Brazilian football legend Pele spoke at length about his initiation into football at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2018. He said his father was his biggest inspiration, who had encouraged him to take up the sport. He said that he wanted to play for Corinthians but eventually signed up for Santos. Pele was selected for the Brazilian national team for the 1958 FIFA World Cup at the age of 17. He was informed about the news by his friends but Pele said he thought they 'were joking'.