[Anderson:] Well, the beautiful game is enjoying a resurgence in the United States, where it's long played second fiddle, of course, to American football. Not only did the U.S., though, make it into the finals of the Women's World Cup recently, but America's most storied club is being relaunched after folding in the 1980s. Helping drive the rebirth of the New York Cosmos is one of its biggest stars, an undisputed legend of the game. His name is synonymous with football Edson Arantes do Nascimento, famously known as Pele. The Brazilian star became a national hero after helping his country to World Cup victory in 1958, as a teenager. A prolific goal scorer, he is widely considered the greatest player of all time. [on camera]: The favorite goal you ever scored?
[Pele, Football Legend:] Well, I think, you know, I scored 1,283 goals. All was important to me, of course. The the I think the first World Cup, I played against Sweden in the final, I was 17 years old. I make a beautiful goals. I think for starting my career, these are the ones that were more important.
[Anderson:] Pele's career spanned two decades, ending in 1977 at the New York Cosmos, where he played alongside other global stars, including Italian striker Giorgio Chindalia and Germany sweeper Franz Beckenbauer.
[Franz Beckenbauer, Soccer Player:] I'm the biggest fan from Pele. He is the greatest soccer player in the history of the sport, maybe the greatest sportsman. Maybe you can compare him only, maybe, with Muhammad Ali. So I am very proud to play with Pele together in a team.
[Anderson:] It was the most glamorous team in America before it folded in 1985. Now, the Cosmos are back, their rebirth spearheaded by Pele and French football legend, Eric Cantona. The club will play its first match in 26 years against Manchester United this Friday, the first step in a plan to win a place in the U.S. Major Soccer League. [on camera]: A big game with Old Trafford coming up. Do you think the Cosmos can win that game?
[Pele:] Always you have to trust. You know, I never think before the game, my team is going to lost. Always or we're going to lose. You know, always I have confidence, you know. Of course, it is a it is
[Anderson:] A respected voice in football, Pele's opinions matter. [on camera]: Who is the best player, Messi or Ronaldo?
[Pele:] Well, it is it is difficult to say, but I think Qatar.
[Anderson:] Do you recognize yourself in any players?
[Pele:] Oh, yes. Yes. Not serious. Messi is excellent at, you know, dribbling and he have a nice vision.
[Anderson:] Goal line technology, yes or no?
[Pele:] Well, it is difficult to say. I I am part of the FIFA committee. And though some think it is not possible to use the technology, because the humans, they make a mistake, even if you have the phone, if you have a seat, because they talk about the chip in the ball. Sometimes this doesn't work. Of course, you have a lot of things that you can use as the technology. But not an old player in the game.
[Anderson:] As for the next champions of the world... [on camera]: Do you think England has got a chance of winning the World Cup?
[Pele:] I hope not.
[Anderson:] Who's going to win the World Cup?
[Pele:] Brazil, of course. We are there for that.
[Anderson:] I'm not even sure why I asked that question. Mark McKay is standing by at the CNN Center. What did I expect him to say Mark?
[Mark Mckay, Cnn Sports Correspondent:] Very good point, Becky. I tell you what, you know you've reached superstar status when you can only use one name, like Pele. How about another? Tiger. By this time tomorrow, Becky, borrowing any weather-related delays or unforeseen surprises, we should have a good handle just where Tiger Woods' golf game is. One round into the former world number one's latest comeback, Woods tees it up Thursday at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio. The winner of the last major, the British Open, is on record as saying that it's wonderful to have Woods back on the links. Darren Clarke will, in fact, be in the same group with Tiger for the first round at Firestone. Injury has prevented Woods from playing any competitive golf since May, but the Northern Irishman says you can't count out Woods as a contender. If you do so, you do so at your own risk.
[Darren Clarke, British Open Champion:] He was arguably the best player the game has ever seen. You can check on Tiger, and he was arguably the best player that the game's ever seen. I've just won one major, and he's got buckets of them and stuff, and it'd be a little bit presumptuous of me to tell him what to do. But in saying that, he's I've told him what I think about what he's doing and golf swing-wise and stuff, and sometimes he takes it in and sometimes he doesn't take it in. But he has been the best player in the world, one of the best players to ever play the game, and I just hope that he gets I genuinely hope he gets his game back up to the level that it was before, because it was awesome.
[Mckay:] We'll have much more on Tiger in just over an hour on "World Sport," including more from Darren Clarke and his good friend. Becky, I'll see you right after "BackStory."
[Anderson:] Good stuff. Thank you very much, indeed, for that. An hour and Mark will be back here on CNN. You're with CONNECT THE WORLD, me, Becky Anderson, here this hour. Just ahead, the euro zone rattled again. High borrowing costs threatened to drag Italy down. Hear what Prime Minister Berlusconi is saying about that, up next.