Epic: The definitive biography of Pelé, the greatest footballer of all-time

Completed after almost eight years of research and over 250 interviews, Epic is the first biography of Pelé to explore every aspect of his professional and personal life.

Pelé was one of the most iconic sports figures of the 20th century and along with Muhammad Ali its most beloved. His achievements speak for themselves: aged just 17, he led Brazil to its first world title, scoring six times in three games; he remains the only player to have won the World Cup three times; his astonishing record of more than 1,200 goals has never been surpassed.

But numbers only tell half the story.

In Epic, veteran football correspondent Andrew Downie delves deep into Pelé's life. Through interviews with former teammates, coaches, business managers, close friends, and family members, Downie uncovers the man behind the myth. Drawing on new material and thousands of hours spent in archives across Europe and the Americas, Downie finds unpublished books, emails and memos by Pelé and his closest collaborators that offer an unprecedented insight into the real Edson Arantes do Nascimento.

He tells of the young boy who vowed to stay teetotal after getting drunk on wine, the consummate professional who ran up and down hotel corridors to maintain his sharpness on tour, and of the seemingly apolitical diplomat whose home was shot up during Brazil’s military dictatorship. Downie meticulously examines Pelé’s footballing achievements, relationships, and his business dealings against the backdrop of Brazil’s transformation from a South American backwater to the country of football. Pelé’s controversial stances on race, Brazil's dictatorship, and sex are all scrutinized and put into the proper context. The result is truly Epic.

© Andrew Downie 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

© 2026 Penguin (Lydbog): 9781405987431

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Lydbog: 5. november 2026