What is Pelé's date of birth?

Pelé’s date of birth was October 23, 1940. He was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento in Três Corações, in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The nickname “Pelé” became famous later, while his family and official records used Edson.

Pelé grew up in a modest household and learned football partly by playing with improvised balls because his family could not always afford proper equipment. His father, João Ramos do Nascimento, was a professional footballer known as Dondinho, and he helped nurture Pelé’s early talent.

The date is sometimes confused with October 23 celebrations of Pelé’s legacy, or with the birth dates of other Brazilian football stars. Pelé’s age at the 1958 World Cup is also frequently misstated: he was 17 when Brazil won the tournament. That triumph made him the youngest player to score in a World Cup final and launched his international fame.