Pele - Penguin Readers, Level 1 Author:Rod Smith His family name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento but people call him "Pele". He is the number one player in the history of football. In 1,363 games, he scored 1,264 goals. Brazilian born Pele is a sports legend, but fifty years ago he was a boy with no shoes. An incredible story for all sports fans.