Editing Pelé (section)

==== 1956–1962: early years with Santos and declared a national treasure ====

[[File:Pele photo 1962.jpg|thumb|upright=0.65|Pelé in 1962, by then rated the best player in the world{{sfn|Freedman|2014|p=47}}]]
In 1956, de Brito took Pelé to [[Santos (São Paulo)|Santos]], an industrial and port city located near São Paulo, to try out for professional club [[Santos FC]], telling the club's directors that the 15-year-old would be "the greatest football player in the world".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Massarela |first=Louis |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/exclusive-interview-pele-his-santos-years |title=Exclusive interview: Pele on his Santos years |date=7 September 2016 |website=FourFourTwo |access-date=28 July 2017 |archive-date=22 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622055212/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/exclusive-interview-pele-his-santos-years |url-status=live }}</ref> Pelé impressed Santos coach [[Luis Alonso Perez|Lula]] during his trial at the [[Estádio Vila Belmiro]], and he signed a professional contract with the club in June 1956.{{sfn|Marcus|1976|p=20}} Pelé was highly promoted in the local media as a future superstar. He made his senior team debut on 7 September 1956 at the age of 15 against [[Corinthians de Santo André]] and had an impressive performance in a 7–1 victory, scoring the first goal in his prolific career during the match.<ref name="dayinhistory"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Da Mata|first1=Alessandro|title=Mesário da estréia de Pelé lembra atrapalhada|url=http://www.lancenet.com.br/noticias/07-10-29/183561.stm|publisher=LANCE!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514032427/http://www.lancenet.com.br/noticias/07-10-29/183561.stm|location=Sâo Paulo|archive-date=14 May 2008|language=pt|date=26 October 2007}}</ref>

When the 1957 season started, Pelé was given a starting place in the first team and, at the age of 16, became the top scorer in the league. Ten months after signing professionally, the teenager was called up to the [[Brazil national football team|Brazil national team]]. After the [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]] and the [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962 World Cup]], wealthy European clubs, such as [[Real Madrid]], [[Juventus]] and [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], tried to sign him in vain.<ref>{{Cite web|language=it|url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Juventus/18-08-2018/pele-rivelazione-ero-alla-juve-fa-auguri-cr7-290268124077.shtml|title=Pelé, auguri a Ronaldo. E rivela: "Sono stato vicino alla Juve"|date=18 August 2018|website=La Gazzetta dello Sport|access-date=30 August 2018|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108080910/https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Juventus/18-08-2018/pele-rivelazione-ero-alla-juve-fa-auguri-cr7-290268124077.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1958, [[Inter Milan]] even managed to get him a regular contract, but [[Angelo Moratti]] was forced to tear the contract up at the request of Santos's chairman following a revolt by Santos's Brazilian fans.<ref>{{cite news |language=it |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Inter/26-05-2016/moratti-pele-era-inter-ma-presidente-santos-cambio-idea-150846346845.shtml?refresh_ce-cp |title=Moratti: "Pelé era dell'Inter, ma il presidente del Santos cambiò idea..." |trans-title=Moratti: "Pelé was Inter's, but the president of Santos changed his mind ..." |last=Cecere |first=Nicola |date=26 May 2016 |newspaper=[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]] |access-date=30 August 2018 |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108082246/https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Inter/26-05-2016/moratti-pele-era-inter-ma-presidente-santos-cambio-idea-150846346845.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Valencia CF]] also arranged an agreement that would have brought Pelé to the club after the 1958 World Cup, however after his performances at the tournament, Santos declined to let the player leave.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chilet |first=Vicent |date=23 December 2019 |title=Cuando el Valencia pudo haber fichado a Pelé |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/deportes/20191223/cuando-valencia-pudo-haber-fichado-pele-viaje-cubells-brasil-7785396 |access-date=24 December 2022 |website=elperiodico |language=es |archive-date=24 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224174940/https://www.elperiodico.com/es/deportes/20191223/cuando-valencia-pudo-haber-fichado-pele-viaje-cubells-brasil-7785396 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 March 2019 |title=El Valencia llegó a tener un acuerdo para fichar a Pelé |url=https://www.elespanol.com/deportes/futbol/20190318/valencia-llego-tener-acuerdo-fichar-pele/384212116_0.html |access-date=24 December 2022 |website=El Español |language=es |archive-date=24 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224164727/https://www.elespanol.com/deportes/futbol/20190318/valencia-llego-tener-acuerdo-fichar-pele/384212116_0.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1961 the [[government of Brazil]] under President [[Jânio Quadros]] declared Pelé an "official national treasure" to prevent him from being transferred out of the country.<ref name="pelebio"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Chelala|first1=Cesar|title=Pele, Maradona and Messi: soccer's holy trinity|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/04/11/commentary/world-commentary/pele-maradona-and-messi-soccers-holy-trinity/|work=[[The Japan Times]]|year=2014|access-date=21 July 2017|archive-date=29 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929072756/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/04/11/commentary/world-commentary/pele-maradona-and-messi-soccers-holy-trinity/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Pelé won his first major title with Santos in 1958 as the team won the [[Campeonato Paulista]]; he would finish the tournament as the top scorer, with 58 goals,<ref>{{cite news|title=Campeonato Paulista: Artilheiros da história – 2|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/especial/2008/campeonatopaulista/artilheiros_da_historia-2.shtml|work=Brasil em Folhas|date=17 January 2008|language=pt|access-date=18 August 2010|archive-date=1 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501110603/http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/especial/2008/campeonatopaulista/artilheiros_da_historia-2.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> a record that still stands today. A year later, he would help the team earn their first victory in the [[Torneio Rio-São Paulo]] with a 3–0 over Vasco da Gama.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Unzelte|first1=Celso|last2=Varanda|first2=Pedro|last3=Cammarota|first3=Giuseppe|last4=Barreto Berwanger|first4=Alexandre Magno|title=Fichas Técnicas De Jogos Que Decidiram O Torneio Rio-Sâo Paulo|url=http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/miscellaneous/matdecrjsp.htm|publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]|language=pt|year=2011|access-date=18 August 2010|archive-date=23 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423195647/http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/miscellaneous/matdecrjsp.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Santos was unable to retain the Paulista title. In 1960, Pelé scored 33 goals to help his team regain the Campeonato Paulista trophy but lost out on the Rio-São Paulo tournament after finishing in 8th place.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Matta |first1=Fernando |last2=Varanda |first2=Pedro |last3=Barreto Berwanger|first3=Alexandre Magno|last4=Unzelte|first4=Celso|last5=Leme de Arruda|first5=Marcelo|title=Torneio Rio-São Paulo 1960 |url=http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/tablesrz/rjsp1960.htm|publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091216095534/http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/tablesrz/rjsp1960.htm|archive-date=16 December 2009|language=pt|year=2009}}</ref> In the 1960 season, Pelé scored 47 goals and helped Santos regain the Campeonato Paulista. The club went on to win the [[Taça Brasil]] that same year, beating [[Esporte Clube Bahia|Bahia]] in the finals; Pelé finished as the top scorer of the tournament with nine goals. The victory allowed Santos to participate in the [[Copa Libertadores]], the most prestigious club tournament in the Western hemisphere.<ref>{{cite news|title=Santos revive spirit of Pele|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2769331.stm|work=[[BBC Sport]]|access-date=5 May 2011|date=16 February 2003|archive-date=12 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112150822/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2769331.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>