The Ballon d’Or is the number one individual award in world soccer and has been run by France Football magazine since 1956. Between 2010 and 2015, it temporarily merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year and was called the FIFA Ballon d’Or, but FIFA have since created their own, separate award called The Best.
Ironically, Pelé made his club debut for Santos in the very year that the Ballon d’Or was inaugurated. However, it was originally created as a European Footballer of the Year award and often referred to as such in English-speaking and international media. Up until 1995, no European player was eligible to win, which means that Pelé and Maradona, the two stand-out non-European players during the previous decades, were never in the running.From 1995 until 2007, non-European players playing for European clubs were eligible for the award, with George Weah of Liberia becoming the first to do so while playing for Milan. Brazilian Ronaldo (twice), Rivaldo and Ronaldinho all later won it before eligibility rules were changed once again in 2007, which opened the award up to all players from any country.


Finallisma was created in 1985, Club world cup started in 2000 while Pele retired from international football on 1st October 1977 which means he could have won it when still active.By this, you cannot assign a player to be the GOAT but rather, the greatest of their generation GOTG..

For the Copa America, Pele only took part in one tournament over the course of his illustrious life in the game.

Pele didn't get to play in the Champions League (or European Cup, as it was called then) because the Brazilian government passed legislation to stop him moving abroad.

Na Pele una dn dy support