goals and went on to become the single biggest icon in the history of the world''s football.
Although his young age (17-year-old) ,he helped Brazil win the World Cup, Four years later, Brazil won again, but Pele''s tournament was curtailed by a torn thigh muscle in his side''s second game against Czechoslovakia.
After a titanic struggle with England in the group stages - a game often described as the ''real'' final - Brazil progressed to a meeting with Italy in the actual final.
Pele scored a superb header and set up two more in a 4-1 romp which remains the single most impressive team performance at a World Cup.
It was also Pele''s last in the tournament: he retired from international football in 1971.
In our days Pele is doing an ambassadorial role with football''s world governing body, FIFA, and a position as Brazil''s minister for sport.