Donald Trump Names Brazil’s Pelé the Greatest Football Player in History

At MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, over 80,000 fans watched Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final. U.S. President Donald Trump handed out the trophy, sharing the spotlight with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

The crowd’s mixed reaction—cheers and boos—showed how divided American society remains. During the event, Trump called Pelé the greatest football player ever.

He remembered seeing Pelé play for the New York Cosmos in the 1970s. Back then, Pelé’s games drew crowds of over 40,000, with his last match in 1977 bringing in more than 75,000 fans.

These numbers come from official league and stadium records. Pelé’s arrival changed soccer’s future in the United States. He made soccer a business opportunity, not just a sport.

Ticket sales soared, media coverage grew, and investors started to see soccer as a real entertainment industry in America. This laid the groundwork for today’s Major League Soccer and the rising value of U.S. soccer teams.

The 2025 final proved that soccer’s business in America is booming. Chelsea’s win, powered by Cole Palmer’s two goals and João Pedro’s third, attracted huge ticket sales and global viewers.

Trump’s praise for Pelé was more than nostalgia—it was a nod to how one player helped turn soccer into a growing business in the world’s biggest consumer market.

All details in this article come from official match records, stadium data, and statements made during the event. No unverified or made-up information is included.