Pelé: The Boy Who Played With a Sock Full of Rags

In the news: The story

Read a 139-word news story: No ball, no boots, no problem

Pelé was born in Brazil in 1940. His family was very poor. His father played football, but he hurt his knee and could not play again. The family did not have much money for food, and they had no money for a ball. So the boys made their own ball. They put old rags in a sock and tied it with string. They played in the street, with no shoes. Pelé also worked: he cleaned shoes at the station and sold peanuts. At fifteen, he joined a big club, Santos. At sixteen, he played for Brazil. At seventeen, he won the World Cup. He won it three times, and he is the only player who has done this. People say he scored more than a thousand goals. He never gave up football, and football never gave up on him.

Vocabulary: Words to know

6 items

Discussion: Look at the picture

2 discussion questions

• What can you see in the picture? What is the weather like? What time of day is it?
• The boys had no ball. What toys can you make from old things at home?

Discussion: Your life

3 discussion questions

• What games did you play when you were a child? Where did you play them?
• Do you like football? Who is your favourite player or team?
• Pelé worked when he was a boy. Did you have a job when you were young? What was it?

Discussion: Big questions, simple words

3 discussion questions

• Is money important for sport? Yes or no, and why?
• Pelé never gave up. Is it always good to never give up?
• Do you want to be famous? Why or why not?