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⚽ Sports Biography • Level A2

The King of Football

Discover the incredible journey, historic records, and warm character of Pelé.

📋 How to Use This Lesson

👨‍🏫 For Teachers:

• Recommended duration: 12 minutes for focused reading and comprehension check.

• Learners find the words in the article that show each answer. Then check the answers together with the Evidence lines.

🎓 For Students:

• Step 1: Read the short article carefully and listen to key words.

• Step 2: Complete the 8 questions in order from easy to challenging.

A Brazilian Football Hero

93 Words • Reading

Pelé was a famous Brazilian football player. He is the only player to win the World Cup three times, in 1958, 1962 and 1970. The World Cup is a big football tournament for national teams.

In 1958, he was only 17 years old at the World Cup in Sweden. The final is the last match of a tournament. In the final, Brazil beat Sweden 5-2, and Pelé scored two goals! People called him "O Rei", which means "The King". After his death, the president of FIFA called him a kind and sincere person.

Neo-brutalist vintage sports magazine illustration of young Pele smiling in a yellow and green Brazilian soccer jersey,

Fig. 1: An illustration of Pelé in a Brazil football shirt.

📖 Key Vocabulary (Level A2)

beat verb

To win against another team in a sports match.

score verb

To make a goal or win points in a game.

O Rei noun

A title meaning "The King".

kind adj

Friendly, helpful, and caring about other people.

sincere adj

Honest and real. You say what you think.

tournament noun

A sports competition with several matches.

Grammar & Expression Combining Appearance & Personality

"My sister looks like my mother, and both of them are very cheerful."

Part 1 (Looks): describes physical similarity using looks like.

Part 2 (Character): describes traits using both of them are + adjective.

✍️

Comprehension Practice

1 True or False • Easy

Pelé was a famous football player from Argentina.

____ True ____ False

2 True or False • Easy

Pelé won the World Cup more than one time.

____ True ____ False

3 Multiple Choice • Easy/Medium

How old was Pelé at the 1958 World Cup tournament in Sweden?

[Clue: Look for the sentence with the year 1958.]

____ a. 15 years old ____ b. 17 years old ____ c. 19 years old ____ d. 21 years old

4 Multiple Choice • Medium

What was the final score between Brazil and Sweden, and how many goals did Pelé score?

[Clue: Read the sentence about the final.]

____ a. Brazil won 3-1, and Pelé scored one goal ____ b. Brazil won 5-2, and Pelé scored two goals ____ c. Brazil won 5-2, and Pelé scored three goals ____ d. Sweden won 5-2, and Pelé scored two goals

5 Matching • Medium

Match each term from the story to its correct English definition:

Term

Honest and real

The King

Win against another team

1. "O Rei"

____ Honest and real ____ The King ____ Win against another team

2. "Beat"

____ Honest and real ____ The King ____ Win against another team

3. "Sincere"

____ Honest and real ____ The King ____ Win against another team

6 Multiple Choice • Medium/Hard

According to the text, how did the president of FIFA describe Pelé after his death?

____ a. Quiet and shy ____ b. Kind and sincere ____ c. Strict and proud ____ d. Serious and demanding

7 Short Answer • Hard

Which exact adjective from the article describes Pelé as honest and real?

[Clue: Starts with the letter 's', has 7 letters, and rhymes with 'clear']

____ (Type one word...)

8 Short Answer • Hard

How many World Cup trophies did Pelé win to become the only footballer in history with this record?

[Clue: Look at the years 1958, 1962 and 1970.]

____ (Write as number or word...)

🎉 Outstanding effort! You completed the reading and all 8 comprehension challenges on "The King of Football".

Reading: The Life of Pele

The King of Football

📋 How to Use This Lesson

A Brazilian Football Hero

📖 Key Vocabulary (Level A2)

Comprehension Practice

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