Q 01/05

What was Pelé's real name?

A) Edson Arantes do Nascimento

B) Manuel Francisco dos Santos

C) Arthur Antunes Coimbra

D) Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite

Answer · why

A) Edson Arantes do Nascimento

He was named after Thomas Edison; a birth-certificate error left many documents reading 'Edison'.

Q 02/05

Pelé was named after which American inventor?

A) Nikola Tesla

B) Thomas Edison

C) Henry Ford

D) Alexander Graham Bell

Answer · why

B) Thomas Edison

His parents dropped the 'i' to make Edson; his family nickname was Dico.

Q 03/05

Pelé said his nickname came from mispronouncing his favourite player, a goalkeeper called what?

A) Zizinho

B) Bilé

C) Didi

D) Dondinho

Answer · why

B) Bilé

In his 2006 autobiography he admitted he had no idea what 'Pelé' meant.

Q 04/05

Unable to afford a football as a child, Pelé practised with a stuffed sock or what fruit?

A) A mango

B) A grapefruit

C) A melon

D) A coconut

Answer · why

B) A grapefruit

He grew up poor in Bauru, São Paulo state, earning money as a server in tea shops.

Q 05/05

Which fast indoor game did Pelé credit with teaching him to think quickly, playing for a team called Radium?

A) Futsal

B) Beach soccer

C) Street handball

D) Five-a-side rugby

Answer · why

A) Futsal

It let him play against adults at about 14, and he finished one tournament as top scorer with 14 or 15 goals.