Pele will also receive “Golden Ball”

YEREVAN, JANUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Legendary Brazilian footballer, triple World Champion Pele will be awarded with “Golden Ball” at the course of the solemn ceremony of awarding the world's best footballer with FIFA “Golden Ball” to be held in Zurich on January 13, 2013 for the services delivered to football in the past.

“Armenpress” informs it citing French “L 'Equipe” magazine.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento(Brazilian Portuguese:[ˈɛtsõ (w)ɐˈɾɐ̃tʃiz du nɐsiˈmẽtu]), better known asPelé(Brazilian Portuguese: name given asEdisonon birth certificate, born 21 October 1940 – however, Pelé claims that he was born on 23 October), is a retiredBrazilianfootballer. He is regarded by many experts, football critics, former players, current players and football fans in general as the best player of all time.In 1999, he was votedWorld Player of the Centuryby theInternational Federation of Football History & Statistics.The same year, influentialFrance Footballmagazine consulted their formerBallon D'Orwinners to elect the Football Player of the Century. Pelé came in first place.In 1999, Pelé was elected "Athlete of the Century" by theIOC, and was named inTimemagazine's list of100 most influential people of the 20th century.

According to theIFFHS, Pelé is the most successful league goal scorer in the world, with 541 league goals.In total Pelé scored 1281 goals in 1363 games, for which he was honoured by theGuinness World Recordsfor the most career goals scored in football.During his playing days, Pelé was for a period the best paid athlete in the world. In his native Brazil, he is hailed as a national hero, for his accomplishments in football, and for his vocal support of policies to improve the social conditions of the poor.In 1961, PresidentJânio Quadroshad Pelé declared a national treasure. During his career, he became known as "The Black Pearl" (Pérola Negra), "The King of Football" (O Rei do Futebol), "The King Pelé" (O Rei Pelé) or simply "The King" (O Rei).

Pelé began playing forSantosat 15 and theBrazil national football teamat 16. He won threeFIFA World Cups;1958,1962and1970, the only player ever to do so, and is theall-time leading goalscorer for Brazil.He is also the record goalscorer for Santos, and led them to the1962and1963Copa Libertadores. Pelé’s electrifying play and penchant for spectacular goals made him a star around the world, and his club team Santos toured internationally in order to take full advantage of his popularity.

Since retiring in 1977, Pelé has been a worldwide ambassador for football and has undertaken various acting roles andcommercialventures. In 2010, he was named the Honorary President of theNew York Cosmos.

In 2009, he cooperated withUbisofton arcade football gameAcademy of Champions: Soccerfor theWiiand appeared in the game as a coach to its players. OnFIFA 14released in 2013, Pelé features for the Ultimate team known as Legends for theXbox One, where game-players can acquire classic players from different eras.

On 1 August 2010, Pelé was introduced as the Honorary President of a revivedNew York Cosmos, aiming to field a team inMajor League Soccer.On 3 August 2011, it was reported thatSantoswere considering bringing him out of retirement for acameo rolein the2011 FIFA Club World Cup, although these rumours later turned out to be false.

In 2012, Pelé was awarded anhonorary degreefrom theUniversity of Edinburghfor "significant contribution to humanitarian and environmental causes, as well as his sporting achievements", his first such degree from a European university.

On 12 August, Pelé appeared at theclosing ceremony of the2012 Summer Olympicsin London, following the handover section to the next host city for the2016 Summer Olympics,Rio de Janeiro.