The World Cup will always remind me of:
Pele!!
If you recognize the name and know him as a player…then stop reading!!! My writing will perhaps fall short of his excellence!! A player with no formal training, because he could not afford it, he played soccer with a sock stuffed newspaper or a grapefruit!!!
Pele started playing in a team at 16 years old and by 17 he was off to the Brazil National Team. Pele’s talent was recognized instantly and and he was declared “Official National Treasure” to keep him from transferring out of the country!
Pele’s title was given to him after his first World Cup! After 3 World Cup Championships, 2 decades of play, 2 Roca Cup Championships, and the FIFA World Cup Best Player in 1970 I would say he earned his title of National Treasure!
Pele’s love for the sport and excellence drove him to the United States after he had retired to play for the New York Cosmos! Pele’s love for the game made him a soccer ambassador! His natural talent was legendary and to this day I think “Pele” when I think of World Cup!
Pele’s ability to play captivated audiences world wide and even stopped a war!! In 1967, the two factions involved in the Nigerian Civil War agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire so they could watch Pelé play an exhibition game in Lagos.[22]
A person that started out his hobby playing with a sock stuffed with newspaper or a grapefruit is now a Legendary Figure of the sport!! There are no boundaries to pursue our dreams or work with what we have!! I am humbled beyond words to share my World Cup hero!!
What do you think of when you think World Cup?? A certain play, or player, by all means share your thoughts 
I love stories like this. People who thrive beyond all odds because they keep their eye on the ball! (pun intended) There are so many people who lament about a disappointing life but the truth of the matter is they gave their power over to others through excuses and lack of drive.
All anyone has to do is know what they love to do and do it with all the passion that they can to perpetuate success in their endeavors. It’s not rocket science. It’s the formula for success. Do what you love and keep doing it. You will excel at being the best at loving what you do. Good for you!
PELE… As a child I admired the man AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE! Starting from such a disadvantaged background and on to INTERNATIONAL STARDOM THANKS for the informational blog! RICH :0)
I personally love the world cup, my favorite team is Spain, even though im a US citizen ha. Passion is success in my opinion, thanks for sharing stories such as Pele’s, I think each of us should have our own Pele story, does anybody feel me on that?
Honestly Francis, I don’t really know much about soccer, and when I hear of the world cup I think of two things, 1. thousands of crazy fans killing each other a game 2. the amazing shape these folks have to be in to play this game.
HOWEVER, when you speak of Pele, and how he virtually had “0″ training, yet charted a new course, by not only winning 3 world cups, but stopping a war for two weeks. Now THAT’S inspiration. It just shows me again, that nothing can stand in the way of natural ability but yourself.
Thanks for sharing this and let’s keep putting focus on our our natural abilities. We too can be unstoppable.
He was a superstar because of his LOVE of the game. When we do what we love and we do it with our entire heart, we are great at it. He truly is a great example for children today!
Hi Francis, Just stopping by to catch up on your blog and I see the Pele post.
Being that soccer was never “as big” in America as other sports, Pele was the first person I remember bringing recognition to the sport. I remember wanting to watch soccer BECAUSE of Pele, and he sure was amazing to watch. He is definitely one of the greatest athletes of all time….His personal backgound is also very inspirational for all.
Thanks for highlighting this “National Treasure” as we close out another World Cup.
I love Pele! I played soccer in high school because of him! What a great story! It is a shame that the kids of today do not understand what people like Pele have gone through in order to be the best! Everything seems so manufactured! Thank you so much for doing this post!
I got Pele’s autograph as a ball girl when the NY Cosmos played the Portland Timbers. On a rubber ball, no less. As one of the first girls to play soccer in Oregon, attending many a soccer camp during the summer, I watched a lot of Pele videos. Pele was my hero.