Epic – The Many Lives of Pelé

Completed after nearly eight years of research and more than 250 interviews, Epic is the first biography to fully explore Pelé’s life both on and off the pitch.

Pelé was one of the most iconic sports figures of the twentieth century and, along with Muhammad Ali, its most beloved. His achievements speak for themselves: aged just seventeen, he led Brazil to its first world title, scoring six times in three games; he remains the only player to have won the World Cup three times; his astonishing record of more than 1,200 goals has never yet been surpassed. But numbers tell only half the story.

In Epic, renowned football correspondent Andrew Downie delves deep into Pelé's life. Through interviews with former teammates, coaches, business managers, close friends and family members, Downie uncovers the man behind the myth. Drawing on new material and thousands of hours spent in archives across Europe and the Americas, Downie finds unpublished books, emails and memos by Pelé and his closest collaborators that offer an unprecedented insight into the real Edson Arantes do Nascimento.

He tells of the young boy who vowed to stay teetotal after getting drunk on wine, the consummate professional who ran up and down hotel corridors to maintain his sharpness on tour, and of the seemingly apolitical diplomat whose home was shot up during Brazil's military dictatorship. Downie meticulously examines Pelé's footballing achievements, relationships and business dealings against the backdrop of Brazil's transformation from a South American backwater to the country of football. Pelé's controversial stance on race, Brazil's dictatorship and sex are all scrutinised and put into the proper context. The result is truly Epic. Published in 2026.

Size: 158mm x 241mm – 507 pages.