How to Draw Pelé: Easy 9-Step Portrait Guide

Celebrate the King of Soccer by learning to draw a portrait of Pelé! This tutorial is perfect for young artists ages 8+ who want to practice facial proportions and shading. Grab your pencils, an eraser, and a piece of paper to start capturing his iconic smile.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A vibrant, finished portrait of the legendary soccer player Pelé.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Eyes

Close-up sketch of two almond-shaped eyes with pupils, serving as the foundation for the portrait.

Draw two narrow, horizontal lemon shapes in the center of your paper. Add a small circle inside each for the iris. Teacher's Tip: Keep these shapes symmetrical to ensure the face looks balanced from the start.

Step 2: Defining the Brows

Drawing the thick, arched eyebrows above the previously sketched eyes.

Place thick, bold dashes above each eye to create the eyebrows. Tip: Use a slightly heavier hand here to give Pelé his expressive, determined look.

Step 3: Shaping the Nose

Detailed sketch of the nose structure using curved lines and small dashes for depth.

Draw a rounded 'M' shape in the center, framing it with two soft curves. Add small dashes for the nostrils. Tip: Keep the nose centered between the eyes to maintain correct facial proportions.

Step 4: Drawing the Mouth

Sketching the mouth area with a wide, smiling expression using curved lines.

Sketch a horizontal curve beneath the nose, followed by a wide 'U' shape for the lips. Add diagonal lines at the corners to suggest a smile. Tip: A gentle curve makes the expression look natural and friendly.

Step 5: Defining the Jawline

Adding the chin and cheek contours to frame the face.

Outline the mouth with a 'V' shape for the chin area and add curves on both sides to define the cheeks. Tip: Use light, sweeping strokes to create a smooth, rounded jawline.

Step 6: Adding Ears

Drawing the ears on the sides of the head with internal anatomical details.

Draw two vertical lines on the sides, then add wide, heart-shaped ears. Add inner curves to show the ear's anatomy. Tip: Ears usually align with the top of the eyes and the bottom of the nose.

Step 7: Sketching the Hair

Adding the hairline and textured hair shape to the top of the head.

Draw a dome shape over the head and add small, bumpy 'hills' to create texture for the hair. Tip: Vary the size of the bumps to make the hair look more realistic and less like a solid block.

Step 8: Neck and Collar

Drawing the neck and the collar of the jersey.

Draw two vertical lines for the neck and add a collar using uneven semi-ovals. Tip: Adding a few vertical lines on the neck creates a sense of muscle and realism.

Step 9: Final Outline

The completed line art of Pelé, ready for coloring.

Add shoulders with diagonal lines. Use a black pen to trace your final lines, then erase all pencil marks. Tip: Wait for the ink to dry completely before erasing to avoid smudging!

Step 10: Adding Color

The final colored portrait of Pelé wearing his iconic yellow and green jersey.

Color the skin dark brown and the hair black. Use green and yellow for the jersey. Tip: Add a slightly darker shade on the left side of the face to create a simple shadow effect.