The former Brazilian professional footballer, Pele had an illustrious playing career. He donned the jerseys of clubs like Santos FC and New York Cosmos as well as the country’s national squad. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) crowned Pele the “Footballer of the Millennium,” and he dazzled everybody with his power to score goals with both feet and his playmaking abilities.
Pele made his professional football debut at the age of 15 with the Brazilian team, Santos. When Pele was only 16 years old, the Brazil National team summoned him up to play for his country after being impressed by his performances for Santos. The Brazilian went on to score a tonne of goals for Santos FC and the Brazilian national team, setting enormous records in the process.
Pele is the first football player in history to have won three FIFA World Cups, which he did while playing for his country in 1958, 1962, and 1970. After playing for 21 years, the top scorer in the 1970 World Cup made the decision to retire in 1977.
During his playing days and after his retirement, Pele secured a number of endorsement deals that enhanced his brand value. Up until his death, the highest-paid former Brazilian footballer had a net worth significantly higher than the majority of current players. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Pele had a net worth of $100 million in 2022. His top five sponsorship deals are listed below:
1) Puma
Puma secured a significant sponsorship agreement with Pele which helped the company big time to enhance its brand.
Pele wore Puma soccer footwear in the quarterfinal of the WC between Brazil and Peru. And knowing perfectly well that all eyes were on him, he purposefully asked the referee to pause the clock at the start of the game so he could tie them up.
As was to be expected, the cameras focused on Pele and his unlaced Puma boots, maybe leading to the first viral advertisement and giving the sneaker company a nice little boost in visibility. However, this wasn’t exactly inexpensive.
2) Hublot
Additionally, Pele and Hublot signed a sponsorship partnership back in 2013. In order to honour the legacy of the legendary athlete and assist present and future generations, the brand announced the “Pele – The Collection” Auction.
3) Volkswagen
The world-famous footballer teamed up with Volkswagen, a German automaker. Having been given a leadership position by Volkswagen, Pele represented the firm at both the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, both of which were held in his native Brazil.
4) Subway
Pele also secured a contract with Subway in 2013 to serve as the company’s brand ambassador. In accordance with the agreement, Pele appeared in Subway commercials and in-store promotions both domestically and abroad.
5) Emirates
The Brazilian icon signed a partnership agreement with Emirates in 2014, in this arrangement Pele was named the brand’s international ambassador.