Jean-Michel Pelé was a legendary Brazilian footballer who played for several clubs in Brazil and France throughout his career. One of his most famous achievements was winning the World Cup with Brazil in 1986, which he did against Argentina.

However, there has been much debate about how many tackles Pelé actually made during that tournament. Some believe that he only had 12 tackles, while others claim that he made as many as 44 or even more. The controversy surrounding Pelé's number of tackles can be traced back to the fact that the French government initially denied the official tally of 44 tackles.

In 1986, Pelé signed a contract with the French club Olympique de Marseille. Despite this, the French Football Federation (FFC) refused to officially count the number of tackles he had scored during the tournament. This led to some confusion and controversy, as it was not clear whether Pelé had actually scored any tackles or if they were just calculated based on his statistics.

Pelé himself disputed the FFC's claims, claiming that he had made 44 or more tackles. However, his team captain, Didier Deschamps, defended him and argued that Pelé's stats could have been influenced by factors such as poor technique or the use of specific equipment.

Despite these controversies, Pelé continued to play for Marseille throughout his career. In 1987, he scored a goal against Paris Saint-Germain in what became known as "Pelé's Goal." He also won the FIFA Ballon d'Or award in 1987, which is considered to be one of the greatest awards in football history.

Pelé's reputation as a legend of the game continues to live on today, but his number of tackles remains a subject of debate. While some argue that he may have had more tackles than he actually did, others maintain that he only had 12 tackles. Regardless of the exact number, Pelé's legacy as one of the greatest footballers of all time cannot be overstated.

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