Pele is fond of his June 23, 1975, SI cover. Eric Schweikhardt/SI

By Richard Deitsch, SI.com

In sport, he is part of an exclusive fraternity, a one-word icon known equally from Argentina to Zimbabwe.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, arrived in New York City on Friday to promote Pelé Eterno (Pelé Forever), a 120-minute documentary film that plays like a highlight reel of the soccer king's most memorable moments, from his comet-like debut at the 1958 World Cup to his competitive finale as a member of the New York Cosmos in 1977.

The film (which was released in 2004 in Brazil) makes its U.S. premiere this weekend at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and Pelé himself will be on hand to introduce the film Saturday.

"This film is my bible," Pelé told SI.com on Friday."This biography I call my bible because for the new generation of football fans, they can see all the life of Pelé. But not only the football and not only the goals."

The goals, however, are the draw of the film. The film features footage of 300 of Pelé's goals (he scored 1,281 in his career), an assortment of headers, feints and powerful blasts. Director Anibal Massaini Neto said Pelé Forever took five years to make, as he and his production staff tracked down the images of Pelé's triumphs.

"Very hard work,"says Massaini, who is in New York with Pelé. "Sometimes we work 15 days just for one 15 second image."

Though the film tends to sanitize the life of the soccer legend, the footage reinforces him as the standard bearer of the sport. It is breathtaking stuff to see the willowy Pelé dribble through defenders and humble goalkeepers all over the globe. There are testimonials (the director taped 150) from former teammates, opponents and family. It is unlikely many Americans ever have seen footage of Pelé suiting up in the uniform of Vasco da Gama and Flamengo clubs or playing for his Santos club in the Copa Libertadores and Brazilian championships.

The film was screened at Cannes in May and is aiming for a run at more film festivals in 2006. It's part of a recent spate of soccer films including the upcoming feature Goal!, the story of a 19-year-old Mexican boy who dreams of playing for Newcastle United and features the acting debut of David Beckham. Also on the horizon is the Spanish comedy The Longest Penalty Shot In the World, about a reserve goalkeeper who becomes a local hero. Beckham also will appear in the much-anticipated Real Madrid: The Movie, which is part documentary (featuring the famous club's real-life players) and part drama (a storyline of five fictional Real fans in New York, Caracas, Venezuela, Japan, Madrid and a village in Senegal.)

Among his many honors, Pelé was named the Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999. He was also on the June 23, 1975 cover of Sports Illustrated, a particular favorite image for the icon. "That was an explosion for me, this cover," Pelé says. "That cover was all over the world. A beautiful picture."

An eternal image, for sure.

Pelé Eterno (Pelé Forever) will be screened at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City on July 9 (6:30 p.m.) and July 10 (1 p.m.).The film is in Portuguese with English subtitles. For more information, call 212-708-9431.