Editing Pelé (section)

== After football ==
[[File:President Ronald Reagan with soccer player Pele and President José Sarney of Brazil.jpg|thumb|Pelé at the White House on 10 September 1986, with US president [[Ronald Reagan]] and Brazilian president [[José Sarney]]]]
[[File:President William J. Clinton Kicking a Soccer Ball - NARA - 81122856.jpg|thumb|upright|Pelé, Brazil's Extraordinary Minister for Sport, with US president [[Bill Clinton]] in Rio de Janeiro, 15 October 1997]]
[[File:Pele - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2006.jpg|thumb|Pelé at the [[World Economic Forum]] in Switzerland, 2006]]
[[File:Prime Minister's Olympic hunger summit (7772208606).jpg|thumb|Pelé (second left) standing outside [[10 Downing Street]] in London at a hunger summit in 2012 hosted by British prime minister [[David Cameron]] (waving to camera)]]
[[File:The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha presenting a memento to ‘Soccer King’ Mr. Pele, during the final match of 56th edition of Subroto Cup International Football Tournament, in New Delhi.jpg|thumb|Pelé in 2015 receiving a memento from the chief of the Indian Air Force, [[Arup Raha]] (left), during the final of the Asian inter-school football tournament, the [[Subroto Cup]], in New Delhi, India]]

In 1994, Pelé was appointed a [[UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportshumanitarian.com/inductees/pele.html|title=World Sport Humanitarian Hall of Fame Inductees – Pelé|website=Sports Humanitarian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723072800/http://www.sportshumanitarian.com/inductees/pele.html|archive-date=23 July 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=5 May 2011}}</ref> In 1995, Brazilian president [[Fernando Henrique Cardoso]] appointed Pelé to the position of extraordinary minister for sport. During this time he proposed legislation to reduce corruption in Brazilian football, which became known as the "[[Pelé law]]".<ref>{{cite news|title=Pele Law on sports introduced in Brazil|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/69438.stm|access-date=9 July 2017|date=25 March 1998|archive-date=3 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103070715/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/69438.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Cardoso eliminated the post of sports minister in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/73314.stm|title =Pele is dropped as Brazilian Sports Minister|access-date =28 August 2020|archive-date =3 December 2020|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20201203225537/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/73314.stm|url-status =live}}</ref> In 2001, Pelé was accused of involvement in a corruption scandal that stole $700,000 from UNICEF. It was claimed that money given to Pelé's company for a benefit match was not returned after it was cancelled, although nothing was proven, and it was denied by UNICEF.<ref>{{cite news|title=UNICEF denies Pele corruption reports|url=http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/142571/unicef-denies-pele-corruption-reports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731011423/http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/142571/unicef-denies-pele-corruption-reports|date=23 November 2001|archive-date=31 July 2012|agency=Reuters|publisher=SportBusiness.com|access-date=21 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/nov/25/worldcupfootball2002.football Pelé slips from Brazil pedestal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220094956/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/nov/25/worldcupfootball2002.football |date=20 February 2017 }}, ''[[The Observer]]'', 25 November 2001.</ref> In 1997, he received an honorary [[Order of the British Empire|knighthood]] from Queen [[Elizabeth II]] at a ceremony in [[Buckingham Palace]].<ref name="knight">{{cite news|url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education-sir-pele-lends-his-support-1286703.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education-sir-pele-lends-his-support-1286703.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title= Education: Sir Pele lends his support|work= The Independent|date= 3 December 1997|access-date= 6 May 2011}}</ref> Pelé also helped inaugurate the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]], alongside supermodel [[Claudia Schiffer]].<ref name="greatest"/>

In 1993, Pelé publicly accused the Brazilian football administrator [[Ricardo Teixeira]] of corruption after Pelé's television company was rejected in a contest for the Brazilian domestic rights to the 1994 World Cup.{{sfn|Darby|2002|p=110}} Pelé's accusations led to an eight-year feud between the pair.{{sfn|Bellos|2003|p=114}} As a consequence of the affair, the [[President of FIFA]], [[João Havelange]], Teixeira's father-in-law, banned Pelé from the draw for the 1994 FIFA World Cup in Las Vegas. Criticisms over the ban were perceived to have damaged Havelange's chances of re-election as FIFA's president in 1994.{{sfn|Darby|2002|p=110}}

In 1976, Pelé was on a [[Pepsi]]-sponsored trip in Lagos, Nigeria, when [[1976 Nigerian coup d'état attempt|the military attempted a coup]]. Pelé was trapped in a hotel together with [[Arthur Ashe]] and other tennis pros, who were participating in the interrupted [[1976 Lagos WCT]] tournament. Pelé and his crew eventually left the hotel to stay at the residence of Brazil's ambassador as they could not leave the country for a couple of days. Later the airport was opened and Pelé left the country disguised as a pilot.<ref>[https://www.pulse.ng/gist/story-of-how-pele-was-trapped-in-lagos-during-the-1976-coup-id6977385.html "How football legend, Arthur Ashe were trapped in Lagos during 1976 coup"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726135152/https://www.pulse.ng/gist/story-of-how-pele-was-trapped-in-lagos-during-the-1976-coup-id6977385.html |date=26 July 2018 }}. Pulse. Retrieved 26 July 2018</ref><ref>[https://www.africasacountry.com/2015/07/the-story-of-lagos-ill-fated-1976-professional-tennis-tournament "The story of Lagos' ill-fated 1976 Professional Tennis Tournament"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414023012/https://africasacountry.com/2015/07/the-story-of-lagos-ill-fated-1976-professional-tennis-tournament/ |date=14 April 2021 }}. Africa's Country. Retrieved 26 July 2018</ref>

Pelé published several autobiographies, starred in documentary films, and composed musical pieces, including [[Sérgio Mendes]]' [[Pelé (album)|soundtrack for the film ''Pelé'']] directed by [[François Reichenbach]] in 1977.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13046456/ |title=Pelé (1977)|publisher=IMDb|access-date=29 December 2022|archive-date=29 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229194005/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13046456/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Allmusic">{{AllMusic|class=album|id=pele-mw0000375622|label=Pelé}}</ref> He appeared in the 1981 film ''[[Escape to Victory]]'', about a [[World War II]]-era football match between Allied prisoners of war and a German team. Pelé starred alongside other footballers of the 1960s and 1970s, with actors [[Michael Caine]] and [[Sylvester Stallone]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Escape to Victory remake: who should follow in Pelé's footsteps?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2014/jun/27/escape-to-victory-remake-film-who-should-star|access-date=17 February 2016|work=The Guardian|date=27 June 2014|archive-date=4 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104035259/http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2014/jun/27/escape-to-victory-remake-film-who-should-star|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1969, Pelé starred in a telenovela called ''Os Estranhos'', about first contact with aliens. It was created to drum up interest in the [[List of Apollo missions|Apollo missions]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Estranhos extraterrestres chegavam na tela da Excelsior para fazer contato com Pelé|url=http://cartaodevisita.r7.com/conteudo/1257/estranhos-extraterrestres-chegavam-na-tela-da-excelsior-para-fazer-contato-com-pele|publisher=Cartâo de Visita|date=16 January 2013|access-date=17 February 2016|language=pt|archive-date=6 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406133449/http://cartaodevisita.r7.com/conteudo/1257/estranhos-extraterrestres-chegavam-na-tela-da-excelsior-para-fazer-contato-com-pele|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2001, he had a cameo role in the football satire film ''[[Mike Bassett: England Manager]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/255633/Mike-Bassett-England-Manager/overview|access-date=17 February 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301055650/https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/255633/Mike-Bassett-England-Manager/overview|department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Mark Deming|year=2016|archive-date=1 March 2016}}</ref> Pelé was asked to participate in the 2006 ESPN documentary film ''[[Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos]]'', but declined when the producers refused to pay his requested $100,000 fee.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hirshey |first1=David |title=Pelé: When Soccer Ruled the USA |url=http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=cosmos |publisher=ESPN |access-date=30 September 2020 |archive-date=14 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214010907/http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=cosmos |url-status=live }}</ref>

Pelé appeared at the 2006 [[World Economic Forum]] in Davos, and spoke on the subject titled, "Can a Ball Change the World: The Role of Sports in Development".<ref>{{cite news |title=Davos Annual Meeting 2006 -The Role of Sports in Development | date=28 November 2007 |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HSqVETszHrs&t=9s&pp=ygUeV29ybGQgZWNvbm9taWMgZm9ydW0gMjAwNiBwZWxl |access-date=16 September 2023 |agency=World Economic Forum |via=YouTube |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030213608/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=HSqVETszHrs&t=9s&pp=ygUeV29ybGQgZWNvbm9taWMgZm9ydW0gMjAwNiBwZWxl |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2007, Pelé was in [[Sheffield, England|Sheffield]], England, to mark the 150th anniversary of the world's oldest football club, [[Sheffield F.C.]]<ref name="celebration"/> Pelé was the guest of honour at Sheffield's anniversary match against Inter Milan at [[Bramall Lane]].<ref name="celebration"/> As part of his visit, Pelé opened an exhibition which included the first public showing in 40 years of the [[Sheffield Rules|original hand-written rules]] of football.<ref name="celebration">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7081034.stm|title=Pelé joins Sheffield celebrations|work=BBC Sport|access-date=9 November 2007|date=9 November 2007|first=Jonathan|last=Rawcliffe|archive-date=12 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112151430/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7081034.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Pelé scouted for [[Premier League]] club [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pele scouts for Fulham|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/2313105.stm|access-date=10 June 2006|work=BBC Sport|date=9 October 2002|archive-date=11 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511142323/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/2313105.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> He made the draw for the qualification groups for the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals.{{sfn|Blevins|2011|p=756}} On 1 August 2010, Pelé was introduced as the honorary president of a revived [[New York Cosmos (2010)|New York Cosmos]], aiming to field a team in [[Major League Soccer]].<ref name="cosmos_return">{{cite news|first=Jack|last=Bell|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/sports/soccer/02cosmos.html|title=Cosmos Begin Anew, With Eye Toward M.L.S.|work=The New York Times|date=1 August 2010|access-date=4 August 2010|archive-date=2 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202225510/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/sports/soccer/02cosmos.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2011, ESPN reported that Santos was considering bringing him out of retirement for a [[cameo role]] in the [[2011 FIFA Club World Cup]], although this turned out to be false.<ref>{{cite web |title=Santos hope for Pele comeback |url=http://www.espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/939732/santos-want-pele-to-play-in-club-world-cup |publisher=ESPN |date=4 August 2011 |access-date=22 May 2014 |archive-date=25 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525124633/http://www.espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/939732/santos-want-pele-to-play-in-club-world-cup |url-status=live }}</ref>

The most notable area of Pelé's life since football was his ambassadorial work. In 1992, he was appointed a UN ambassador for ecology and the environment.<ref>{{cite news|title=Reasons why Rio is the right Olympic choice|first=Scott|last=Russell|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=1 October 2009|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/reasons-why-rio-is-the-right-olympic-choice-1.805589|access-date=21 January 2016|archive-date=8 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508055919/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/amateur/story/2009/10/01/spf-olympics-2016-bids-russell.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was also awarded Brazil's gold medal for outstanding services to the sport in 1995. In 2012, Pelé was awarded an honorary degree from the [[University of Edinburgh]] for "significant contribution to humanitarian and environmental causes, as well as his sporting achievements".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ed.ac.uk/news/all-news/pele-090812|title=Pelé to receive honorary degree|publisher=[[University of Edinburgh]]|date=9 August 2012|access-date=9 August 2012|archive-date=21 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421101834/https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/all-news/pele-090812|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2009, Pelé assisted the [[Rio de Janeiro bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics]]. In July 2009, he spearheaded the Rio 2016 presentation to the [[Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa]] General Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria.<ref>{{cite news |title=World Cup king Pele scores for Rio 2016 at ANOCA assembly |url=http://www.sportsfeatures.com/olympicsnews/story/45399/world-cup-king-pele-scores-for-rio-2016-at-anoca-assembly |access-date=26 July 2018 |agency=Sports Features.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727024506/http://www.sportsfeatures.com/olympicsnews/story/45399/world-cup-king-pele-scores-for-rio-2016-at-anoca-assembly |archive-date=27 July 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 12 August 2012, Pelé was an attendee at the [[2012 Olympic hunger summit]] hosted by British prime minister [[David Cameron]] at [[10 Downing Street]], London, part of a series of international efforts which have sought to respond to the return of hunger as a high-profile global issue.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/aug/12/2012-hunger-summit-legacy-games?intcmp=239|title= The 2012 hunger summit could be the real legacy of the Games|work= The Guardian|first= Justin|last= Forsyth|date= 12 August 2012|access-date= 27 November 2014|archive-date= 7 December 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141207232717/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/aug/12/2012-hunger-summit-legacy-games?intcmp=239|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/sport-stars-get-behind-olympic-hunger-summit/|title= Sport stars get behind Olympic hunger summit|publisher= [[10 Downing Street]]|date= 12 August 2012|access-date= 27 November 2014|archive-date= 31 October 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121031091546/http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/sport-stars-get-behind-olympic-hunger-summit/|url-status= live}}</ref> Later on the same day, Pelé appeared at the [[2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony|closing ceremony]] of the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] in London, following the handover section to the next host city for the [[2016 Summer Olympics]], Rio de Janeiro.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Coughlan|first1=Maggie|last2=Perry|first2=Simon|title=Spice Girls, One Direction Bring Olympics to a Dazzling End|url=http://people.com/sports/olympics-london-2012-closing-ceremony-spice-girls-one-direction/|work=People|access-date=16 July 2017|date=12 August 2012|archive-date=11 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811080253/http://people.com/sports/olympics-london-2012-closing-ceremony-spice-girls-one-direction/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2016, Pelé filed a lawsuit against [[Samsung Electronics]] in the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois]] seeking US$30&nbsp;million in damages claiming violations under the [[Lanham Act]] for false endorsement and a state law claim for violation of his right of publicity.<ref name="samsung card">{{Cite journal|last=Batterman|first=L. Robert|date=23 June 2016|title=Soccer Legend Pelé Calls for a Yellow Card against Samsung|url=http://www.natlawreview.com/article/soccer-legend-pel-calls-yellow-card-against-samsung|journal=The National Law Review|publisher=Proskauer Rose LLP|issn=2161-3362|access-date=23 June 2016|archive-date=26 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160626144205/http://www.natlawreview.com/article/soccer-legend-pel-calls-yellow-card-against-samsung|url-status=live}}</ref> The suit alleged that at one point, Samsung and Pelé came close to entering into a licensing agreement for Pelé to appear in a Samsung advertising campaign, but Samsung abruptly pulled out of the negotiations. The October 2015 Samsung ad in question included a partial face shot of a man who allegedly "very closely resembles" Pelé and also a superimposed high-definition television screen next to the image of the man featuring a "modified [[Bicycle kick|bicycle]] or scissors-kick", often used by Pelé.<ref name="samsung card"/> The case was settled out-of-court several years later.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sperling |first=Frederick |title=Famous Athlete Cases Offer Right Of Publicity Lessons |url=https://www.afslaw.com/perspectives/news/famous-athlete-cases-offer-right-of-publicity-lessons |website=ArentFox Smith |date=4 September 2020 |publisher=ArentFox Schiff LLP |access-date=30 December 2022 |archive-date=30 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230052638/https://www.afslaw.com/perspectives/news/famous-athlete-cases-offer-right-of-publicity-lessons |url-status=live }}</ref>

In addition to his ambassadorial work, Pelé supported various charitable causes, such as Action for Brazil's Children, Gols Pela Vida, [[SOS Children's Villages]], The Littlest Lamb, [[Prince's Rainforests Project]] and many more.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2006 |title=Pelé: Charity Work & Causes |url=https://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/pele |access-date=6 December 2022 |website=Look to the Stars |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206221006/https://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/pele |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 December 2007 |title=Medal collection to remember Pele's golden goals |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/medal-collection-to-remember-peles-golden-goals.189401 |access-date=6 December 2022 |newspaper=The Times |location=Malta |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206221006/https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/medal-collection-to-remember-peles-golden-goals.189401 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 September 2009 |title=Pele for Ballymun |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/sport/soccer/junior-senior/pele-for-ballymun-27926810.html |access-date=7 December 2022 |website=independent |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207130336/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/sport/soccer/junior-senior/pele-for-ballymun-27926810.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 November 2004 |title=Pelé and Beckenbauer unite for SOS Children's Villages |url=https://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/news/pele-and-beckenbauer-unite-for-sos-childrens-villa |access-date=6 December 2022 |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206221008/https://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/news/pele-and-beckenbauer-unite-for-sos-childrens-villa |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kinver |first=Mark |date=5 May 2009 |title=Rainforest film brings out stars |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8033535.stm |access-date=7 December 2022 |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207130332/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8033535.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, Pelé auctioned more than 1600 items from a collection he accumulated over decades and raised £3.6&nbsp;million for charity.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 June 2016 |title=Pele to donate auction money to Santos, charity |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-pele-auction-idUSKCN0YO0AK |access-date=6 December 2022 |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206221007/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-pele-auction-idUSKCN0YO0AK |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Downie |first=Andrew |date=23 August 2021 |title=Pele brings sporting stars together for charity auction |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/pele-brings-sporting-stars-together-charity-auction-2021-08-23/ |access-date=6 December 2022 |work=Reuters |archive-date=5 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205192737/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/pele-brings-sporting-stars-together-charity-auction-2021-08-23/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, Pelé founded his charitable organisation, the Pelé Foundation, which endeavours to empower impoverished and disenfranchised children from around the globe.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2020 |title=Pele Foundation – Home |url=https://www.pele10.org/ |access-date=6 December 2022 |website=pele10.org |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206150807/https://www.pele10.org/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Stuart |date=13 October 2018 |title=International Icon and Humanitarian Pelé Announces the Launch of His New Global Charitable Foundation – Ethical Marketing News |url=https://ethicalmarketingnews.com/international-icon-and-humanitarian-pele-announces-the-launch-of-his-new-global-charitable-foundation |access-date=7 December 2022 |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207130334/https://ethicalmarketingnews.com/international-icon-and-humanitarian-pele-announces-the-launch-of-his-new-global-charitable-foundation |url-status=live }}</ref>