In anticipation to Pelé’s film “Pelé: Birth of a Legend,” which opened in theatres on Friday, The Player’s Tribune published a powerful letter the soccer superstar wrote to his young self.
Like the movie, the letter takes us through his childhood and youth, from sharing a bed with his brother in a tiny house and making balls out of socks stuffed with newspapers, to becoming the legendary Pelé.
The soccer player also explains all the things his young self did not cherish at the time, like his very own parents. “Ah, your mother. She is a very tough woman. As I’m writing this, she is nearly 99 years old. She still teases you to this day. When you visit her, don’t tell her what you wish to talk about. She says, ‘You are in my house. We discuss my things.’”
As for his dad, he wrote: “Your father, he is a very special man, and he is the only reason why you chose to play football. Even after his career-ending injury, you will always consider him the best player. All you want to do is be like your father.”
Pelé also writes about a gentleman named Waldemar De Brito who came into his life and gave him a valuable lesson: “Pelé, I believe you can be a very, very good professional. But do not ever think you are the best. Do not ever think you are God. If you make money, save some of it for the future. Do not start to buy cigars and candy. You must stay the boy from Bauru.”
The soccer superstar also narrates his experiences tasting sea water for the first time and thinking it was “poisoned”; passing out from joy of winning his first World Cup at 17, and being called back to the field by the opposing team after a referee gave him an unfair red card.
The letter is more than beautiful; it is filled with life lessons, inspiring moments and great memories that he cherishes. Read the full letter here.
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