The Phenomenon Pelé "This boy will be the greatest soccer player in the world." 1. Define Words in Context Write what you think each of the underlined words means in the context of the sentence, then use a dictionary to confirm any definitions you're not sure about. - "But Pelé's performance transcended that of the ordinary star." - "... the World Cup, staged quadrennially ..." - "he did not [score] aloofly and disdainfully as do many modern stars." - "No team sport evokes the same sort of primal , universal passion as soccer." - "American team sports are more cerebral ." - "Baseball and football are an exaltation of the human experience; soccer is its incarnation ." 2. Discuss the Title In a paragraph, explain how Pelé was a "phenomenon." Include your thoughts on why the author calls him a mythic figure. Discuss your ideas in a paragraph. 3. Pose Questions Write down three questions you would have asked Pelé if you were a journalist. Then, for each, write what you think might have been his response. The Phenomenon: Pelé HENRY KISSINGER Before you read , list up to 10 sports superstars. What do all these athletes have in common? As you read , think about the game of soccer. Which countries have some of the best soccer teams in the world? Henry Kissinger is a former U.S. Secretary of State. He brought World Cup soccer to the United States in 1994. Pelé Oct. 23, 1940 -- born in Tres Corações, in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais 1956 -- begins pro career with Santos Football Club, nine championships between 1958 and 1969 1958 -- in his first World Cup appearance, leads Brazil to victory 1970 -- plays his final World Cup, a victory for Brazil 1974 -- signals retirement by picking up the ball 20 minutes into final game and kneeling in midfield 1975 -- in financial trouble, comes out of retirement to play for New York Cosmos 1977 -- retires from Cosmos 1994 -- long at odds with the world soccer authority, named Brazil's Minister of Sports Heroes walk alone, but they become myths when they ennoble the lives and touch the hearts of all of us. For those who love soccer, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, generally known as Pelé, is a hero. Performance at a high level in any sport is to exceed the ordinary human scale. But Pelé's performance transcended that of the ordinary star by as much as the star exceeds ordinary performance. He scored an average of a goal in every international game he played -- the equivalent of a baseball player's hitting a home run in every World Series game over 15 years. Between 1956 and 1974, Pelé scored a total of 1220 goals -- not unlike hitting an average of 70 home runs every year for a decade and a half. While he played, Brazil won the World Cup, staged quadrennially, three times in 12 years. He scored five goals in a game six times, four goals 30 times, and three goals 90 times. And he did so not aloofly or disdainfully -- as do many modern stars -- but with an infectious.