Why Soccer Matters

De: Pele, Brian Winter

Narrado por: Sean Pratt

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

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.

Great Insight on Brazilian Soccer

Where does Why Soccer Matters rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

As My first audiobook that I've listened too, this one got me hooked. Whether you are a soccer fan or not, this is a great book to listen too.

Feels like Pele himself telling you his life story!

Despite the title, this book isn’t about soccer or its impact on people and society. Rather it is about Pele, who many consider the greatest soccer player of all time, telling his life story. It is simple and easy to understand and you understand every move and decision he made. Pele does randomly add his reasons why he thinks soccer can be used as a social good but it is a simple take not any grand analysis. Also this book is clearly written before 2014 as Pele explains his support for Brazil’s World Cup hosting of said year and his hope for both Brazil’s performance and infrastructure improvement. Brazil would lose infamously 1-7 to Germany.

But the best part of this audiobook is the narrator. It is not Pele himself but someone who gives off a semi-accented English but is understandable and easy to listen to. This narrator adds tone and human sounds such as chuckles, laughter, and sighs. It makes it sound like it is Pele sitting right next to you telling you the story himself. I know that this book is probably mostly ghost written (I mean the other credited author on the cover merited mention), but with the easy story and words to follow and the amazing narrator, this is easily one of the best audiobooks I’ve heard. I had so much fun hearing it and wanted to hear more. Listen to this book even if you are not a fan of soccer.

Possibly best book I have ever read

He touched on so many different topics which resonate with my life and my world views and discusses those topics intelligently.

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.

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.

Inspiring & full of love!

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

Great Book

A great book, with a great story written by a true legend!

Would highly recommend.

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.

Pele the Great

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