"Soccer in its purest form" was played by Pele, a South American superstar who was the world's most famous and highest-paid athlete. He led the Brazilian national soccer team to three World Cup victories in 1958, 1962, and 1970. An average-sized man, he was blessed with speed, great balance, tremendous vision, the ability to control the ball superbly, and the ability to shoot powerfully and accurately with either foot and with his head. In his career he played in 1,363 matches and scored 1,282 goals.

Bio Courtesy of 360soccer.com