| The whole world is spinning around the 2006 | | | | 1977. |
| FIFA World Cup. You can see it everywhere: | | | | |
| television, radio stations, newspapers, | | | | In his career he played in 1363 matches and |
| magazines. Everywhere you look, everybody is | | | | scored 1282 goals. His best season was 1958, |
| talking about it. The whole world is counting | | | | when he scored 139 times. In 1978 he received |
| the days for the great FIFA World Cup | | | | the International Peace Award and in 1980 he |
| Opening. The day: Friday June 9, 2006. The | | | | was named athlete of the century. This year |
| time: 12:00pm Eastern Standard. | | | | 2006, Pele will carry the World Cup trophy on |
| | | | to the pitch of the Munich stadium in the |
| The first game will take place at the FIFA WM | | | | company of the German supermodel Claudia |
| Stadion München, Munich: Costa Rica will | | | | Schiffer. |
| be playing against the host nation: Germany. | | | | |
| | | | Diego Armando Maradona will also be at the |
| More than 170 former soccer players that have | | | | 2006 FIFA World Cup Opening as a special |
| won the World Cup since its inauguration in | | | | visitor. The Argentinean former soccer player |
| 1930 will be assisting to the ceremony. All | | | | was born on October 30th, 1960. On December |
| 22 players from the 1974 final in which | | | | 5th, 1970, he started at the team: Los |
| Germany beat the Netherlands will be present | | | | Cebollitas (Little Onions). Los Cebollitas |
| for the ceremony. The most recognized and | | | | remained unbeaten for 136 matches and became |
| greatest soccer players in the planet will | | | | a legend. |
| attend to the date. Edson Arantes do | | | | |
| Nascimento also known as Pele, the Brazilian | | | | At age 15 he started with the Argentinos |
| soccer player will be there. | | | | Juniors. At age 21 he made his debut with the |
| | | | Boca Juniors where he played 40 games and |
| Pele was born on October 23rd, 1940 in Tres | | | | scored 28 goals. Then he left the country, |
| Coracoes, Brazil. He was the world's most | | | | heading to Spain, more specifically, |
| famous and highest-paid athlete when he | | | | Barcelona. With this team, Maradona played 58 |
| joined a North American team in 1975. He led | | | | matches and scored 38 goals. Then the Napoli, |
| the Brazilian national soccer team to three | | | | the Sevilla and the Argentinean Newell's Old |
| World Cup victories in 1958, 1962, and 1970. | | | | Boys came along. |
| | | | |
| Pele scored his 1,000th goal in 1969. This | | | | He made his debut with the Argentinean |
| amazing athlete retired in 1974, but made a | | | | Selection on February 27th, 1977 against |
| comeback in 1975 after accepting a | | | | Hungary. He was world champion in Mexico '86 |
| 7-million-dollar contract for three years | | | | and world sub-champion in Italy '90 with 21 |
| with the New York Cosmos of the North | | | | matches in four World Cups. He played 91 |
| American Soccer League. His farewell | | | | matches and scored 34 goals. He is the flag |
| appearance was against his old Santos club in | | | | of Argentinean football. |