The publisher declined to say how much the deal was worth, but the Publishers' Marketplace Web site described it as a "major deal," a term typically used for contracts worth at least $500,000.
Pele, 64, won the World Cup with Brazil in 1958 and 1970 and is considered by many to be the greatest player in soccer history, revered by fans at home
and around the world.
He first published an autobiography in 1977 and countless books have been written about him.
Simon & Schuster's New York spokesman Adam Rothberg said the publisher's London office had signed world rights for the new book, to be called "Pele: the Autobiography."
"It's meant to come out in 2006 in time for the World Cup," Rothberg said.
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