People

By Kathleen Brady

His trademark may be a soccer ball rather than a football, but nonetheless, Pele, 45, has been tapped to be grand marshal of the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., next New Year's Day. The Brazilian megastar, who led his country's team to World Cup victory three times and scored 1,281 goals in his career before retiring in 1977, follows such past marshals as John Wayne (1973), Gerald Ford (1978) and Lee Iacocca (1985) in kicking off the show. "To me it is like another World Cup," said Pele, who flew to California to accept his latest honor. "When you have a parade of the rose, it is much better than a parade of weapons. It should be a message to the world."