View source for Abedi Pele

{{Short description|Ghanaian association football player}}
{{Distinguish|text=[[Pelé]] or [[Pelé (footballer, born 1978)|Pedro Pele]]}}
{{POV|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| image = Abedi Pele 2007.jpg
| caption = Abedi in 2007
| name = Abedi Ayew Pele
| fullname = Abedi Ayew
| height = 1.74 m<ref name="nft">{{NFT|13901|accessdate=}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|11|5|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Accra
| currentclub = 
| position = [[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|Attacking midfielder]]
| youthyears1 = 1970–1978
| youthclubs1 = Great Falcons
| years1 = 1980–1982
| caps1 = 46
| goals1 = 21
| clubs1 = [[Real Tamale United]]
| years2 = 1982–1983
| caps2 = 8
| goals2 = 7
| clubs2 = [[Al Sadd SC|Al Sadd]]
| years3 = 1983–1984
| caps3 = 18
| goals3 = 9
| clubs3 = [[FC Zürich|Zürich]]
| years4 = 1984
| caps4 = 8
| goals4 = 11
| clubs4 = [[AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé|Dragons l'Ouémé]]
| years5 = 1985
| caps5 = 19
| goals5 = 7
| clubs5 = [[Real Tamale United]]
| years6 = 1986–1987
| caps6 = 32
| goals6 = 14
| clubs6 = [[Chamois Niortais F.C.|Niort]]
| years7 = 1987
| caps7 = 16
| goals7 = 5
| clubs7 = [[FC Mulhouse|Mulhouse]]
| years8 = 1987–1993
| caps8 = 112
| goals8 = 23
| clubs8 = [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]
| years9 = 1988–1990
| caps9 = 61
| goals9 = 16
| clubs9 = → [[Lille OSC|Lille]] (loan)
| years10 = 1993–1994
| caps10 = 29
| goals10 = 3
| clubs10 = [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]]
| years11 = 1994–1996
| caps11 = 49
| goals11 = 11
| clubs11 = [[Torino F.C.|Torino]]
| years12 = 1996–1998
| caps12 = 50
| goals12 = 2
| clubs12 = [[TSV 1860 Munich|1860 Munich]]
| years13 = 1998–2000
| caps13 = 31
| goals13 = 28
| clubs13 = [[Al Ain FC|Al Ain]]
| totalcaps = 479
| totalgoals = 159
| nationalyears1 = 1982–1998
| nationalcaps1 = 73
| nationalgoals1 = 19
| nationalteam1 = [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]]
| manageryears1 = 2004–
| managerclubs1 = [[F.C. Nania|Nania]] (Head Coach and President)
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|Football]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|GHA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Africa Cup of Nations]]}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[1982 African Cup of Nations|1982 Libya]]|}}
{{Medal|Runnerup|[[1992 African Cup of Nations|1992 Senegal]]|}}
}}

'''Abedi Ayew''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|b|eɪ|d|i|_|ə|ˈ|j|uː}} {{respell|ə|BAY|dee|_|ə|YOO}}; born 5 November 1964), known professionally as '''Abedi Pele''', is a Ghanaian former professional [[Association football|footballer]] who played as an [[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|attacking midfielder]] and who served as [[Captain (association football)|captain]] of the [[Ghana national football team|Ghana national team]]. He is regarded as one of the greatest African footballers of all time.<ref name="Ottmar Hitzfeld picks Abedi Pele">{{citation |url=http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/ottmar-hitzfeld-picks-abedi-pele-africas-time-best-player/ |title=Ottmar Hitzfeld picks Abedi Pele as Africa's All-time best player}}</ref><ref name="Greatest African Players">{{citation |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1781781-the-50-greatest-african-players-of-all-time |title=''The 50 Greatest African Players of All Time''}}</ref> He played for several European clubs and found his fame in the French [[Ligue 1]] with [[Lille OSC|Lille]] and [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]], the latter where he won the [[UEFA Champions League]] in [[1992–93 UEFA Champions League|1993]], among other titles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ghana and Marseille legend Abedi Pele breaks down during nostalgic television broadcast{{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/ghana-and-marseille-legend-abedi-pele-breaks-down-during/x06eihowec8r1og9rjn15nqdq|access-date=31 July 2020|website=www.goal.com}}</ref> He was also the first to win CAF award in 1992.

== Early life ==
Abedi Ayew was born into a family in the town of [[Kibi, Ghana|Kibi]] and grew up in the town of [[Dome, Ghana|Dome]] at the northern outskirts of the city [[Accra]].<ref name=Tawiah>{{cite news |url=http://www.graphicghana.info/article.asp?artid=12482 |title=Abedi Pelé Stands Tall In African Football History |access-date=8 April 2007 |date=6 July 2006 |last=Tawiah |first=Augustina |work=Graphic Ghana News |publisher=Graphic Communications Group |quote=Abedi Ayew Pelé was born and bred in a small village called Oko near Dome on 5 November 1964|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718164918/http://www.graphicghana.info/article.asp?artid=12482 |archive-date=18 July 2011}}</ref>

He attended [[Ghana Senior High School (Tamale)|Ghana Senior High School]] in Tamale. He was given the nickname "Pelé" due to his ability in football, which evoked comparisons to the late Brazilian athlete [[Pelé]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Abedi Ayew Pelé {{!}} Ghanaian athlete|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Abedi-Ayew-Pele|access-date=31 July 2020|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/604531/ghanasco-tamale-sends-out-distress-call-to-her.html |title=Ghanasco, Tamale, Sends Out Distress Call To Her Sons And Daughters |last=Ibrahimah |first=Seidu |date=13 March 2015 |publisher=Modern Ghana | access-date =28 June 2020}}</ref>

== Club career ==
He was one of the first African players to make an impact on European club football. Abedi Pelé's nomadic career began with [[Real Tamale United]] in Ghana in 1978.<ref name=":0" /> He left Ghana after the 1982 [[African Cup of Nations]] to join [[Al Sadd SC|Al Sadd]] in Qatar for a $1,000 transfer fee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.al-watan.com/viewnews.aspx?n=A5EBC9FC-754C-4AF9-BDB0-70FC56727DC2&d=20120429 |title=Interview with Ali Behzad |publisher=al-watan.com |language=ar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814010101/http://www.al-watan.com/viewnews.aspx?n%3DA5EBC9FC%2D754C%2D4AF9%2DBDB0%2D70FC56727DC2%26d%3D20120429|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 August 2015}}</ref> After a short spell with [[FC Zürich]], he returned to Ghana but, after both [[Asante Kotoko SC|Kotoko]] and [[Accra Hearts of Oak SC|Hearts of Oak]] failed to sign him, joined [[AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé]] in Benin. He would later return to Ghana and play for [[Real Tamale United]] for one season. He began his career in Europe with French side [[Chamois Niort]], subsequently joining [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] before transferring to [[Lille OSC|Lille]] on loan.

At club level, he was a key figure in Marseille's dominance of the French league, resulting in four league championships and two European Cup finals appearances. At Marseille, he was a member of the team's "Magical Trio" along with [[Jean-Pierre Papin]] and [[Chris Waddle]], spearheading perhaps Europe's strongest league side of the early 1990s, including a [[1991 European Cup Final|European Cup final defeat in 1991]]. Abedi was the only remaining member of the trio still with the side when Marseille defeated Milan in the 1993 Champions League final in [[Munich]].

He later joined [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]] after his loan spell at Lille. He also played for [[Torino F.C.|Torino]] of Italy and rounded out his European career with [[TSV 1860 Munich|1860 Munich]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/abedipeledata.html |title=Abédi Ayew PELÉ – Matches and Goals in Bundesliga |first=Matthias |last=Arnhold |date=27 October 2022 |website=[[RSSSF]] |accessdate=3 November 2022}}</ref>

Abedi Pele went on to sign a two-year contract with [[Al Ain Club|Al Ain]] in the United Arab Emirates and was nominated one of the best foreign players to play in the UAE league.

== International career ==
Abedi Pele played for [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]] 73 times.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/gha-abedi-intlg.html |title=Abedi "Pelé" Ayew – Goals in International Matches |first=Robert |last=Mamrud |date=27 October 2022 |website=[[RSSSF]] |accessdate=3 November 2022}}</ref> He was a fixture in the African Championships of the 1980s and '90s with his national team, and a member of Ghana's victorious team in the [[1982 African Cup of Nations]], but he never had an opportunity to play in the [[FIFA World Cup]], as the ''Black Stars'' failed to qualify for the competition during his career. However, he was arguably the most dominant figure on the [[Confederation of African Football|African football]] scene for nearly a decade. His performance in the [[1992 African Cup of Nations]], for which he was voted the player of the tournament, was particularly notable, as he scored in three successive rounds to help Ghana reach the final, but picked up a yellow card in the semi-final against [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]] that meant he was suspended for the final; Ghana went on to lose on penalties to the [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]]. The performance earned him the added nickname of "The African [[Diego Maradona|Maradona]]".

Abedi was one of the first African football players to earn a top placing in [[FIFA World Player of the Year]] voting, doing so in 1991 and 1992. He won the ''[[France Football]]'' African Player of the Year Award three consecutive years, was the inaugural winner of the BBC African Sports Star of the Year in 1992, and the corresponding [[Confederation of African Football]] award twice.

Abedi holds the record for most appearances at the African Cup of Nations. He made his first appearance at the in Libya in 1982 and continued to compete at the tournament for the next 16 years, his last appearance coming in [[1998 African Cup of Nations|the 1998 edition]] in Burkina Faso. Aside from his exploits at the 1992 competition, Abedi also earned much acclaim for his three goals at the 1996 competition, where he led Ghana to the semi-finals of the competition despite critics expecting him to be in the twilight of his career.

== After retirement ==
[[File:Abédi Pélé (cropped).jpg|thumb|Abedi Pele in December 2007]]
Ayew has participated in more [[FIFA]] organized charity matches than any other African player. Abedi Pele is a member of FIFA's Football Committee, and of the player status committees of both FIFA and CAF. That explains why the South African FA made him a Spokesperson for their 2006 World Cup bid.

In appreciation of Abedi's devout services to the country, the Ghanaian government awarded him the country's highest honour, the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Ghana|Order of the Volta]] (civil division). He thus became the first Ghanaian sportsman to be so honoured.

On 29 January 1997, the first UEFA–CAF Meridian Cup All-Star Match between [[Europe XI v Africa XI (1997)|Europe and Africa]] was played in [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]]'s [[Estádio da Luz (1954)|Estádio da Luz]] in [[Lisbon]] and was televised in 100 countries worldwide, including 30 in Africa, for an audience of 60 million viewers. Abedi Pele scored a goal early in the first half and, after [[Vincent Guérin]] had equalised for Europe just before half-time, it was the [[African Player of the Year|1998 African Player of the Year]], [[Mustapha Hadji]], who struck Africa's 78th-minute winner in the 2–1 win.<ref name="uefa meridian">{{cite web |date=1 February 2001 |title=All-Stars clash kick off in Bari |url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/meridiancup/news/kind=1/newsid=1880.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040312062829/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/MeridianCup/News/Kind%3D1/newsId%3D1880.html|archive-date=12 March 2004|access-date=6 April 2007 |work=Meridian Cup |publisher=UEFA}}</ref>

In 2001, the UEFA–CAF Meridian Cup All-Star Match format was changed slightly for the second All-Star Match to bring together players aged between 35 and 45 who now revel in their 'veteran' status and play the game purely for pleasure. The squad sparked off memories of great footballing moments at club and international level.<ref name="uefa meridian" />

=== Football Ambassador ===
In June 2001 he was nominated by the present government of Ghana to serve as the next Chairman of the FA, an opportunity he later gave up for a more experienced former coach of Ghana for which in his own words said that this was to be an opportunity to learn from his superiors.

At present he owns a first division club, called [[Nania F.C.|Nania]], with the future hopes of nurturing the young talent to augment the fledgling league of the country. He has also been involved with various charity work across the African continent.

=== Controversy ===
Abedi Pele was embroiled in a serious alleged Second Division Promotion Play-off bribery scandal<ref name="National Middle League">{{cite web |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=121695 |title=Scandalous Middle League Results |access-date=7 March 2007 |date=3 April 2007 |work=Ghana Football |publisher=Ghanaweb}}</ref> for which the [[Ghana Football Association]] found him and others guilty. The guilty verdict attracted fines and suspensions of Abedi and others, but these have been quashed by the Appeals Committee of the Football Association after determining that there were irregularities in the initial judgement<ref name="Appeals Decision">{{cite web |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=124607 |title=Suspensions Annulled |access-date=6 June 2007 |date=25 May 2007 |work=Ghana Football |publisher=Ghanaweb| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070527073718/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=124607| archive-date= 27 May 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> of the Ghana Football Association. The allegations stem from an astonishing 31–0 victory<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=121608 |title=Third round results of the National Middle League |publisher=GhanaWeb |date=28 March 2007 | access-date = 2 December 2012}}</ref> recorded by his club, Nania FC over a much respected [[Okwawu United]] side. A similarly farcical 28–0 result<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=121607 |title=Mariners trounce Tudu Mighty Jets 28-0 |publisher=GhanaWeb |date=28 March 2007 | access-date = 2 December 2012}}</ref> was recorded in another second division match played between [[Great Mariners]] and [[Tudu Mighty Jets]] on the same weekend. The clubs involved in that Second Division Promotion Play-off Zone III match were also investigated and subject to the prospect of stiff penalties and demotions. Despite his vehement denials,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=121723 |title=Abedi defends 31–0 scoreline |access-date=7 March 2007 |date=3 April 2007 |work=Ghana Football |publisher=Ghanaweb}}</ref> Abedi had been chastised by some members of the [[Media of Ghana|Ghanaian media]], who were demanding that strong punitive actions be taken against him, by Ghana's football governing body as well as the legal system.<ref name="Ghana Football">{{cite web |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=121841 |title=Maestro Of Disgrace |access-date=6 April 2007 |date=3 April 2007 |work=Ghana Football |publisher=Ghanaweb| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070408075355/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=121841| archive-date= 8 April 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> His wife Maha Ayew was banned from football against this Manipulations Scandal on 3 November 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ghanadistricts.com/news/?read=20270&PHPSESSID=cfd1dcf51017b2f26c8316472ff0431a |title=(SPORTS- SOCCER) LOCAL: Ayew's wife banned from football |publisher=ghanadistricts.com |date=3 November 2008 |access-date=2 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008120500/http://www.ghanadistricts.com/news/?read=20270&PHPSESSID=cfd1dcf51017b2f26c8316472ff0431a |archive-date=8 October 2012}}</ref>

== Style of play ==
As a [[playmaker]], Pele was known for his speed, close control, and [[Dribbling#Association football|dribbling]] skills, as well as his passing and goalscoring ability. He usually played as an [[attacking midfielder]] or as a [[Forward (association football)|forward]]. He was also given the nicknames the "Maestro" and "The African [[Maradona]]."<ref name="Ottmar Hitzfeld picks Abedi Pele" /><ref name="Greatest African Players" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goal.com/en/lists/african-legends-cup-of-nations-kanu-vs-abedi-pele/1tero09ce3q3z1crz4ub04q02g |title=African Legends Cup of Nations: Kanu vs Abedi Pele |publisher=Goal.com |last1=Dove |first1=Ed |date=9 May 2020 |access-date=6 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://africa.espn.com/football/story/_/id/18920341/ghana-greatest-footballers |title=Profiling Ghana's greatest footballers of all time |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Adjei |first1=Michael Oti |date=16 March 2017 |access-date=6 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/ghana-legend-abedi-pele-international-sabbatical-cost-me-african-/1al8atwupidcr1mi6yxv0ab0hc |title=Ghana legend Abedi Pele: International sabbatical cost me African Footballer of the Year awards |publisher=Goal.com |last1=Teye |first1=Prince Narkortu |date=1 June 2020 |access-date=6 June 2020}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Abedi is the brother of [[Kwame Ayew|Kwame]] and Sola Ayew (ex-[[Accra Hearts of Oak SC|Hearts of Oak]] and [[Ghana national under-23 football team|Black Meteors]]). He is also the father of [[André Ayew|André]], [[Jordan Ayew|Jordan]], [[Abdul Rahim Ayew|Rahim]], Imani, and is married to Maha. His sons, [[Ibrahim Ayew|Ibrahim]], [[André Ayew|André]] and [[Jordan Ayew|Jordan]], have also become internationals for Ghana. André and Rahim – represented Ghana in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa while Jordan and André represented Ghana in the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]] in [[Brazil]] and the [[2022 FIFA World Cup]] in [[Qatar]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The rise of Abedi Pele |url=https://yen.com.gh/136699-abedi-pele-age-height-children-wife-awards-net-worth.html |last=Akwasi |first=Kofi |date=6 November 2019 |website=Yen.com.gh – Ghana news. |language=en|access-date=26 May 2020}}</ref>

== Career statistics ==
===Club===
:{{Cleanup section|reason=Table is in improper format|date=July 2021}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref name="nft" />
|-
!rowspan="2" width="125"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
|-
!Division
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Real Tamale United]]
|1980
|[[Ghana Premier League]]
|11||0
|-
|1981
|Ghana Premier League
|12||7
|-
|1982
|Ghana Premier League
|23||14
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!46!!21
|-
|[[Al Sadd SC|Al Sadd]]
|[[1982–83 Qatar Stars League|1982–83]]
|[[Qatar Stars League]]
|8||7
|-
|[[FC Zürich]]
|[[1983–84 Nationalliga A|1983–84]]
|[[Swiss Super League|Nationalliga A]]
|18||9
|-
|[[AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé|Dragons l'Ouémé]]
|1984
|[[Benin Premier League]]
|8||11
|-
|Real Tamale United
|1985
|Ghana Premier League
|19||7
|-
|[[Chamois Niortais F.C.|Niort]]
|[[1986–87 French Division 2|1986–87]]
|[[Ligue 2|Division 2]]
|32||14
|-
|[[FC Mulhouse|Mulhouse]]
|[[1987–88 French Division 2|1987–88]]
|Division 2
|16||5
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]
|[[1987–88 French Division 1|1987–88]]
|[[French Division 1]]
|5||0
|-
|[[1988–89 French Division 1|1988–89]]
|French Division 1
|4||0
|-
|[[1990–91 Olympique de Marseille season|1990–91]]
|French Division 1
|32||5
|-
|[[1991–92 Olympique de Marseille season|1991–92]]
|French Division 1
|36||12
|-
|[[1992–93 Olympique de Marseille season|1992–93]]
|French Division 1
|35||6
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!112!!23
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Lille OSC|Lille]] (loan)
|[[1988–89 French Division 1|1988–89]]
|French Division 1
|24||7
|-
|[[1989–90 French Division 1|1989–90]]
|French Division 1
|37||9
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!61!!16
|-
|[[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]]
|[[1993–94 French Division 1|1993–94]]
|French Division 1
|29||3
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Torino F.C.|Torino]]
|[[1994–95 Serie A|1994–95]]
|[[Serie A]]
|32||10
|-
|[[1995–96 Serie A|1995–96]]
|Serie A
|17||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!49!!11
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[TSV 1860 Munich|1860 Munich]]
|[[1996–97 Bundesliga|1996–97]]
|[[Bundesliga]]
|25||1
|-
|[[1997–98 Bundesliga|1997–98]]
|Bundesliga
|25||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!50!!2
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Al Ain FC|Al Ain]]
|[[1998–99 UAE Football League|1998–99]]
|[[UAE Pro League|UAE Football League]]
|20||17
|-
|[[1999–2000 UAE Football League|1999–2000]]
|UAE Football League
|11||11
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!31!!28
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!479!!157
|}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
| rowspan="19" |[[Ghana national football team|Ghana]]
|-
|1981||1||0
|-
|1982||17||2
|-
|1983||5||1
|-
|1984||0||0
|-
|1985||6||1
|-
|1986||5||2
|-
|1987||2||0
|-
|1988||1||0
|-
|1989||0||0
|-
|1990||2||0
|-
|1991||0||0
|-
|1992||6||3
|-
|1993||4||2
|-
|1994||4||0
|-
|1995||3||3
|-
|1996||6||4
|-
|1997||7||1
|-
|1998||3||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!73!!19
|}

:''Scores and results list Ghana's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Pele goal.''<ref name="AP">{{cite web|title=Abedi "Pelé" Ayew - Goals in International Matches
|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/gha-abedi-intlg.html |access-date=14 April 2024}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Abedi Pele
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|style="text-align:center"|1
|{{dts|17 February 1982}}
|[[Cotonou]], Benin
|{{fb|Niger}}
|style="text-align:center"|—
|style="text-align:center"|2-2
|[[1982 West African Nations Cup]]
|<ref name="AP"></ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|2
|{{dts|7 July 1982}}
|[[Kuala Lumpur]], Malaysia
|{{fb|Singapore}}
|style="text-align:center"|—
|style="text-align:center"|3-0
|[[Merdeka Tournament|1982 Merdeka Tournament]]
|<ref name="AP"></ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|3
|{{dts|28 April 1983}}
|[[Accra]], Ghana
|{{fb|Libya}}
|style="text-align:center"|1-0
|style="text-align:center"|1-0
|[[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|<ref name="AP"></ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|4
|{{dts|14 April 1985}}
|[[Stade du 28 Septembre]], [[Conakry]], Guinea
|{{fb|Guinea}}
|style="text-align:center"|—
|style="text-align:center"|4-1
|[[1986 African Cup of Nations qualification]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Guinea vs. Ghana |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/36711/Guinea_Ghana.html|access-date=16 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|5
|{{dts|26 February 1986}}
|Accra, Ghana
|{{fb|Liberia}}
|style="text-align:center"|—
|style="text-align:center"|3-0
|[[1986 West African Nations Cup]]
|<ref name="AP"></ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|6
|{{dts|2 March 1986}}
|Accra, Ghana
|{{fb|Togo}}
|style="text-align:center"|1-0
|style="text-align:center"|1-0
|1986 West African Nations Cup
|<ref name="AP"></ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|7
|{{dts|15 January 1992}}
|[[Stade Aline Sitoe Diatta]], [[Ziguinchor]], Senegal
|{{fb|ZAM}}
|style="text-align:center"|1-0
|style="text-align:center"|1-0
|[[1992 African Cup of Nations]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Zambia v Ghana, 15 January 1992|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/zambia-v-ghana-15-january-1992-243388/|access-date=16 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|8
|{{dts|20 January 1992}}
|[[Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor|Stade de l'Amitie]], [[Dakar]], Senegal
|{{fb|CGO}}
|style="text-align:center"|2-1
|style="text-align:center"|2-1
|1992 African Cup of Nations
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Congo v Ghana, 20 January 1992|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/congo-v-ghana-20-january-1992-243401/|access-date=16 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|9
|{{dts|23 January 1992}}
|Stade de l'Amitie, Dakar, Senegal
|{{fb|Nigeria}}
|style="text-align:center"|'''1'''-1
|style="text-align:center"|2-1
|1992 African Cup of Nations
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghana vs. Nigeria|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/18733/Ghana_Nigeria.html|access-date=16 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|10
|{{dts|31 January 1993}}
|[[Baba Yara Stadium]], [[Kumasi]], Ghana
|{{fb|Burundi}}
|style="text-align:center"|1-0
|style="text-align:center"|1-0
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghana vs. Burundi|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/29229/Ghana_Burundi.html|access-date=16 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|11
|{{dts|25 July 1993}}
|[[Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex]], [[Monrovia]], Liberia
|{{fb|Liberia}}
|style="text-align:center"|—	
|style="text-align:center"|2-0
|[[1994 African Cup of Nations qualification]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Liberia vs. Ghana|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/29231/Liberia_Ghana.html|access-date=16 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|12
|rowspan="2"|{{dts|25 February 1995}}
|rowspan="2"|[[Ullevaal Stadion]], [[Oslo]], Norway
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|NOR}}
|style="text-align:center"|1-1
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|2-3
|rowspan="2"|Friendly
|rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web|title=Norway vs. Ghana |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/27419/Norway_Ghana.html|access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|13
|style="text-align:center"|2-3
|-
|style="text-align:center"|14
|{{dts|12 November 1995}}
|[[Accra Sports Stadium]], Accra, Ghana
|{{fb|Sierra Leone}}
|style="text-align:center"|2-0
|style="text-align:center"|2-0
|Friendly
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghana vs. Sierra Leone|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/27424/Ghana_Sierra_Leone.html|access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|15
|{{dts|5 January 1996}}
|[[Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City]], [[Jeddah]], Saudi Arabia
|{{fb|Saudi Arabia}}
|style="text-align:center"|1-0
|style="text-align:center"|1-1
|Friendly
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Saudi Arabia vs. Ghana |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/26692/Saudi_Arabia_Ghana.html|access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|16
|{{dts|14 January 1996}}
|[[EPRU Stadium]], [[Gqeberha|Port Elizabeth]], South Africa
|{{fb|Ivory Coast}}
|style="text-align:center"|2-0
|style="text-align:center"|2-0
|[[1996 African Cup of Nations]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Ivory Coast v Ghana, 14 January 1996 |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/ivory-coast-v-ghana-14-january-1996-246197/|access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|17
|{{dts|19 January 1996}}
|EPRU Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
|{{fb|TUN}}
|style="text-align:center"|1-0
|style="text-align:center"|2-1
|1996 African Cup of Nations
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghana vs. Tunisia|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/16730/Ghana_Tunisia.html|access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|18
|{{dts|10 November 1996}}
|[[Stade Omar Bongo]], [[Libreville]], Gabon
|{{fb|Gabon}}
|style="text-align:center"|1-1
|style="text-align:center"|1-1
|[[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Gabon v Ghana, 10 November 1996|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/gabon-v-ghana-10-november-1996-247109/|access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|19
|{{dts|13 July 1997}}
|Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana
|{{fb|ZIM}}
|style="text-align:center"|1-0
|style="text-align:center"|2-1
|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghana vs. Zimbabwe|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/26160/Ghana_Zimbabwe.html|access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref>
|}

== Honours ==

=== Player ===
'''Marseille'''
* [[Ligue 1|French Division 1]]: [[1990–91 French Division 1|1990–91]], [[1991–92 French Division 1|1991–92]]
* [[UEFA Champions League]]: [[1992–93 UEFA Champions League|1992–93]]; runner-up: [[1990–91 European Cup|1990–91]]

'''Al Ain'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/uae99.html |title=United Arab Emirates 1998/99 |access-date=8 April 2007 |author=Mohamed S. Chbaro and Mohammed Qayed |date=8 December 1999 |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070304205703/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/uae99.html| archive-date= 4 March 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>
* [[UAE Pro League|Pro-League]]: [[1999–2000 UAE Football League|1999–2000]]
* [[UAE President's Cup]]: 1999

'''Ghana'''
* [[African Cup of Nations]]: [[1982 African Cup of Nations|1982]]; runners-up: [[1992 African Cup of Nations|1992]]
* [[West African Nations Cup]]: [[1982 West African Nations Cup|1982]], [[1983 West African Nations Cup|1983]], [[1984 West African Nations Cup|1984]]

'''Individual'''
* [[BBC African Footballer of the Year]]: 1991
* [[African Footballer of the Year]]: 1991,<ref>{{cite web |last=Bobrowsky |first=Josef |date=21 December 2000 |title=African Player of the Year 1991 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/afrpoy91.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010109215800/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/afrpoy91.html |archive-date=9 January 2001 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref> 1992,<ref>{{cite web |last=Pierrend |first=José Luis |date=5 January 2001 |title=African Player of the Year 1992 |website=[[RSSSF]] |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/afrpoy92.html |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref> 1993<ref>{{cite web |last=Pierrend |first=José Luis |date=5 January 2001 |title=African Player of the Year 1993 |website=[[RSSSF]] |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/afrpoy93.html |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref>
* [[African Nations Cup|Africa Cup of Nations]] Golden Ball: [[1992 African Nations Cup|1992]]
* [[Africa Cup of Nations]] [[1992 Africa Cup of Nations#CAF Team of the Tournament|Team of the Tournament]]: [[1992 Africa Cup of Nations#CAF Team of the Tournament|1992]], [[1994 Africa Cup of Nations#CAF Team of the Tournament|1994]], [[1996 Africa Cup of Nations#CAF Team of the Tournament|1996]]
* [[Ghana Player of the year|Ghana Footballer of the Year]]: 1993
*[[World Team of the 20th Century|MasterCard African Team of the 20th Century]]: 1998<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soccertimes.com/international/1998/may15.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990221145250/http://www.soccertimes.com/international/1998/may15.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 February 1999 |title=Ramos, Balboa named to MasterCard CONCACAF 20th Century team. |work=Soccer Times|date=15 May 1998 |access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref>
* [[IFFHS]] African Player of the Century (1901–2000): 3rd Best<ref>{{cite web |last=Stokkermans |first=Karel |date=30 January 2000 |title=Africa – Player of the Century |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-century.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509035249/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/iffhs-century.html |archive-date=9 May 2007 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=7 April 2007}}</ref>
* [[International Federation of Football History & Statistics|IFFHS]] All-time Africa Men's Dream Team: 2021<ref>{{cite web |date=29 May 2021 |title=IFFHS |url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1121 |access-date=31 May 2021 |publisher=IFFHS}}</ref>
* [[FIFA World Player of the Year]]: 9th 1992, Nomination 1991<ref>{{cite web |last=Pierrend |first=José Luis |date=29 November 2012 |title=World Player of the Year – Winners |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-awards.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112042845/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/fifa-awards.html |archive-date=12 January 2016 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref>
* [[FIFA]] All-Star Forward: 1996 (Reserve), 1997 (Reserve), 1999<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html |title=FIFA XI´s Matches – Full Info |date=17 July 2012 | access-date = 2 December 2012 |first=Marcelo |website=[[RSSSF]] |last=Leme de Arruda}}</ref>
* [[FIFA 100]]
* [[Golden Foot#Award legends|Golden Foot Legends Award]]: 2011<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goldenfoot.com/legends.php?l=en |title=Legends |publisher=Golden Foot |access-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925120930/http://www.goldenfoot.com/legends.php?l=en |archive-date=25 September 2015}}</ref>
* [[Ghana Football Awards]] Living Legend Award: 2022<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 July 2022 |title=Abedi Pele honoured with Living Legends Award at 2022 GF Awards |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Abedi-Pele-honoured-with-Living-Legends-Award-at-2022-GF-Awards-1574417 |access-date=29 January 2023 |website=GhanaWeb |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Sports Writers Association of Ghana|Ghana SWAG]] Best Colts (Young) Player: 1978
* On 26 March 2004, he was appointed a "(WAFUNIF) Special Envoy 4 Peace and Development"<ref>{{cite web |title=WAFUNIF/FUTBOLMASTERS Special Advisory Honorary Committee for the Futbol 4 Peace & Development Programme/Campaign |url=http://www.soccerwiz.com/JULY14OFFICIALWAFFMSPADVCOMMITTEE.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050511184150/http://www.soccerwiz.com/JULY14OFFICIALWAFFMSPADVCOMMITTEE.pdf |archive-date=11 May 2005 |access-date=8 April 2007 |work=Futbol 4 Peace & Development members list |publisher=The World Association of Former United Nations Internes and Fellows (WAFUNIF)}}</ref>
* CAF Top 30 African Footballers in the last 50 years: 5th place<ref>{{cite web |date=20 February 2007 |title=CAF release 30 best African players in the last 50 years |url=http://www.cafonline.com/news.php?id=1073 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403041026/http://www.cafonline.com/news.php?id=1073 |archive-date=3 April 2007 |access-date=7 April 2007 |work=Official website |publisher=[[Confederation Africaine de Football]]}}</ref>

'''Orders'''
* [[File:Order of the Volta (Ghana) - ribbon bar.png|left|50px]] OOTV Civil Division: [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Ghana|Order of the Volta]]: (1996){{clear}}

=== Manager ===
'''Nania'''

* [[Ghanaian FA Cup]]: 2011<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=27 January 2023 |title=Nania beat Kotoko to win FA Cup |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/nania-beat-kotoko-to-win-fa-cup |access-date=27 January 2023 |website=Ghana Football Association}}</ref>
* [[Ghana Super Cup]]: 2011<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dogbevi |first=Emmanuel |date=3 October 2011 |title=Abedi Pele's Nania FC complete double over Chelsea to win Super Cup |url=https://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2011/10/03/abedi-peles-nania-fc-complete-double-over-chelsea-to-win-super-cup/ |access-date=27 January 2023 |website=Ghana Business News}}</ref>

== See also ==
* {{portal-inline|Football in Africa}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{sisterlinks|d=Q336916|c=Category:Abedi Pele|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|s=no|wikt=no|species=no}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/2008/6/18/sports-profile |title=Biography |access-date=10 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721032749/http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/2008/6/18/sports-profile |archive-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}

{{Navboxes
|title=Ghana squads
| bg        = #CA1118
| fg        = #FBE816
| bordercolor = black
|list1=
{{Ghana squad 1982 African Cup of Nations}}
{{Ghana squad 1992 African Cup of Nations}}
{{Ghana squad 1994 African Cup of Nations}}
{{Ghana squad 1996 African Cup of Nations}}
{{Ghana squad 1998 African Cup of Nations}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards
|bg = gold
|fg = navy
|list1 =
{{1992 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament}}
{{1994 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament}}
{{1996 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament}}
{{Africa Cup of Nations Player of the Tournament}}
{{African Footballer of the Year}}
{{BBC African Footballer of the Year}}
{{Ghanaian Footballer of the Year}}
{{FIFA 100}}
{{Golden Foot Legends Award}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pele, Abedi}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Eastern Region (Ghana)]]
[[Category:Footballers from Accra]]
[[Category:Ghanaian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of France]]
[[Category:Real Tamale United players]]
[[Category:Al Sadd SC players]]
[[Category:FC Zürich players]]
[[Category:AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé players]]
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[[Category:FC Mulhouse players]]
[[Category:Olympique de Marseille players]]
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[[Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players]]
[[Category:African Footballer of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Ghana men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1982 African Cup of Nations players]]
[[Category:1992 African Cup of Nations players]]
[[Category:1996 African Cup of Nations players]]
[[Category:1998 African Cup of Nations players]]
[[Category:Africa Cup of Nations–winning players]]
[[Category:FIFA 100]]
[[Category:Ghanaian expatriate men's footballers]]
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[[Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Qatar]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Benin]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Volta]]
[[Category:Ghana Senior High School (Tamale) alumni]]
[[Category:Ayew family]]
[[Category:Real Tamale United non-playing staff]]