Archive · 22 May 2025
Pele's Goal Scoring Record: A Legendary Number
Pele, considered a football legend, was famous for scoring goals.
He scored a lot of goals for Brazil, and even more for his club teams, Santos and New York Cosmos.
The exact number of goals is debated, but he scored over a thousand.
Pele's great performances and young age at the time also made him one of the youngest players ever to score in the World Cup.
He is recognized as one of the greatest footballers ever because of his amazing goal-scoring record and legacy, which goes far beyond the number of goals he scored.
Pele, a Brazilian football icon, is celebrated for his remarkable goal-scoring achievements.
He scored 77 goals in 92 games for Brazil, a record for the nation for decades.
Pele scored 680 official goals at club level: 643 for Santos FC, and 37 for New York Cosmos.
FIFA recognizes 1,281 goals scored by Pele, while Guinness documents 1,279 goals.
Pele's legacy extends beyond numbers, having revolutionized the sport and inspiring generations.
- Who
- Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pele, was a Brazilian football player.
- What
- Pele is celebrated for his extraordinary goal-scoring record throughout his career.
- When
- Pele played professional football over several decades, retiring in 1977.
- Where
- Pele played for Brazil, Santos FC, and New York Cosmos.
- Why
- Pele's remarkable goal tally is a testament to his skill and impact on football, revolutionizing the sport.
Goal Count Discrepancies
Goal Count Discrepancies
Official vs. Unofficial Goals
Goal Count Discrepancies
FIFA quotes 1,281 goals, while Guinness documents 1,279 goals, and Pele himself reported 1,283 goals.
Goal Count Discrepancies
The Rec. Sport. Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF) records 778 official senior football goals.
- Nationality
- Brazil
- Goals Recognized (FIFA)
- 1,281 (FIFA)
- Goals Recognized (Guinness)
- 1,279
- Goals for Brazil National Team
- 77
- Goals for Santos FC
- 643
- Goals for New York Cosmos
- 37
- Youngest World Cup scorer
- 1958