Pele is a name recognized throughout the world, not only by fanatical football fans, but also those with a passing interest in the game. A national hero in his native Brazil, he earned the nickname the king because of his amazing exploits on the field. Before he grew to prominence on the field, he lived in poverty in San Paolo, and worked in tea shops to earn money to help his family. His talent was noticed early on, and he made his debut for Santos at the age of 15. His most prolific year came in 1958 with a staggering 66 goals to his name. There was no shortage of clubs eager to sign the young star, but in the end Pele stayed loyal to his first team Santos. However, he was lured out of retirement to join the US team Cosmos, not only because of the paycheck, but a desire to learn the English language.