• Why Soccer Matters

  • By: Pele, Brian Winter
  • Narrated by: Sean Pratt
  • Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (139 ratings)

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Why Soccer Matters  By  cover art

Why Soccer Matters

By: Pele,Brian Winter
Narrated by: Sean Pratt
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Publisher's summary

Soccer. Football. The beautiful game. The world’s most popular sport goes by many names, but for decades, fans have agreed on one thing: the greatest player of all time was Pelé. Now the legendary star, ambassador, and humanitarian shares a global vision for what soccer can accomplish. Now he shares his story, his experience, and his insights on the game for the very first time. Before Messi, before Ronaldo, before Beckham, there was Edson Arantes do Nascimento - known simply as Pelé. A national treasure, he created pure magic with his accomplishments on the field: an unprecedented three World Cup championships and the all-time scoring record, with 1,283 goals in his twenty year career.

Now, with the World Cup returning after more than sixty years to Brazil - the country often credited with perfecting the sport - soccer has a unique opportunity to encourage change on a global level. And as the tournament’s official ambassador, Pelé is ready to be the face of progress.

For the first time ever Pelé explores the recent history of the game and provides new insights into soccer’s role connecting and galvanizing players around the world. He has traveled the world as the global ambassador for soccer and in support of charitable organizations such as Unicef, promoting the positive influences soccer can have to transform young men and women, struggling communities, even entire nations. In groundbreaking detail and with unparalleled openness, he shares his most inspiring experiences, heartwarming stories and hard-won wisdom, and he puts the game in perspective.

This is Pelé’s legacy, his way of passing on everything he’s learned and inspiring a new generation. In Why Soccer Matters, Pelé details his ambitious goals for the future of the sport and, by extension, the world.

©2014 Pelé, Brian Winter (P)2014 Gildan Media LLC

What listeners say about Why Soccer Matters

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A Pele that will win your heart.

For people that had an opportunity to see Edson Arantes “Pele “ playing soccer, this book he wrote gives us a chance to know his extraordinary life not only as player but as a fine human being. The book doesn’t cover some years of his life, nor details his personal life in the older years, but still It was sad to listen to the end. A life that must be remember for years to come. Great audio and Sean Pratt is awesome.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Inspiring & full of love!

A heart warming story about the influence of soccer in Pele's life. I highly recommend for every soccer fan!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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More than just football

This book does a great job going beyond his famous football career. Heart felt telling of his youth and father leaving him far from home to chase his dream before he was known. Love the detailed accounts from his perspective of the World Cup matches he played in also the great details of his passion to bring soccer to the US. His life is a lesson for anyone interested in football or sports figures. Narration was nothing special but easy to follow.

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Wonderful story

Covers history of peels career but also why soccer has had a tremendous influence over society. For the better.

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Wonderful book, fantastic narration!

I enjoy soccer but am in no way a die hard fan, and this book caters to both groups. this book was a great look into the history of Pelé and modern soccer, as well as the political, social, and economic climate of Brazil, USA, and the world throughout his life. And the narration is PHENOMENAL.

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excellent autobiography

Very well narration and wonderful story of the legend of soccer. I think it is great book for young athletes.

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Great book. A lot from this book will stay with me

Very well written. I know undertand why i loved watching Brazilian soccer as a child.

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Pele the Great

From the greatest player of the game, a fantastic story of the life he lived. Must read!

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Goooooaalll

Cannot say enough good things about. This book. I am 53 so in 1976 when Pele fever hit the US I was in my prime of youth soccer. What a “beautiful book.”

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A Delightful Book

A beautiful synthesis of soccer and history. Informative and at times heart warming, it's a wonderful narrative with an appeal that needn't be limited to soccer fans.

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