When people speak about Pelé, the first thing that comes to mind is goals. Thousands of them.

The Brazilian icon scored an astonishing 1,283 times during his legendary career and became known worldwide as football’s greatest finisher.

But few people know that Pelé also had another hidden love on the pitch, goalkeeping.

While starring for Santos FC and Brazil, Pelé reportedly spent hours after training practicing as a goalkeeper.

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Former teammates revealed that he took the role seriously and was surprisingly brilliant between the sticks.

So trusted was his ability that Santos often travelled without a reserve goalkeeper because Pelé was considered the emergency backup.

According to several ex-teammates, he regularly wore the goalkeeper’s jersey during exhibition tours and friendly matches around the world.

Former Santos defender Lima once recalled that Pelé became obsessed whenever teammates played casual games.

Instead of wanting to score, he insisted on playing in goal and hated being moved elsewhere on the field.

“When we were on different tours around the world, especially in Africa, sponsors asked Pelé to play in goal for their teams in the second half. It was funny, but he loved it,” he recalled.

Another former teammate, goalkeeper Lalá, even claimed Pelé could have become Brazil’s first-choice goalkeeper if he had chosen that path professionally.

The most memorable example came during a Taça Brasil semi-final against Grêmio in 1964.

After scoring a hat-trick to help Santos recover in the game, Pelé was suddenly forced into goal after Santos' goalkeeper Gilmar was sent off late in the match.

Despite the pressure, Pelé impressed once again in goal, producing important saves to protect Santos’ advantage.

Yet despite his hidden talent in goal, Pelé’s destiny was always at the other end of the pitch.

With more than 1,000 career goals, three World Cups and global admiration that turned him into football royalty.

FKA/JE

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