Pel: Birth of a Legend continues the soccer star’s big screen legacy

After his retirement from soccer in 1977, Pel reified his commitment to national, political cinema by appearing in Anselmo Duartes action-packed, blaxploitation-influenced drama Os Trombadinhas (1979). In his 1998 autobiography, Pel wrote: I especially liked [this film], and collaborated on the story for it. It was about the problem of abandoned children; a subject I cannot repeat often enough is close to my heart. I hoped the film would help get them off the streets, make something useful of them, for them and for society. (Pel also found time to contribute vocals to a couple of songs on the soundtrack of a 1977 documentary about him: hes no Gilberto Gil, but his vocal stylings boast a certain calming trill.)

In 1981, Pel gave his highest-profile film performance to date, as Corporal Luis Fernandez in John Hustons POW adventure Escape to Victory. Pels involvement arose from a spin-off from his contract with Warner Communications, who owned the Warner Bros studio. Of working on the film, Pel wrote: Id come onto the pitch with the same passion that I had brought to real games Huston used to shout, Pele, relax! Its a film, it has to be contained within the scene, the emotion has to be controlled He was a cinematic genius. He also threw some shade on co-star Sylvester Stallone: I learned too that the stars dont always work democratically. Stallone, for example, wouldnt let anyone else sit in his chair on the set.

In the Brazilian crime thriller Pedro Mico (1985), Pel, as the titular Rio trickster, showed off some capoeira skills and an impressively bushy moustache in what would be his only lead role. After Pedro Mico, however, Pel settled into a groove of appearing as himself in fictional films: a testament to both his star power, and his gift for self-marketing. He re-teamed with John Huston for the syrupy orphanage fable A Minor Miracle (1983), grew a beard for and wept in 1987s terminally cheesy soccer drama Hotshot; and, some years later, had a brief, funny turn in Britcom Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001).

There are enough hints in Pedro Mico to suggest that Pel could have had a more substantial acting career. But it seems, understandably, he decided that being the worlds greatest soccer player was more than enough.

Pel: The Birth of a Legend is on nationwide release in the US from Friday 13 May